If you're feeling a bit blue that school's starting up without you, this is the week to get your brain back in action. Luci's Healthy Marketplace will be hosting a gluten-free cooking class and Classic Cooking Academy's nights-only culinary course begins on Thursday.
The Parlor: Four Peaks Beer Tasting Dinner Wednesday, September 25
There's always a lot to love at The Parlor, the seasonal pizza joint located on the Camleback corridor. This week, it's hosting a four-course beer dinner with Tempe's Four Peaks Brewery that includes a few tempting menu items such as crispy pig ears with spicy citrus gastrique and pecan pie truffle. Each course will be paired with a beer (of course), and guests can look forward to buttermilk fried chicken with smoked butter biscuits, cavalo nero slaw, and housemade hot sauce for the main entree. The dinner will begin at 6 p.m. and costs $55. For reservations, call 602-248-2480.
More upcoming events: - 11 Oktoberfest Celebrations in Metro Phoenix - 17 Food Festivals in Metro Phoenix: Chow Bella's Fall 2013 Guide
Gluten-Free & Allergen-Friendly Pizza & Wine Class Wednesday, September 25
If eating gluten-free has made you miss out on your favorite pizzas, instructor Chandice Probst, co-founder of www.glutenfreecalendar.com, is here to show you how to right that wrong. This Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m., Luci's Healthy Marketplace will be hosting a cooking class on how to make delicious traditional red sauce, chicken alfredo, and dessert pizzas for gluten-free diners. Attendees will get to taste all the dishes and enjoy a glass of wine. All the dishes will be completely gluten-free and dairy, peanut and soy-free options will also be shown. The class costs $55 a person and you can sign up at the Luci's Healthy Marketplace website.
Longest Brat Contest Thursday, September 26
In January, Scottsdale's Brat Haus assembled and cooked an 83-foot brat - the largest sausage the Valley's ever seen. This Thursday, Payton Curry and the culinary team will try to break their own record by building an even longer brat in celebration of Oktoberfest. Proceeds from this year's attempt will go to benefit the ALS Foundation of Arizona, which raises money to serve those suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosi, commonly known as Lou Gherig's Disease. Catch the action at 5 p.m.
"Practical Series" with Classic Cooking Academy Course begins Thursday, September 26
If you've ever dreamed of going to culinary school but don't feel you have the time to commit, Classic Cooking Academy in Scottsdale offers an evenings-only course for people like you. The next session of the 24-week class kicks off this Thursday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The course will be taught by Classic Cooking chef and owner Pascal Dionot, who trained in France, Spain, and Germany before moving to the States. For more information about the school and the class visit the Classic Cooking website. The cost of the course is $2,150 and a payment plan is available.
Oktoberfest Pub Crawl Friday, September 27
Raise a stein in celebration of Oktoberfest in downtown Phoenix this Friday at 4 p.m. The Arizona Diamondbacks and CityScape are hosting a pub crawl that will hit seven different spots in the complex. You can either purchase your commemorative stein for $5 on the day of the event in Patriots Square at CityScape or get one complimentary when you also buy a ticket to Friday night's Diamondbacks game against the Washington Nationals. Participating restaurants include Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery, Lustre Rooftop Garden, Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails, Copper Blues, Lucky Strike and Gypsy Bar.
