A sausage class, mystery box and vegan bakesale

photo: Middle East Market

Middle East Market is a specialty grocery store that just started serving special Friday Night Dinners.  Lamb shank, chicken and rice with lima beans and dill were served last week, but the menu will change.

2054 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley

510-704-8800

Fridays, 4 – 8 pm

Café Rouge is hosting another class, and this one is all about sausage.  The class will be both demonstration and hands-on.  Victoria Wise will join the Cafe Rouge owner, head butcher and executive chef to add her expertise.  As the first chef at Chez Panisse, owner of Pig by the Tail (the charcuterie that used to be across the street) and author of the just released Sausage: Recipes for Making and Cooking with Homemade Sausage, she has a lot of knowledge to share. You’ll take home 2 pounds of sausage.  And, if it’s anything like the poultry class, you will learn a lot.

1782 Fourth Street, Berkeley

510-525-1440

Mon, 6/21, 6:30

$65

County Line Harvest started offering their Mystery Boxes in the East Bay last week at Café Rouge.  Instead of buying the same vegetables at the farmer’s market, you can pick up a box and try cooking with new ingredients.  I had never worked with turnips, summer savory or broccoli rabe until I saw them in my box, along with an easy recipe.  Be sure to e-mail clharvest@gmail.com to reserve your box.  They’ll be at Gather next week and back at Café Rouge on July 20, but if there’s a lot of interest, there could be weekly offerings.

2200 Oxford Street, Berkeley

Tues, 6/22, 5 – 7 pm

$25

East Bay Vegan Bakesale is back at Issues.  Some of the best vegan bakers in the Bay Area will be selling their specialties.  Proceeds go to Walk Oakland Bike Oakland and the Berkeley East Bay Humane Society.  E-mail ebveganbakesale@gmail.com if you’re interested in helping out.

20 Glen Ave at Piedmont, Oakland

510-652-5700

Sat, 6/26, 11am – 3pm

Gather is hosting Dinner and a Movie on their outdoor patio.  After a buffet BBQ, Edible City will show a special sneak preview of a new film, then hold a panel discussion with local food activist Jessica Prentice and the filmmakers.  Limited to 50 people.

2200 Oxford Street, Berkeley

510-525-4864

Tues, 6/29, 8 – 10pm

$85