WEDNESDAY August 22

Book Signing with Leora Bloom and Jess Thomson
The new Eat Local outpost on Capitol Hill is hosting a book signing with two local authors: Leora Bloom, author of Washington Food Artisans, and Jess Thomson, author of Pike Place Market Recipes. Their books will be available for purchase, and Eat Local will be offering food bites from 6-9.

THURSDAY 8/23

Hootenanny
El Gaucho's Aqua restaurant is hosting its 12th annual waterfront party this Thursday, complete with wine tastings from  more than 20 wineries and signature bites from the kitchen. Enjoy all this while lounging on Pier 70 with amazing views of the Puget Sound. The Dusty 45 will be rockin' the pier all evening, so bring some dancing shoes. Tickets are $85 per person and can be reserved by calling 206-956-9171.

FRIDAY August 24

Educational Dinner with Willis Hall, Winemaker John Bell and Sommelier Dieter Schafer
Enjoy a four-course dinner prepared by students of the Art Institute of Seattle paired with five wines produced by Willis Hall Winery. Plus Portfolio, the teaching dining room at the Art Institute, offers great views of Elloitt Bay from the fifth floor. You'll learn about pairing food and wine, and how wines are made, all for $50 per person.

SATURDAY August 25

American Lamb Throwdown
Some of Seattle's top meat maestros are having their way with this oft-overlooked protein. This event pits chefs Jason Stoneburner of Bastille, Branden Karow of Staple and Fancy, and Rain Shadow Meats butcher Russ Flint against one another in the ultimate lamb grilling showdown. They will be fighting for accolades such as "Best Leg," "Best Shoulder," and "People's Choice" in the park across from Bastille in Ballard. At $25 per person, the limited 100 tickets will sell out quickly.

SUNDAY August 26

Local Harvest Dinner
Leavenworth's reputation has far surpassed "small Bavarian town in the moutains," becoming something of a Northwest culinary destination. The latest example: the Local Harvest Dinners series hosted at Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort. Executive chef Kenneth MacDonald prepares locally sourced dishes with pairings from Chelan Estate Winery. Top it off with a garden tour and a Theo Chocolate tart with berry compote, and the $45 ticket is well worth it.

MONDAY August 27

The Chef and The Gardener Dinner
Chef Ericka Burke and gardener and cookbook author, gardener, and Check, Please! host Amy Pennington are hosting a dinner that features the garden harvest from the Volunteer Park Cafe's backyard garden. Tickets cost $65 per person, which includes dinner, wine and a "garden inspired takeaway gift." 

BEYOND

September 8 The third annual Cider Summit NW is returning to Seattle at the South Lake Union Discovery Center. This event will feature over 60 craft ciders from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, California, England, France, and Spain. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. 

September 9 Nicky USA's 12th annual meatcentric event will feature rabbits, water buffalo and elk this year. Yes, it involves a drive to Oregon's Timberline Lodge, but industry types regularly report it's one of the most fun events of the year. Taste various meats, drink various libations, and watch some of the best chefs in Portland square off against some of the best chefs in Seattle (think Jenn Louis vs. Cormac Mahoney, Chris Israel vs. John Sundstrom, and Gregory Gourdet vs. Nathan Lockwood). The event culminates with a grand finale dinner of these chefs' dishes. Tickets are $150.

October 14 Tickets are now on sale for the 20th Annual "Great Good, Better Lives" Gala Auction held by the FareStart community. Held at the Skybridge at the Washington State Convention Center, the evening will include a silent auction, a wine acution, a live auction, a multicourse gourmet dinner and more. Tickets are $250 per person and all proceeds will benefit FareStart's job training programs for homeless and disadvantaged individuals.