4 upcoming Twin Cities area food events you'll want on your calendar

The Minnesota Food Truck Festivals are rolling back into town after a yearlong pandemic hiatus. First up is the St. Paul Food Truck Festival on July 17 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and it's bigger than ever. Fifty food trucks — 16 of them new to the festival — are pulling into Union Depot's Lot D. Then, on Aug. 21, head to downtown Anoka from noon to 10 p.m. for food, craft beer and spiked seltzers and entertainment. New bites this year come from Taste the Real Nawlins, Paella Depot, Que Tal Street Eats, Bad Rooster and Nashville Coop. "It's time to discover new foods and flavors, so why not bring 50 kitchens into one place at one time?" said Jess Jenkins, event co-organizer. "Our festivals are composed of local, Minnesota-made small businesses, all of which are grateful to be serving shared experiences again." Find more information at uptownfoodtruckfestival.com.

Help celebrate the launch of the new audio documentary series "The Hidden Black Foodways of Minnesota," created by local chef and food writer Mecca Bos and producer Nancy Rosenbaum as a part of KFAI's (90.3 and 106.7 FM) MinneCulture.

The first installment is "The Godfather of Black Space in Minneapolis," which tells the story of activist and restaurateur A.B. Cassius, the first Black person in Minneapolis to hold a liquor license (his famous greasy burgers were once mentioned on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson) and who provided a space for the local Black community to eat, drink and connect in the 1930s.

Hear it at a listening party July 20 at 6 p.m. at Palmer's Bar (500 Cedar Av. S., Mpls.). Appetizers from Soul Bowl will be on hand, with food and beverages available for purchase. Tickets are on a sliding scale, but suggested at $15 per person, or a $30 pay-it-forward donation (get them here). The outdoor event is for those 21 and older and will be canceled (and tickets refunded) in the event of inclement weather.

Bacon? Sure. Beer? Yes. Bacon and beer? Absolutely. The ultimate pairing will be celebrated for a day at the Bacon and Beer Classic, which is taking over Columbia Golf Course (3300 Central Av. NE., Mpls.) on July 24. As you walk from hole to hole, you'll encounter breweries such as Pryes, Castle Danger and Modist, different flavors of bacon strips, and bacon-themed dishes from Twin Cities restaurants, including Pimento and Granite City Brewing. Clam and bacon chowder, Korean pork belly in bacon cups and bacon cinnamon rolls with stout icing are on the menu. There are activities, too. Bacon seesaw, anyone? Tickets for the 2 ½-hour walk through the course start at $49 and include all the bites and sips. Get them at baconandbeerclassic.com.

In some circles, every day could be a wine-and-cheese day. Want to make it official? National Wine & Cheese Day is coming up July 25, and to celebrate, FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar at Mall of America has partnered with the DIY woodwork studio Create Space to host Board & Bites on July 22 at 5:30 p.m. Learn how to build the perfect cheese board while enjoying wine and cheese pairings — from Shepherd's Way Farms owner Jodi Ohlsen Read — on a customized wooden board, crafted beforehand under Create Space's guidance. Tickets are $75 and include the board, food and beverage. Get them on Tock RSVP by July 16 to get your personalized cheeseboard.