Food sourcing 101 Eating locally is one thing. Eating viscerally is another. But you can learn such skills at a chicken processing class offered by Callister Farm in West Concord, Minn., about 55 miles south of the Twin Cities. Each student gets a chicken, along with instruction in all aspects of chicken prep, from slaughter to packaging, following the farm's humane and respectful processing procedures. Classes are 3-6 p.m. June 8 and 2-5 p.m. June 13. The cost is $40, and advance registration and payment is required. Contact Lori Callister at 1-507-527-8521 or henhouse@)clear.lakes. com. Students get to take their chicken home. To learn more about Callister Farm, visit www.localharvest.org/farms/M9178.
It's pie contest season
The 18th annual Afton May Fair is this weekend, May 22-23, and features a pie-baking contest with celebrity judge Marjorie Johnson. Local amateur bakers may enter their favorite two-crusted fruit pie (rhubarb included) at the judging tent by 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Entry forms, including contest rules, are at www.AftonMayFair.com. The contest is sponsored by Kowalski's Market and Sail Away Cafe.
Gluten-free, with suds
With May being National Celiac Awareness Month, Cafe Levain in Minneapolis is offering a gluten-free dinner on May 26. The featured accompaniment is Bard's Beer, a sorghum-based beer brewed by two brothers who were avid home brewers, only to learn that they had celiac disease. So they developed a beer without barley, wheat or rye. Reservations are recommended at www.cafelevain.com or call 612-823-7111.
Culinary garage sale
Who knows what terrific finds you will see at the culinary garage sale fundraiser held May 20 and 21 from 9 to 3 p.m. at Crystal Kitchen, 3620 Winnetka Av. N., Crystal. The culinary collectibles -- vintage cookbooks, linens, utensils, napkin rings, holiday decor and the proverbial much more (including some gardening items) -- is a fundraiser for Les Dames E'scoffier, a women-in-the-culinary-arts organization, to benefit the youth-focused Eastside Garden Project in St. Paul.
KIM ODE
