Celebrating Julia Child @ Sur La Table Saturday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 1996 West Gray
"No one is born a great cook, one learns by doing." Great advice from beloved chef Julia Child, who's being honored this weekend in a cooking class by Sur La Table in River Oaks. Tilly Sherwood will instruct students in how to make Curly Endive with Bacon and Poached Eggs and Stove-Top Anna from Child's The Way to Cook and Coq au Vin and Mousseline au Chocolat from Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Students will, of course, get to eat the food they make at the end of the class. Tickets are $69 per person. Sur La Table will donate 5 percent of the proceeds from the Julia Child class to Wholesome Wave, "a national nonprofit dedicated to providing community access to fresh, local produce for all people regardless of income, and supporting local farms," in honor of Child's life and work.
Chiles! Traditional & Contemporary with Kathy Tauber @ Central Market Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 3815 Westheimer
If you like your food spicy, then this is the class for you. Kathy Tauber learned a lot about chiles while living in New Mexico, and she's coming to Central Market's cooking school to share her knowledge some lucky students. The class will start at the cooking school then move outside where people can see how large batches of chiles are roasted. After that, students will learn how to make traditional guacamole, New Mexican flat cheese enchiladas with green chile sauce, chiles rellenos with red sauce, calabacitas with caramelized onions and tequila lime syrup to pair with fresh fruit and yogurt. Tickets are $60, and the class is open to anyone 18 and older.
Freebirds Unplugged Weekend Brunch @ Freebirds Shepherd Plaza Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 3745 Greenbriar
Freebirds started holding weekly brunches with live acoustic music on July 24, but somehow I'm just now getting wind of it. Apparently every Saturday, Freebirds welcomes local and national musicians to play while diners choose from a pretty diverse brunch menu. Freebirds will be offering made-to-order breakfast quesadillas, tacos, burritos and "Breakfast Combos," which feature three made-to-order breakfast tacos with chips and salsa for $4.99. Because it's Freebirds and because it's a party, there will also be weekend drink specials that include frozen mimosas and margaritas and draft beer for $2 each.
French, Maids and Free Wine?@ French Country Wines Saturday, 12 to 6 p.m. 2433 Bartlett
No, unfortunately there won't be any French maids at the event (misleading name, I know), but there will be French wine and dairymaids! French Country Wines is pairing with Houston Dairymaids to offer free tastings of French wine and cheese from local cheese producer Houston Dairymaids. The owners of French Country Wines, Phyllis Adatto and Tim Smith, promise some "exclusive" wines will be on the tasting menu and that their winery is well air conditioned. So wait, there's air conditioning, free wine and free cheese? I'm so there.
Art & Etiquette of English Afternoon Tea @ Elegant Manners Sunday, 3 to 4:30 p.m. 2300 Ann
Should you ever find yourself a guest of the royal family (perhaps you got an invite to the new baby's christening?) you will need to know the skills taught at this class. Elegant Manners International, a local etiquette consultancy and finishing school, is teaching a class about the tradition of English tea which will include "proper finessing for taking tea." Whatever that means. Instructors will also present fun facts about tea, and there will be a three-course traditional tea meal of scones, clotted cream and smoked salmon pinwheels. Admission is $50 for adults and $40 for children 12 and younger. The class will be repeated August 21, September 8 and September 18.
