Valentine-themed drinking, tasting events and more
Drink events
Dessert & Wine Pairings: Wine and dessert pairing lessons, wine and Christianity reflections and raffle prizes. 6:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Greystone Theological Institute, 505 Chestnut St., Coraopolis. $49. greystoneinstitute.org/greystone-winesociety.
Love at First Sip: A Valentine Tea Party: Scones with clotted cream, lemon curd or preserves, plus soup, tea sandwiches, desserts and hot tea. 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, at Whitehall Public Library. $30; register in person at the library. whitehallpubliclibrary.org.
Sweethearts Wine and Chocolate Tasting: Learn to sip and appreciate wine, and try wines paired with homemade chocolate treats from Pink House. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, at Apericena Wine Bar, Upper St. Clair. $35. eventbrite.com (search for “Sweethearts Wine and Chocolate Tasting”).
Chocolate Truffle Making: Learn to make chocolate truffles that you can enjoy after class, plus wrap some up to take home for your valentine. 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, at The Pennsylvania Market, Strip District. $35. thepamarket.com/ classes.
For charity
Rotary Pancake Breakfast: All-you-can-eat pancakes, bacon, eggs and coffee, plus craft table, prizes and silent auction. 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 9, at New Bethel Baptist Church, Lawrenceville. $10; $8 for seniors; $5 for children. Benefits Lawrenceville Rotary Club’s service projects. lvpgh.com/events/lawrenceville-rotary-pancakebreakfast.
Flapjack Festival: Allyou-can-eat pancakes and sausage. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Baldwin Community United Methodist Church. $8; $3 for ages 412; free for ages 3 and under. Benefits the United Methodist Men’s Laity Memorial Educational Scholarship Program. baldwincommunityumc.com.
International Soup Sampling: Sample five soups from around the world for $10, and take home a quart of your favorite for $10. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, Mt. Lebanon. Benefits International Orthodox Christian Charities. iocc.org/pittsburgh.
Dance with Me: Dancing, dining and cocktails. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at The Graeme House, Downtown. $75; $140 for couples. Benefits Community Kitchen Pittsburgh’s food service training programs for people with barriers to employment. ckpgh.org.
Chocolate and Diamonds: Wine pull, silent auction, chocolate desserts and a diamond necklace for one winner. 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Edgewood Country Club. $50; benefits the Woodland Hills Foundation. showclix.com/event/chocolateanddiamonds2019.
Great Restaurant Raffle: Green Tree Rotary is raffling off $1,200 worth of dinner gift cards — $100 gift cards for DeBlasio’s, Rico’s, Scoglio’s, The Carlton, LeMont, Atria’s, Sewickley Speakeasy, Steelhead Brasserie, Aracri’s Greentree Inn, Ruth’s Chris and Osaka. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20 and can be bought between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays at the Green Tree Administrative Office, 10 W. Manilla Ave. Winner will be based on the three-digit PA Daily Lottery on Feb. 14.
Spring Dinner collection: North Hills Community Outreach is collecting items through March 8 to provide a complete spring dinner for each family that uses the food pantry. Items needed include butter or margarine, applesauce, pineapple, fruit cocktail, boxed potatoes (mashed or scalloped), dinner rolls and biscuit mix. Donate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at NHCO in Hampton or 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 2 or March 2 at the food pantry behind the office. 412-487-6316 opt. 1.
Classes
Kids Nutrition Kitchen: Eat the Alphabet: Make the connection between healthy foods and letters of the alphabet (N is for nectarine, O is for orange, P is for pumpkin). 1 to 2 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28, at Ohio Township Community Park’s Nature Center. $75 for four classes for children ages 3 to 5. eventbrite.com (search for “Kids Nutrition Kitchen”).
Buttercream Succulent Cupcakes: Learn to color buttercream in natural shades and pipe a variety of succulents and cacti onto vanilla cupcakes using icing tips. 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, or Wednesday, Feb. 13, at Mediterra Cafe, Sewickley. $95; includes take-home supplies, champagne, hors d’oeuvres and a dozen cupcakes to take home. eventbrite.com (search for “Buttercream Succulent”).
Food professional news
Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under Forty: Fruit Growers News has released its picks for the year’s top 40 professionals under age 40 who are making their marks on the fruit and vegetable industry. Three Western Pennsylvania men were honored in the class of 2018: Adam Voll, farm manager of Soergel Orchards in Wexford; Dave King, co-owner of Harvest Valley Farms in Valencia; and Steven Johnston, co-owner of Apple Castle in New Castle.