Food, fun promises of Slovenian summer church picnic

St. Vitus Parish in Cleveland invites everyone to its summer picnic on July 16 at Slovenski Pristava in Harpersfield Township beginning with a noon Mass, followed by a chicken or roast beef dinner and Slovenian-style side dishes.

The meal is $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger, but there is no admission or parking charge.

Slovenski Pristava, on 77 acres off Brandt Road, includes a swimming pool and is one of the few family-focused recreational areas remaining in the area. An orchestra for will play after dinner, and the Sree Mayuri Dance Academy will perform colorful dances of southern India.

Slovenian sausage (klobase), cevapcici (mixture of rolled lamb, veal and pork), french fries, hamburgers and other foods will be available throughout the afternoon along with cool drinks. Raffles, games of Slovenian bocce (bolinka) and swimming will round out the fun. Info and dinner tickets: 216-361-1444

Pickling

Learn about pickling from Judi Strauss in a class at 7 p.m. July 25 in the kitchen at Wildwood Cultural Center in Mentor.

With the class covering everything from old-fashioned crock pickles to pickled peaches, relishes and green tomatoes, you’ll discover how to make great gifts for the future that preserve summer’s bounty. You’ll taste pickled products and learn how to use them in cooking, and you will get plenty of recipes. The cost is $17 with a $3 discount for Mentor residents. The class has an additional $8 food fee payable to Strauss on class night.

Wildwood is at 7645 Little Mountain Road in Mentor. Register: 440-974-5735.

Bruell restaurants

Chef Zack Bruell has designed a tour of six of his Cleveland restaurants that will result in prizes for those who dine at all six before Sept. 4.

Get a dining pass at any of the restaurants and have it stamped at each. Complete the tour and have a chance to win a multicourse dinner and wine pairing for yourself and a guest at one of the restaurants. Ten winners will be selected. The Grand Prize winner gets a spectacular four-course dinner for eight prepared at his or her home.

The six easteries are Parallax, L’Albatros, Table 45, Alley Cat Oyster Bar, Ristorante Chinato and Cowell & Hubbard.

Wine bottle art

Create your own embellished and lit wine bottle in the Sass on Glass wine bottle painting class set monthly on select Wednesdays at Debonne Vineyards in Madison.

The next session is July 19, followed by classes on Aug. 30 and Sept. 27. The $40-per-person cost includes a glass of wine and everything you need to create your masterpieces. Reserve: 330-389-5472. That’s also the the same evening for the next tethered hotair balloon ride over the winery at 7840 Doty Road. Balloon rides take place from 6 to 8 p.m. and are $12 for adults by reservation at 440-466-3485.

Backyard party food

Discover the skills and menu for a perfect backyard party in a 2.5-hour class from chef Tim McCoy at 6 p.m. July 19 at the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking in Chester Township.

The buffet-ready outdoor grilling menu will include marinated red peppers with grilled flatbreads and hummus, cucumbertomato salad with walnut-yogurt dressing, grilled beef kebabs with lemon-oregano marinade, paella with spicy chicken sausage and zucchini topped off with roasted peaches and honey ice cream. It’s $55 an includes plenty to eat.

Registration: 440-729-1110; www.lpscinc.com.