Learn fanciful cake decorating at workshop

The first four Thursdays in March at the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking, 8613 Mayfield Road, Chester Township, are devoted to a four-session basic cake decorating workshop with chef Rick Harrison.

The hands-on sessions begin at 6 p.m. March 1 with cake making, including the two-stage method for white cake, the creaming method for yellow cake, a twostage method for devil’s food cake, chiffon method for yellow chiffon cake and angel food method for angel food cake.

Fillings and buttercreams will be taught for the March 8 class, followed by decorating techniques for borders and flowers on March 15.

On March 22, Harrison will demonstrate how to tier, torte, fill, and frost a cake. Then, using previously made cakes and buttercreams, students will create and decorate their own cakes using all techniques learned over the course of the workshop.

Each session is 2.5 hours. The full workshop is $195, with registration at 440-729-1110 or lpscinc.com.

Simple Italian breads

Simple Italian breads such as focaccia, bruschetta and bread sticks that will compliment any meal will be taught on Feb. 27 by Judi Strauss in the kitchen at Wildwood Cultural Center, 7645 Little Mountain Road, Mentor.

Learn recipes and techniques, taste everything in class and take the recipes home.

The fee is $17, with a $3 discount for Mentor residents. An additional $8 food fee is payable in cash to Strauss on class night.

Register: 440-974-5720.

Traditional Greek cooking

Traditional Greek cooking uses ingredients and techniques to bring out the natural flavors of foods rather than using spices to change them. Learn how to do it yourself at 6 p.m. Feb. 28 as instructor Beth Robbins leads a 2.5hour hands-on class at the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking, 8613 Mayfield Road, Chester Township.

Classic dishes will include Avgolemeno — Chicken Egg-Lemon Soup; Greek Country Salad; Spanakopita; Moussaka with Eggplant; Pastitsio — Baked Pasta with Meat; and Baklava Pastry. Fee is $65. Register: 440-7291110; lpscinc.com.

Ice wine festival

The annual Grand River Valley Ice Wine Festival presides over Saturdays in March with five wineries — each within a few minutes’ drive of each other — participating.

Other festival events will include a progressive dinner each festival Friday and a 4-mile Ice Wine run between Debonne Vineyards and Grand River Cellars on March 4. Debonne Vineyards, Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Grand River Cellars, Laurello Vineyards and St. Joseph Vineyards each will showcase its ice wine, along with a special appetizer, and present a special activity such as dog sled demos at Debonne and ice sculpting at Ferrante.

The $6 cost at each winery will include a collectible ice wine glass at each. Those bringing a canned food item for the food bank get a $1 discount.

Get details next week in The News-Herald or News-Herald. com.