Thanksgiving cooking classes, a vintage cookbook sale, and Lawrence’s best talent teams up to feed the hungry: KC’s food and drink events for November 12-18
Monday, November 12
Adam Clary from Standard Beverage Company is hosting a Bourbon Trail dinner tonight at Rye Leawood (10551 Mission Road). Smoked bay scallops, duck breast, and risotto are featured on the menu. Featured bourbons include Bakers, Eagle Rare, 1792 full proof, and Old Forester 1920. After the meal, the group will enjoy cigars by the fire pits outside. The meal is $145 a person including tax and gratuity; get your tickets via Brown Paper Tickets.
Ryan Maybee and his team at Manifesto (1924 Main Street) are demonstrating how to make holiday cocktails for a crowd tonight from 5-7:30 p.m. The demo, drink, and food samples are part of the package, which is $50 a person. The event is sold out, but, hey, cancellations occur. Call 816-536-1325 to inquire.
Tuesday, November 13
Dive into the wines of Burgundy tonight with an extravagant wine dinner at the Antler Room (2506 Holmes Road). Four courses plus hors d’ouevres will be featured along 10 handpicked wines from Pinnacle Imports. This will be the final wine dinner of the year at the Antler Room. The meal is $150 a person, not including tax or tip. Email theantlerroomkc@gmail.com or call 816-605-1967 for reservations.
Dead Beet Taco will be serving vegetarian and vegan (gluten-free) tacos and snacks tonight at Dodson’s Bar and Commons (7438 Wornall Road) from 6 p.m. until whenever they sell out. Try roasted poblano queso blanco as well as vegan Korean BBQ tacos made with jackfruit and served with purple cabbage, gochujang aioli, pickled onion, and cilantro on a homemade tortilla.
Thursday, November 15
Get a jumpstart on your holiday prep with a Thanksgiving basis cooking class at Lenexa Public Market (8750 Penrose Lane). Chef Brenda VandenBos, who grew up on a turkey farm, will be leading a two-hour demo from 6-8 p.m. that includes tastings. On the menu: roast turkey, gravy, herb stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, hazelnut green beans, angel biscuits, and pumpkin bars. Tickets are $50; pick them up via Eventbrite.
Another cooking class — this one featuring Napa-inspired recipes — is running concurrently at Olive Tree KC (7044 West 105th Street). Chef Jim Tinkham will be guiding a class through recipes including micro field and arugula greens with red grapefruit, strawberry, and blood orange vinaigrette, wild mushroom and espresso pork tenderloin with a dark balsamic gastrique, and more. The class includes the demo, plus samples. Tickets are $55 and can be purchased via Olive Tree’s website.
Friday, November 16
Many of Lawrence’s best restaurants are coming together today for Harvest Feast, a benefit for Just Food, a nonprofit that provides food assistance to individuals and families in Douglas County. Harvest Feast takes place from 6-9:30 p.m., and guests will sample bites and drinks from restaurants including Limestone Pizza, the Roost, the Waffle Iron, Lawrence Beer Company, Lark a Fare, Merchant’s Pub & Plate, Mass Street Fish House & Raw Bar, and many more. Tickets start at $50 and can be purchased in person on the day of the event or in advance here. Learn more about Just Food via its website.
Johnson County Community College’s Wylie Hospitality & Culinary Academy (12345 College Boulevard) is cleaning out its vintage cookbook library and is offering it for sale to the public during its regular bake sale hours from 3 to 6 p.m. Pick up one of several vintage cookbooks (some even authored by James Beard himself) while browsing pies, pastries and other baked goods made by JCCC culinary talent.
Saturday, November 17
At Brookside Wine and Spirits (600 East 63rd Street), they’re inviting customers in for a wine and pie tasting today from 3-6 p.m. Wines from Decoy, Field Recordings, and Brandborg will be on offer alongside samples of seasonal pie — not a bad way to test pairings ahead of Thanksgiving.
