Apple-looza at U-District Farmers Market
Saturday, October 11, 10am-12pm (market runs 'til 2pm)
Check out different Washington apples and learn which variety is better to make sauce, pies and other baked goods. Also patronize assorted apple products (ciders, jellies, pies, yum!) from local farmers and vendors. Cooking demo will be at noon.
50th St and University Way NE. Info: seattlefarmersmarkets.org

Free knife sharpening at Dish it Up
Saturday, October 11, 12pm-2pm
Bring up to two knives (no serrated) and have a pro get it back to shape for free. Located in Magnolia, Dish it Up offers kitchen gadgets and cooking classes from local chefs. Upcoming classes include making pintxos (Northern Spain's-- Basque Country to be exact-- equivalent of tapas) with Chef Wayne Johnson of Andaluca, cooking with fungi with Chef John Nesby of Poulsbo's Mor Mor Bistro and making warm autumn soups with Chef Larry Monaco of 08 Seafood Grill.
2425 33rd Ave W, Suite B, Seattle. Info: dish-it-up.com, 888-222-COOK

Wine tasting featuring Willamette Valley's Domaine Drouhin
at McCarthy & Schiering
Saturday, October 11, 11am-5pm
Family-run Domaine Drouhin winery has vineyards in Oregon's Dundee Hills, region of Willamette Valley. This tasting will feature their 2007 Domaine Drouhin Arthur Chardonnay and 2005 Domaine Drouhin Laurène Chardonnay. As always, McCarthy & Schiering's Saturday wine tastings are free.
Queen Anne shop: 2401 B Queen Anne Ave N & McGraw St. Ravenna shop: 6500 Ravenna Ave NE. Info: mccarthyandschiering.com

There are lots going on this weekend. As the weather gets cooler, sip some warm sake or tea, make fresh spicy salsa and dance to the beat of the music. Maybe not in that particular order, but come to think of it, why not?

Columbia City Beatwalk
Friday, October 3, 7pm-10pm
Eat, mingle and listen to live music at Kallaloo Caribbean Restaurant (featuring Duo Caribe and Eduardo Mendonça), Awash Ethiopian Restaurant (with Afro-Cuban jazz band Sonando) and other Columbia City stomping ground. Check out the extensive wine selection at Verve Wine Bar & Cellar and make sure to try something new.
$5 cover allows access to all venues offering live music. Info: columbiacitybeatwalk.org

Lake Chelan Crush Festival
Saturday, October 4-Sunday, October 5
also Saturday, October 11-Sunday, October 12
Tour Lake Chelan wineries, learn about wine making and meet the winemakers. Tasting will be in abundance. Participating area wineries include Vin du Lac, Tsillan Cellars, Nefarious Cellars, Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards and Tildio Winery.
Info: lakechelanwinevalley.com

Wine tasting at McCarthy & Schiering featuring Paul Gregutt Selections
Saturday, October 4, 11am-5pm
The Selections-- created by wine adviser Paul Gregutt and McCarthy & Schiering proprietors Dan McCarthy and Jay Schiering-- will be of single vineyard offerings, unusual varietals, special clones or exceptional barrels from a particular vintage.
As noted previously, the Saturday wine tastings are free. Gregutt will be at the Ravenna shop (6500 Ravenna Ave. NE) from 11:30am-2pm and the Queen Anne shop (2401 B Queen Anne Ave. N & McGraw St.) from 2:30pm-5pm.
Info: mccarthyandschiering.com/

Warm sake tasting
Saturday, October 4, 12pm-8pm
Sunday, October 5, 12pm-7pm
Sake Nomi-- sake shop and tasting bar in Pioneer Square-- brings back kanzake (warm sake) in time for the fall weather. Ask about their complimentary sake tastings.
76 S Washington St. & 1st Ave. Info: 206.467.SAKE, sakenomi.us

Northwest Tea Festival
Saturday, October 4, 10am-6pm
Sunday, October 5, 10am-4pm
Sample teas from India, China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, and learn about various cultural tea ceremonies. Highlights include cooking demo with Eric Tanaka, Executive Chef of Tom Douglas Restaurants; Tea 101 workshops and films about tea at SIFF Cinema.
Seattle Center, Northwest Rooms. Free admission, $5 suggested donation.
Info: nwteafestival.com

Wine Outlet's Lamb Roast Anniversary Party
Sunday, October 5, 11am-5pm
Wine Outlet's Interbay shop turns one and you're invited to celebrate with them. They're firing up the grill for a lamb roast party, pouring wine and offering great deals. Cheers.
946 Elliott Ave. W. Info: 206.285.1189, seattlewineoutlet.com

Fresh salsa demo at Broadway Farmers Market
Sunday, October 5, 12pm-1pm
Learn how to make fresh salsa using seasonal vegetables, herbs, fruits and other local produce from the market.
10th Ave. E & E Thomas St. on Capitol Hill behind Bank of America. The Broadway Farmers Market is held every Sunday, 11am-3pm, through Nov 23.
Info: seattlefarmersmarkets.org

Cooking demo at CroatiaFest
Sunday, October 5, 1:30pm
John Sarich, Chateau Ste. Michelle Culinary Director, will demonstrate how to make tasty Croatian food at this weekend festival celebrating Seattle's Croatian American community. While there, try Ukuhana kava (Croatian coffee), Kranjska kobasica s ajvarom (spicy Croatian sausage with red pepper relish) and Karlovačko pivo (imported Croatian beer). Zivjeli!
Seattle Center, Center House. Free admission. Info: croatiafest.org

Starting 1 October 2008, supermarkets and grocery stores all over the United States are required by law to disclose the country of origin for many whole food products. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats are the primary products covered in this new labeling law, however, many products are excluded from labeling requirements. As an example, a head of butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce will carry country of origin labeling, while a spring mix of lettuce will not because the mix is "processed". The labeling is based on Farm Bill legislation dating back to 2002, which originally required country of origin labeling (COOL) for beef, lamb, pork, fish, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts. The 2008 Farm Bill further defines required labeling to include chicken, goat meat, ginseng, pecans and macadamia nuts. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service provides additional details, although CountryOfOriginLabel.org does a better job of spelling out the requirements in plain english. The grocery store in my town already does a good job of spelling this out, so it will be interesting to see if I notice any changes as the law takes effect.