←Life of Pie Celebrates National Pizza Week

What: In celebration of National Pizza week– an entire week memorializing the saucy, cheesy deliciousness this favorite American dish– the Life of Pie Pizza is serving up house–made mozzarella sticks, and handing them out free with every pizza order. 
When: Jan 13th thru 19th
Where: Life of Pie Pizza, 3632 N Williams
How Much: Free 

Hair Metal Winemaker Dinner at Aviary

What: What does a snakey Sauvignon taste like? Find out at Aviary’s hair metal wine dinner on January 15!  Four of Portland’s rock star chefs will team up with Aviary’s Sarah Pliner to prepare five courses paired with wines produced by heavy metal musicians. Participating chefs include Le Pigeon, St. Jack, The Sugar Cube, and Ned Ludd and a wine lineup featuring Queensryche, AC/DC, Whitesnake, Warrant, and tequila by Sammy Hagar. See for yourself if your teen heart throbs can still rock you with the help of Portland chefs in a night of food, wine and rock & roll.
When: Wednesday, Jan 15th at 6:30 pm
Where: Aviary, 1733 NE Alberta St
How Much: $85 per person. Hair metal fans and oenophiles alike can make reservations by calling Aviary at 503-287-2400. 

Kurt Timmermeister reads from “Growing a Feast” at Powell’s

What: Listen to Kurt Timmermeister read from Growing a Feast, his follow up to Growing a Farmer, telling the tale of a feast comprising only what his Vashon Island, Washington farm provides. Through characters like Michiko, the fungi forager, Bill, the tomato grower, and Alice, the calf, Growing a Feast explores the effort behind every meal.
When: Thursday, Jan 16th at 7:30 pm
Where: Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St
How Much: Free

Brew Masterpiece Theatre Series present rock film The Last Waltz

What: Hop on the train and let down your hair, Lompoc Brewery and Hollywood Theatre have combined forces to host a classic rock themed evening screening the legendary concert film, The Last Waltz, with The Parson Redheads performing live covers of The Band. Do your best not to get as drunk as Van Morrison as you imbibe Lompoc’s classic rock themed IPAs (Every Rose Has A Thorn, Ramble On, White Album, Satisfaction, and Saaz, Nuggs, and Rock & Roll) in the latest installment of Brew Masterpiece Theatre series.
When: Friday, Jan 17th at 7 pm
Where: Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy Blvd
How Much: $8 per person admission, plus the price of beer. For more information, check out hollywoodtheatre.org.

Pacific Pie’s Third Annual Pie Bake–Off→

What: Pacific Pie is calling all bakers to step up to the plate show off their best lattice crusted, pastry laden stuff at their third annual Bake–Off commemorating National Pie Day. Register your sweet or savory pie to be judged by a jury of pie aficionados for your chance at the 2014 PDX Pie Champion, and the People’s Choice Award. Not a baker? Skip the competition and stop in to Pacific Pie on National Pie Day (Jan 23rd) to celebrate with pie specials all day long.
When: Sunday, Jan 19th from 11 – 2 pm
Where: Pacific Pie, 1668 NW 23rd Ave
How Much: Free. National Pie Day (Jan 23rd) pies are $3.50 a slice. For more information call 503-894-9482 or email at [email protected]

Gramercy Tavern and Le Pigeon Collaborative Dinner 

What: Le Pigeon welcomes Michael Anthony, NYC’s Gramercy Tavern chef/partner, author, and James Beard award winner for a five course, collaborative dinner with the Le Pigeon team. Celebrating 20 years in NYC, this farm to table eatery has just released its first cookbook and the two restaurants are far from strangers. Andy got his start in the Gramercy kitchen, and Gabe Rucker collaborated with Gramercy on occasion. The menu is still in the works, but, with these chefs at the helm, it’s a dinner you won’t want to miss.
When: Monday, January 20th with a 5:30 and 8:15 seating.
Where: Le Pigeon, 738 East Burnside St
How Much: $125 per person (includes beverage pairings, and gratuity). Signed copies of Gramercy Tavern cookbook will be available for $50.

Author Diane Morgan teaches two Food Writing Workshops

What: Spend an afternoon gleaning food writing wisdom from James Beard award–winning author, Diane Morgan. Learn how to write, pitch, and market your next food writing project at her “Food Writing that Sells" workshop or hone your recipe writing skills with her Recipe Writing Intensive. Whether you are a chef, writer, home cook, or just want to sharpen your skills, spend an afternoon with the pro and walk away armed to tackle your next food writing project.
When: “Food Writing that Sells” workshop held Saturday, Jan 25th from 9 to 2 pm, and Recipe Writing Intensive workshop help Saturday, Feb 1st from 9 – 2 pm.
Where: Good Keuken, 5031 NE 42nd Ave
?How Much: $125 per person, per workshop. For more information and to reserve your spot check out dianemorgancooks.com or call 503-799-4994

Chocolate for the Congo Benefit

What: Indulge in decadent chocolate dessert creations and support a worthy cause at the Chocolate for the Congo Benefit. Little Bird Chef Laura Fortgang, along with eight other prominent Portland pastry chefs, come together to craft a provocative tasting menu featuring a wide ranging assortment of sweet and savory chocolate dishes, using fair trade Theo chocolate. 100% of the proceeds benefit the Eastern Congo Initiative, an advocacy and grant–making initiative.
When: Saturday, Jan 25th from 11 am–2 pm.
Where: Little Bird Bistro, 219 SW 6th Ave
How Much: $30 per person. Tickets and more info available at littlebirdbistro.com. 

NW Coffee Beer Invitational

What: Local breweries combine two of Portland’s most beloved beverages– coffee and beer– in a super beverage that is arguably greater than the sum of it’s parts. Using freshly roasted coffee with an emphasis on flavor, and ABV of 7% or less, sample the array of interpretations of this unique drink, and unwind with live music at the cozy Goose Hollow Inn.  
When: Sat, Jan 25th from 1–7 pm.
Where: Goose Hollow Inn, 1927 SW Jefferson St
How Much: $12 per person, and includes a festival glass, and six taster tickets. Check out their Facebook page for more information.  

18th Annual Great Balls of Fire

What: A fiery hot annual fundraiser benefiting Oregon Heat, a local non–profit assisting low income Oregonians pay their utility bills, Salvador Molly’s donates $1 to Oregon Heat for every habanero fritter–aka Ball of Fire– consumed in the month of February. The fritter scarfing showdown kicks off Jan 26th, and ends March 1st with finalists putting there tongues to the test and a winner crowned.
When: Jan 26th thru March 1st. The Toughest Tongue Kickoff Competition is held Sun Jan 26 at 12 pm, and the King and Queen of Heat Competition takes place March 1st at 12 pm.
Where: Salvador Molly’s, 1523 SW Sunset Blvd
How Much: Free to attend. For additional information about the fundraiser or events, check out salavadormollys.com.

Culinaria Dinner Series at Disjecta featuring John Gorham

What: Artistic and culinary minds come together in one expertly curated evening supporting Disjecta’s Curator-In-Residence program. Rub shoulders with artists, Disjecta curator, and director in Disjecta’s intimate exhibition space over a deliciously crafted menu by Toro Bravo’s John Gorham.
When: Monday, Jan 27th
Where: Disjecta, 8371 N Interstate Ave
How Much: $100 per person. To purchase tickets or for more information, check out disjecta.org. 

Flight Dessert Bar Hosted at Bluebird Bakers

What: Be one of the first to experience the new pop–up dessert bar, Flight, as it unfurls the first of it six course prix fixed menu complete with drink pairings featuring Chef Nate Hamilton. Taste his seasonally inspired, locally sourced desserts, expecting experimental twists blurring lines between sweet and savory at this unique food event.
When: Saturday, Feb 1st at 8 pm
Where: Bluebird Bakers, 2390 NW Thurman St
How Much: $41 per person. For more information and upcoming menus, check out flightdessertbar.com.

THIRST Fest: First Annual LGBTQ Wine, Beer, and Spirits Event

What: Sample newly released spirits and weigh in on the latest trends in mixology at this two day festival benefiting Cascade AIDS Project, supporting the LGBTQ community. Find your new favorite drink, tasting a lineup of local and national labels, or support your favorite mixologist at “Battle of the Bartenders” where contestants whip up original cocktails for a jury of celebrity judges.
When: Friday, Feb 7th (5 – 10 pm) and Saturday, Feb 8th (4 – 10 pm)
Where: The Tiffany Center, 1410 SW Morrison St
How Much: $20 per person and includes 10 drink tokens. For more info or to score your ticket, book online at thirstfest.com.