Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean the food-related events come to a standstill.
We love to fill our calendar with things to do that help distract us from the frigid weather.
Here are the events we are most excited for this winter.
Jan. 24-Feb. 4: What better way to introduce Ganbei Baijiu, a local liquor startup introducing Baijiu, a new authentic Chinese spirit, to the Twin Cities, then to have a cocktail crawl during the Lunar New Year. The brand has put together the Lunar New Year Cocktail Crawl featuring six restaurants and bars across the metro. Each location will have their own unique Lunar New Year cocktail for guests to order. Each cocktail is served with a traditional new year’s red envelope that is unique to that location. Guests who go to all the locations and post a photo of all the six different envelopes will receive a Baijiu drinking carafe and cup. The dates of the crawl represent the eve of the Lunar New Year and runs through the duration of the Lantern Festival in China. Restaurant hours at participating metro locations: Lat 14, Hai Hai, Jun Szechuan, Rainbow Chinese, Chatterbox Pub, Nightingale; drinkganbei.com
Jan. 25: With Bap & Chicken’s inaugural year comes its inaugural Lunar New Year Celebration. Traditional new year’s food and drinks will be featured. Tickets include two drink tickets, food stations, swag bag and entertainment. The event is 21 years old and older. $35 presale, $40 at the door; 8 p.m.; 1328 Grand Ave., St. Paul; facebook.com/BapandChicken
Jan. 28: Urban Roots, the food-based nonprofit that works with young people on gardening and cooking skills, among other things, is holding one of our favorite fundraisers — a meat raffle! The raffle, which takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at ONE Fermentary and Taproom, 618 5th St. N., Minneapolis. Bring cash to win meaty prizes from local butchers and farmers!
Jan. 29: Tattersall Distilling is holding a release part for its new, USDA-certified organic vodka. There’s a build-your-own vodka soda bar and panel discussion with head distiller Bentley Gilman, farmers Dale Anderson and Jerome Walch, and moderator Mike Augutyniak in about organic farming practices and the skill and science that goes into making a USDA-certified organic vodka. The event, which runs from 6 to 9 p.m., costs $15 and includes a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com. Search for “Tattersall.”
Feb. 5: Freshii, the fast-casual health-food restaurant in the St. Paul skyway, is celebrating its third anniversary, and to thank its customers, the restaurant will offer $5 entrees. There will also be drawings for $50 gift cards, treats and more. Valid only at Freshii, 444 Cedar St., #229, St. Paul.
Feb. 7-9: Looking for a road trip to enjoy Minnesota’s winter wonderland? The annual de’Vine Wine and Culinary Weekend is coming up at one of the Midwest’s popular lakeside lodges. Held at Grand View Lodge in Nisswa, about 2 1/2 hour drive north of the Twin Cities, the event will feature more than 200 global wines, a five-course wine dinner, tastings and pairings, educational seminars and demos, live cooking challenges, industry experts. And St. Paul will represent, with celebrity chef Justin Sutherland featured as the keynote speaker during Saturday’s line up. Cap the weekend off with a Sunday champagne brunch. Day tickets starting at $80; lodging packages starting at $250 per person for two nights and includes all Saturday de’Vine events. Grand View Lodge, 23521 Nokomis Ave., Nisswa; 866-801-2951; grandviewlodge.com/culinary-events/devine
Feb. 9: Get your tickets to see some of the hottest chefs in the Twin Cities be honored at the ninth annual Charlie Awards, our local culinary awards show. Tickets to the show, which begins at 3:30 p.m at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis, are $30 apiece and include entrance to the afterparty, with food, drinks and entertainment. Tickets are available at foodservicenews.net/Charlie-Awards/Ticketing.
Various dates: Rising star chef Yia Vang of Union Kitchen is partnering with one of our favorite nonprofits, Urban Roots. Youth interns from the organization are taking over the grill at Vang’s Union Kitchen residency at Sociable Cider Werks (1500 Fillmore St. N.E., Minneapolis) every third Thursday through April. The interns will make “a dish with a special twist” that combines Urban Roots produce, Hmong flavors and Minnesota tradition. The dates for those takeovers are Jan. 16, Feb. 20, March 19 and April 16.