Food events to mark on your calendar
As Auntie Mame said, life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.
There's no need to be a poor sucker. There are many banquet-like fests, dinners and other events on the fall calendar in Cincinnati -- all you have to do is go. Here are some through the first week of October:
Eat Local for the Globe: Thursday's event benefits the Findlay Market Fund. Top local chefs will prepare dishes that reflect the great variety of butchers, fishmongers, cheese sellers, bakers, farms and food artisans at Findlay Market. There will be a dozen tasting stations, wine and beer pairings, craft cocktails and live music. Tickets $75; 6-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept.11.
The Cincinnati Food & Wine Classic, coming up this Friday and Saturday, will feature food from restaurants and chefs both local and visiting, with seminars, demonstrations, book signings and afterparties. In Washington Park. www.cincinnatifoodandwineclassic.com
The Taste of India, presented by the Hindu Temple of Greater Cincinnati, is now 14 years old. It's one of the largest Indian festivals in the Midwest, featuring Indian food, dance and culture. Both restaurants and home cooks provide the dishes for the festival, drawing on the great regional diversity of Indian food, and it is all vegetarian. There is also a dance competition called "NaachSitare," as well as vendors with clothing, jewelry and spices, local arts and crafts, and children's games. Rozzi Fireworks concludes the event with a show at 8:15 p.m. Noon-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. Hindu Temple of Greater Cincinnati, 4920 Klatte Road, Union Township. Free. Donations benefit Hindu Temple of Cincinnati. 513-528-3714; www.tasteofindiacincinnati.com
Carriage House Farm is open for its tour and local food open house from noon-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept 14. This farm supplies local, sustainably raised food to regional chefs and retailers. The tour includes sampling stations from chefs and artisan food producers who use the farm's products, such as Chocolats Latour, Fab Ferments, Fireside Pizza, Nuvo at Greenup, Salazar and Sixteen Bricks Artisan Bakehouse. 10251 Miami View Road, North Bend. www.carriagehousefarmllc.com.
St. Leon, Indiana, will host a Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned barbecue festival this Friday and Saturday called the St. Leon BBQ Smoke Fest & Chili Cook-off. The competition takes place Saturday, with chili tasting open to the public at 2:15 p.m. St. Leon Community Park; www.stleon.us/BBQ_Smoke-off.htm.
The Cincinnati Street Food Festival will bring together 15 local food trucks, craft beer, live music and art on East McMillan Street in Walnut Hills. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 27; www.walnuthillsrf.org.
The Asian Food Fest will be in Washington Park this year, with chefs and restaurants from Asian countries, including China, Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines. Participants include Pho Lang Thang, Yat Ka Mein, Huit BBQ, Red Sesame Korean BBQ, Amerasia, Angie's Malaysian Satay & Sauces, Budina, Lady Lavang Vietnamese Church, and other chefs, both professional and amateur. Food is $2-$6. There also will be a Human Foosball Arena, Asian cultural shows and arts and crafts. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Oct. 5; www.asianfoodfest.org.