Meal Times

EDIBLE AUSTIN & PAPI TINO'S CHEF CHALLENGE DINNER SERIES This hip Eastside venue hosts talented students from four of Austin's top culinary education programs during the month of September in a Chef Challenge competition. Students prepare appetizer and entrée courses to be paired with Oaxacan mezcal and Papi Tino's will provides desserts. Admission gets you three courses with mezcal pairings and a signature cocktail. Buy tickets at www.facebook.com/events 199666736830125. Wednesdays in September, 7pm Papi Tino's, 1306 E. Sixth, 512/479-1306. $35. www.papitinos.com

AUTUMN PICNIC WITH THE PASTRY QUEEN Learn how to make delectable sweet treats from the pastry queen herself, Rebecca Rather at this delicious class. Fri., Sept. 21, 6:30-9pm. (2012) Central Market North Cooking School, 4001 N. Lamar, 512/206-1014. $55; reserve online or by phone. www.centralmarket.com

BEERS FOR BUILDINGS Black Star demonstrates their status as a Breadwinner for the Sustainable Food Center's building fund by hosting an all day fundraiser. The co-op will donate $1 for each High Esteem beer sold that day to the SFC capital campaign. Fri., Sept. 21, 11-1am. (2012) Black Star Co-op Pub and Brewery, 7020 Easy Wind #100, 512/452-2337. www.blackstar.coop

AMERICAN DECADES NIGHT W/ CHEESEBURGERS ON THE MENU The final Roots Series music concert of the year offers popular standards from the 1940's through the 1980's performed by three different bands while the Longhorn Street Cafe serves up a $10 meal. Beer, wine, and sodas also for sale. Sat., Sept. 22, 5pm. (2012) Gillespie County Historical Society, 312 W. San Antonio St., Fredericksburg, 830/997-2835. $12; kids, free. ($2 discount online). www.pioneermuseum.com

BANGER'S OKTOBERFEST Brand new Banger's hits the ground running with a fortnight of Oktoberfest activities through Oct. 7. Enjoy food and drink specials, a petting zoo, crazy lawn games, polka music, whole animal roasts, and contests, depending on the date. Complete schedule online. Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden, 79 Rainey, 386-1656. www.bangersaustin.com

ESPRESSO 101 WORKSHOPS Enjoy free coffee all day while a training specialist demonstrates how to make various coffee drinks with Jura Automatic Coffee Centers during three seminars. We'll supply the pastries. Reserve your spot online or by phone. Sat., Sept. 22, 9:30, 11am, & 1pm Faraday's Kitchen Store, 1501-A RR 620 N., 512/266-5666. $10. www.faradayskitchenstore.com

AUSTIN RESTAURANT WEEK Restaurants all over the city will be offering special two or three course fixed-price menus from $11-17 for lunch, $17 for brunch at select locations, and $27-37 for dinners during Austin Restaurant Week. Proceeds benefit Meals on Wheels and More. The website has a complete list of participating restaurants. Sept. 23-26 and Sept. 30-Oct. 3 www.restaurantweekaustin.com

SUGARVEIL DEMONSTRATION & SKYLINE TEMPLATE CLASS Expert cake artist Lauren Kitchens will present a free demonstration on the use of SugarVeil, a new flexible icing product from noon until 1pm. Later, she teaches a class on creating standing cityscapes for themed cakes which will include templates and several useful techniques. Reserve online or by phone. Sun., Sept. 23, 2-5pm. (2012) Make It Sweet, 9070 Research, 512/371-3401. $145 (supplies included). www.makeitsweet.com

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION PARTY Owners Mary Jenkins and Cody Symington demonstrate their gratitude for six successful months in business with food and drink specials, and a cool raffle. Mon., Sept. 24, 6-10pm. (2012) Cenote, 1010 E. Cesar Chavez, 512/524-1311. www.cenoteaustin.com

LAGUNITAS PAIRING DINNER Enjoy a five course Mexican-inspired meal paired with beer from Lagunitas Brewery. Reserve tickets online or by phone. Mon., Sept. 24, 6-10pm. (2012) 24 Diner, 600 N. Lamar, 512/472-5400. $65. www.24diner.com

BOURBON, BLUEGRASS, & BBQ FESTIVAL The United States Bartenders' Guild hosts the third annual Bourbon Heritage Month party with live music, plenty of barbecue, and bourbon libations from some of your favorite local bartenders. Tue., Sept. 25, 7-11pm. (2012) Stubb's, 801 Red River, 512/480-8341. $25. tinyurl.com/d7jttdb

MAN FIRE FOOD VISITS AUSTIN Be sure to catch a segment of Cooking Channel's Man Fire Food featuring Tom Spaulding of Live Oak Barbecue preparing a South American-style parilla. Tue., Sept. 25, 9pm. (2012)

MONTHLY WINE DINNER Enjoy a four-course Italian meal paired with wines chosen by sommelier Pier Manna. $45 per person; reserve by phone. Tue., Sept. 25, 7pm. (2012) Andiamo Ristorante, 2521 Rutland, 512/719-3377. www.andiamoitaliano.com

BOURBON HERITAGE MONTH DINNER Adam Harris of Jim Beam Distillery will join chef David Griffin in presenting a three course meal with bourbon in each course paired with a custom bourbon cocktail. Reserve by phone. Fri., Sept. 28, 5-10pm. (2012) Austin Cake Ball Kitchen & Bar, 3401 Esperanza Crossing #104, 512/215-3633. $35. www.austincakeball.com/kitchenandbar

FOOD FOR BLACK THOUGHT SYMPOSIUM This symposium led by scholars, community organizers, and culinary professionals will explore Black experiences with the social, political, historical, and economic aspects of food, over two days of seminars, discussions, readings, meals, and documentary film screenings. The daytime event on Friday will take place on the UT campus, while the film screening Friday night and all the Saturday sessions will be held at the Carver Cultural Center. All events are free and open to the public. Go online for a complete schedule. Fri., Sept. 28, 11am-9:30pm; Sat., Sept. 29, 11am-6pm Warfield Center for African American Studies at UT, Jester A232A; Carver Cultural Center, 1165 Angelina. www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/caaas/events/24115