Datebook

Thursday

Cheese, Please: Try a variety of domestic and imported cheeses and learn which foods and wines to serve with them. 6:30 p.m. The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills, 419 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 278-2855. Call the New School of Cooking to sign up for this class at (310) 842-9702. $50.

Saturday

Food Fair: Sample sushi, tempura, tofu, noodles, unagi (broiled eel) and sake at the Japanese Food Fair sponsored by the Japanese Restaurant Assn. of Southern California. Musical entertainment is planned. 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The New Otani Hotel & Garden, 120 S. Los Angeles St., Little Tokyo. (213) 629-1200. $5; food samples priced separately.

For the Birds: Chef Jean-Francois Meteigner teaches how to cook duck, squab, quail, partridge and guinea hen. Lunch with wine afterward. 9 a.m. La Cachette, 10506 Little Santa Monica Blvd., Century City. (310) 470-4992. $100.

Labor Day Party Menu: Learn to make mango and Brie quesadillas, skewered shrimp with pancetta, linguine with sun-dried tomatoes and mocha-fudge ice cream pie. 1:30 p.m. California School of Culinary Arts, 1416 El Centro St., South Pasadena. (626) 403-8490. $80.

Tuesday

Barbie Basics: Chef Kevin Cloud takes you step by step through grilling bread, vegetables and meats. 6:30 p.m. McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, 111 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. (626) 405-0064. $35.

DeWine Dinner: Nico’s restaurant features wines from DeLoach Vineyards in a four-course Italian dinner. 7 p.m. Nico’s, 5760 E. 2nd St., Long Beach. (562) 434-4479. $55.