Datebook

Today

East Coast Eats: Brian Hirsty shows how to prepare classic Eastern seafood dishes in this class. Recipes include panko-fried soft shell crabs, stuffed lobster, lump crab cakes, baked clams. 6:30 p.m. Sur La Table, 301 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica. (310) 395-0390. $55.

Thursday

Cake Decorating: The first of a three-part series focuses on cake assembly, frosting recipes and piping techniques. 6:30 p.m. Epicurean School of Culinary Arts, 8759 Melrose Ave., L.A. (310) 659-5990. $175 for all three classes. Continues Nov. 9 and 16.

Friday

Cuisines of Mexico: Diana Kennedy, cookbook author and Mexican cooking authority, teaches how to make bean tamales with masa, Veracruz rice with shrimp and Yucatan chicken with bitter orange. Let’s Get Cookin’, 4643 Lakeview Canyon Road, Westlake Village. (818) 991-3940. $75.

Saturday

Lunch and Tour: Tour Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles and learn about Latin-American ingredients. Lunch (skirt steak, jicama salad and candied plantain tart) follows at Ciudad restaurant. 9:30 a.m. Ciudad, 445 S. Figueroa St., (213) 486-5171. Call Jean Brady at the Seasonal Table to sign up. (310) 454-4220. $65.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving: David Gabbe uses corn, squash, potatoes, beans and grains in this cooking class. 10 a.m. Santa Ana College, 1530 W. 17th St., Santa Ana. Call Community Services at (714) 480-7390. $40.

Slippery Noodle: Clifford A. Wright, cookbook author and Middle-Eastern food historian, enlightens you as to the origin of macaroni at this meeting of the Culinary Historians of Southern California. 10:30 a.m. Mark Taper Auditorium, Los Angeles Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., (213) 228-7101. Free.

Celiac Sprue Meeting: The Celiac Sprue Assn. meets to discuss this disease, which prevents sufferers from absorbing gluten (found in wheat, rye, oats and barley). Those interested in learning more about the disease are welcome. Coping skills, recipes and safe foods are to be discussed. 1 p.m. Saltzer Room of Fountain Valley Hospital, 17100 Euclid St., Fountain Valley. For more details, (714) 750-9543. Free.

Taste of Fall: This wine and food-tasting event includes an olive-oil tasting, flamenco dancers, a jazz combo, various wines, coffees, teas and food from Pinot Bistro, Il Tiramisu, Jody Maroni’s Sausage Kingdom and La Brea Bakery, among others. Some proceeds benefit Children’s Community School, a nonprofit elementary that emphasizes community involvement. 5 to 9 p.m. Children’s Community School, 14702 Sylvan St., Van Nuys. (818) 780-6226. $30. Special wine tasting $25.

Nov. 18 and 19

Harvest Wine Tasting: Fifteen wineries in Temecula participate in this annual tasting event. Ticket allows you to visit each of the wineries once over two days. New releases are poured; food to complement the wine is served. Begins at Thornton Winery, where you’re given a map of the wine country, a program and souvenir glass. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Thornton Winery, 32575 Rancho California Road, Temecula. Call (800) 801-9463 for tickets. $50.