DATEBOOK

FRIDAY

Free Sushi Demo: Phillip Yi, director of the California Sushi Academy in Venice, demonstrates how to make sushi including the rice, what he calls “magic water” and completed rolls, such as spicy tuna and rainbow rolls. 1 p.m. Bloomingdale’s Century City, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Century City. (310) 772-2100. Call the Sushi Academy for more information at (310) 581-0213. Free.

Restaurant Design Tour: Architect Michael Hricak leads this lecture and tour of restaurants. He’ll comment on their design and talk to their chefs and owners. 7 to 9 p.m. for the lecture. Continues with the tour on Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. UCLA, Room 320, 1010 Westwood Blvd., L.A. For more information, call (310) 825-9061. To register, call (310) 825-9971. Course No. L-8456. $195.

SUNDAY

Chili Cook-Off: The Beverly Hills Farmers Market holds its seventh corn festival and chili cooking contest today. Sample the entries and wander through fresh produce for sale. Market is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chili judging is 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Beverly Hills Farmers Market, on the 200 block of N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills. For more information, call (310) 550-4796. Free.

TUESDAY

Beginning Wine Appreciation: Learn the basics of wine appreciation from people who sell and drink it for a living. 7:30 p.m. The Wine House, 2311 Cotner Ave., L.A. (310) 479-3731. $28.

AUG. 8

Times Two: Times’ Food Section columnist Michael Ruhlman signs the paperback edition of his “The Soul of a Chef” (Penguin, $15) and Times’ Food Editor Russ Parsons signs “How to Read a French Fry” (Houghton Mifflin, $25). 7 p.m. Brentano’s, Century City Shopping Center. 10250 Santa Monica Blvd. (310) 277-3898. Free.