DATEBOOK

TODAY

Drago: Celestino Drago demonstrates Italian dishes such as white bean and grilled shrimp salad, salmon with spinach and thyme, and torta di ricotta e arancia. 6:30 p.m. Sur la Table, Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles. (866) 328-5412. $50.

THURSDAY

Wine Tasting: Taste a dozen 1997 Brunellos. 7 p.m. Woodland Hills Wine Co., 22622 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. (818 ) 222-1111. $60.

FRIDAY

Jellyroll: This hands-on class on jellyroll desserts for the holidays includes rolled fondants and icings. Among the recipes: pumpkin roll, hazelnut chocolate mousse roll and pomegranate curd jelly roll. 11 a.m. Kitchen Witch Gourmet Shop & Cooking School, 127 N. El Camino Real, Encinitas. (760) 942-3228. $39

SATURDAY

The Basics: A four-week series on essential cooking includes techniques such as basic knife skills and selecting and prepping ingredients. Among the dishes students will make are chopped salad, Mexican vegetable soup, Thai vegetable soup, halibut tostadas, crab cakes, seared tuna, roasted chicken, roasted tri-tip, vegetable risotto, macaroni and cheese, chocolate cake, ginger cake and fruit crisp. 2-5 p.m.; subsequent classes Oct. 12, Oct. 19 and Oct. 26. New School of Cooking, 8690 Washington Blvd., Culver City. (310) 842-9702. $280.

SUNDAY

Food Fest: The 11th annual Gourmet Chefs’ Cook-Off and Silent Auction raises funds to build a family and youth center for residents of south Los Angeles. More than 50 chefs will dish up soul food, Creole, Caribbean and old-fashioned American dishes, as well as desserts. 1-4 p.m. Wilshire Grand Hotel, 930 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 735-1231. $40.

Make-A-Wish: More than 30 Los Angeles chefs and restaurants, along with more than 100 wine and spirits producers, share samples at the 13th annual Wine and Spirits Focus, presented by Viking Range and Bon Appetit magazine. It’s a fund-raiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation; there will also be an auction of wine, travel packages and celebrity-designed plates. 3-6 p.m. Back lot, Universal Studios, 3900 Lankershim Blvd., Universal City. (888) 343-6287. $95.

TUESDAY

Delicatessen: Owners of Los Angeles delis--including Art’s, Canter’s, Junior’s and Langer’s--discuss Jewish food history and the deli culture of Los Angeles, as part of the Food for the Soul Festival presented by Yiddishkayt Los Angeles. 2 p.m. Gindi Auditorium, University of Judaism, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. (323) 692-8151 or (310) 440-1547. $5; seniors free.

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Cindy Dorn

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Submit Datebook items at least two weeks before publication date. Mail to Food Section Datebook, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 or fax to (213) 237-6485. Submissions are printed on a space-available basis.