Checkers Downtown ‘photo-tasting’ session, and more

SATURDAY

Picture your food Love photographing your food, but feel self-conscious doing so? Check out the “photo-tasting” session at Checkers Downtown. Guests will enjoy chef Todd Allison’s new winter menu while attending a workshop on how to best photograph at a restaurant. Checkers Downtown, 535 S. Grand Ave., L.A. 12:30 to 3 p.m. $45. (213) 624-0000. phototasting.eventbrite.com

How edible is your garden? Silver Lake Farms is offering gardening workshops in a two-part series called “Creating an Edible Garden in Los Angeles.” Part 1 focuses on starting a vegetable garden from scratch in raised beds, containers and in the ground. LILA School garden, 4155 Russell Ave., Los Feliz. 10 a.m. to noon or 1 to 3 p.m. $50. (323) 644-3700. www.silverlakefarms.com

SUNDAY

Football’s big day Watch the Super Bowl at the Lab and wolf down $5 specials including Trojan Blonde beer, boneless buffalo wings and spinach-artichoke dip. The Lab, 3500 Figueroa Blvd., L.A. (213) 743-1843. www.thelab.usc.edu

Super Bowl, made to order Don’t want to cook on game day? Order a “football feast” from Zeke’s Smokehouse. The menu includes Texas beef brisket, ribs, hot wings, pulled pork and a host of savory sides. Zeke’s Smokehouse, 7100 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. $52.95 for four. (323) 850-9353. www.zekessmokehouse.com

TUESDAY

Black truffle time Wear your black tie to Patina’s “Black Truffle Dinner” series. The menu includes foie gras ravioli with sunchoke emulsion, seared day boat scallops and almond cake with black truffle ice cream. Patina, 141 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Four to seven courses, $140 to $185. (213) 972-3331. www.patinagroup.com

WEDNESDAY (ONGOING)

A vegan affair It’s pizza night at M Cafe de Chaya. Choose from plain or Margherita with seitan salami, topped with marinara sauce, vegan cheese and basil. M Cafe, Culver City, 9343 Culver Blvd. $9.75 after 5 p.m. (310) 838-4300. www.mcafedechaya.com

-- Jessica Gelt 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 e-mail to jessica.gelt@latimes.com.