Events: ‘The Science of Pie,’ habanero eating contest, Golden Road at Plan Check, more

On Sunday, June 1, UCLA will be hold its annual “Scientific Bake-Off.” Amy Rowat is heading up this event as part of her “Science and Food” course at UCLA. Students of Rowat will compete in an apple pie baking competition, using past analysis and experimentation to determine the best method to bake this all-American classic. The pies will be judged “Iron Chef”-style by a panel including chef Lena Kwak, co-founder and president of Cup4Cup; David Arnold, founder of the Museum of Food and Drink; and the Los Angeles Times’ own Jonathan Gold. Arnold will talk about food, experimentation and culinary creativity, while Kwak will share her culinary inventions, research and discoveries. The event is 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and is open to the public. General admission is $25. For updates and more info visit www.scienceandfood.org. UCLA Ackerman Grand Ballroom, 308 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles.

This Father’s Day, June 15, Yucatecan restaurant Chichén Itzá will hold its fourth annual Habanero Eating Contest. The event will take place during Mercado La Paloma’s Father’s Day celebration. Fans of all things spicy, tune in. Contestants will have 20 minutes to eat as many fiery habanero chiles as possible. First, second and third place winners will be crowned. The contest begins at 2 p.m. Call (213) 741-1075 for entering details. Mercado La Paloma, 3655 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles.

Plan Check Kitchen + Bar‘s Fairfax and Sawtelle locations are offering Golden Road Brewing flights of five beers for $5 and eight beers for $8, from now until May 31. The beers offered include 20/20 IPA, Heal the Bay, Get Up Offa That Brown, Wolf Among Weeds, 329 Lager and El Hefe, which is aged in tequila barrels. Executive chef Ernesto Uchimura is whipping up his Tommy Lasorda Burger, in honor of the L.A. Dodgers’ spring season. It comes with house-made bacon spread, lettuce, tomato, onion and Americanized dashi cheese, topped with a hot dog and mustard. Wash down your burger with a full pint. They are $2 off during happy hour, which is from 3 to 7 p.m. on Fairfax, and 3 to 6 p.m. on Sawtelle. 351 N. Fairfax, Los Angeles, (310) 288-6500; 1800 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 288 6500, www.plancheck.com.

Little Beast restaurant is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a barbecue on Sunday, June 8, from noon to 3 p.m. The $30 admission includes Caesar salad, Yukon potato salad, roasted pork shoulder, cheddar-chive biscuits, charbroiled chicken, corn on the cob and shortcake with charred pineapple, strawberry rhubarb sauce and Chantilly whip. Along with the smokey grub, local draft beers are $1. Old Time trio Triple Chicken Foot will be playing banjo and fiddle tunes throughout the festivities. Street and valet parking will be available. Reservations are made online at www.littlebeastrestaurant.com. 1496 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock, (323) 341-5899.