Brit's Bastille Day, trivia, and real food rule The Week in Food

Rachel Hutton

Are you smarter than this guy?

​It's a week of mixed emotions and varying intellectual states. Battle it out over random facts with men in tights on Tuesday; discover how to eat local over the weekend. In between, raise money for cancer.

Monday 7/12

• Coeliacs love pasta too. Learn how to make gluten-free Italian dishes at the Minneapolis Whole Foods. $12. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
  

Tuesday 7/13

• Cool off at "Hot Weather Eats," a class at the St. Louis Park Byerly's. Learn how to make melon water; tomato, nectarine, and smoked mozzarella salad; and little new potatoes with chives and salmon in cracked black peppercorn and fresh ginger marinade. 12 to 1 p.m.
  
  

• Get your trivia on at Galactic Pizza's weekly intellectual brawl. Play starts at 9 p.m. Spandex optional.

Wednesday 7/14

• One thing is for sure about Wednesdays--there will always be free bacon. Free Bacon Wednesdays at Triple Rock Social Club: crack a $3 PBR tallboy and nosh on bacon from a basket. 9 to 11 p.m.

Thursday 7/15

• Make your next meal count--support the families of children battling cancer at the sixth annual Julia's Journey fundraiser for Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. Guests will enjoy a five-course tasting menu at Create Catering's Dining Studio, each course paired with two beers and two wines. Participate in a silent auction and feel good about easing the financial stress of families living with cancer. For more information visit www.juliasjourneyinfo.com. $60. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday 7/17

• Unveil the mysteries of "real food" at Real Food Minnesota--a free event for those interested in learning about ethically produced food. Learn how to shop at the co-op, explore new ways to learn about food via the Web, and discover some of the food communities being built throughout the Twin Cities. Take a guided tour of the St. Paul Farmer's Market and watch food demonstrations by experienced chefs. For more information and to register, visit http://realfoodmn.wordpress.com. 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  
  

• There's nothing we'd rather do on a Saturday afternoon than dabble in beer. Get your dabble on at the St. Paul Highland Fest Beer Dabbler. Sample more than 50 craft breweries and take classes such as Beer Soaked Cheese, Beer Science, and Bourbon Barrel Aging. Win the home brew contest with $1,500 in prizes. $25 advanced tickets, $33 the day of. 2065 Ford Parkway, Saint Paul. 1 to 5 p.m.

Sunday 7/18

• It's never too early to localize the kids. Hit up the Minnesota History Center for "Little Locavores" an exploration of the agriculture and traditions that have historically shaped and continue to influence Minnesota's cuisine. Sample some real food treats, listen to music and learn more about food and farming from farmers and chefs. 12 to 4 p.m.
  
  

• Celebrate Bastille Day at Brit's Pub, which holds the annual event in honor of its adjacent sister restaurant, Vincent-A-Restaurant. Enjoy 97 minutes of men in tights during "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare" by the Actors Theater of Minnesota and a concert by legendary British rocker Graham Parker. End the night with National Lampoon's European Vacation on the Brit's big screen. No cover; beer and food specials including the Vincent Burger. 3 to 11 p.m.

Monday 7/19

• You outsmarted superheroes on Tuesday, try your hand at kings tonight. Trivia at King's Wine Bar (the self-proclaimed best trivia in Minneapolis): 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.