Learn about beer, wine and raw milk this week in food

Toast Salut's wine dinner

​Start the month on a strong learning curve in a week filled with educational opportunities related to life's most important beverages: beer, wine, and milk.

5/4
Kick off the first in a quarterly series of wine dinners exploring the regions of France at Salut, where chefs C.J. and Anthony offer a spring menu paired with a variety of wines from Burgundy. Experts from France 44 will be on hand to answer questions about the Burgundy region wines, which will also be available for purchase. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. and costs $65 per person. For reservations call 952.929.3764

5/5
Today is the last day to experience Old Chicago's Cinco de Mayo Mini Tour of Mexican beers, which include Dos Equis Special Lager, Corona Extra Lager, Tecate Lager, Pacifico Clara Lager, Dos Equis Amber Lager, Modelo Especial Pilsner, Negra Modelo Lager and an additional beer specially chosen by the Minneapolis restaurants. World Beer Tour members who complete the Cinco de Mayo Mini Tour by sampling all eight beers will receive the highly coveted Mini Tour T-shirt with a specially designed Cinco de Mayo graphic on the front.

5/6
Where in St. Paul can you dine on Indian samosas, Cambodian egg rolls, and Polish makowiec and wash it all down with a Dutch coffee? The annual Festival of Nations, of course! Tour the world with your fork: There are 37 ethnic foods to sample, ranging from from Swiss chocolate fondue to Colombian tamales, and even a wine-tasting event for adults at 6 p.m. for just $5. The festival runs all weekend, beginning Friday from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults.

Not quite tomato season yet...

​5/7
The wait is over! Mill City Farmers Market returns for its sixth season of farm-fresh foods, local arts and crafts, and beautiful river views. In honor of the first market of the year, the farm animals from Gale Woods Farm will visit, which is the perfect opportunity to get your hands on a wooly lamb or baby chick. Juut Salonspa will offer Mother's Day activities, and the New Riverside Ramblers will provide a Cajun soundtrack. Be sure to get Mill City Cooks chef Heather Hartman's "Breakfast for MOM" while you're there. 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Interested in or intrigued by the raw milk movement? The Farm-to-Consumer Foundation brings its annual International Raw Milk Symposium to Bloomington this weekend to Minnesota. The event is designed to clear up the mysteries surrounding raw milk and provide valuable food safety information. Interested farmers, consumers and public officials are invited to attend. Tickets are $40, with an additional $25 needed for lunch. Register online or by calling 703.208.3276.