Salsa Showdown

Bring your taste bud tingling, healthful, easy to prepare, intensely flavored mixture of vegetables, herbs and spices to the Salsa Showdown cooking contest at the Puyallup Fair Thursday, Sept. 13, 5-7 p.m.  First place will grab $100 with second and third nabbing $50 and $25.

Other Puyallup Fair cooking contests include: Coffee Cake, Biscotti, Jam and Jelly, Scone, Pie, Spam and more.

For more information and to register before the Aug. 31 deadline, call 253.841.5017. — Suzy Stump



Bastille Day

Lafayette Street in Steilacoom will have a decidedly French air about it Saturday when the Weekly Volcano stampedes into La Creme Brulee in celebration of the French’s liberation of the Bastille prison and the end of the French monarchy. The little French bistro serves petite portions at reasonable prices. The bistro’s signature crème brûlée is bon.

Of note: The Mandolin Café celebrates the French Independence Day with a French dinner, music, wine, beer and champagne July 14 from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $15. Reserve your space. — Jake de Paul

[La Creme Brulee,1604 Lafayette St., Steilacoom, 253.589.3001]

[Mandolin Café, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.759.2317]



Nibbles

Stadium Bistro Chef Peter Weikel will teach a class on The Perfect Dinner Party Saturday, July 14, noon to 1:30 p.m.  Reserve your space at 253.683.4150. — JDP