Maiden Minnesota tonight

In its five years, Maiden Minnesota has become more than just a clever name. The event spotlights Minnesota-based, women-owned companies producing all sorts of creatively designed things for the home, the kitchen and your life -- while also supporting Project Success, which helps local youths develop life skills. This year's event is today from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Graves 601 Hotel, 601 1st Av. N., Minneapolis. Among nearly 40 participants are some with a particular food bent, including Clay Pots Pottery, Cocoa & Fig catering, Droolin' Moose chocolates, Pashen energy bars, Hadley Table placemats and Esse Reusable Bags. Tickets are $30 at the door, and include one drink ticket. For more details, visit www.MaidenMinnesota.com.

Win some dough

As baking season ramps up, King Arthur Flour offers a tempting sweepstakes: "Like" its Facebook page, then register for a $1,000 shopping spree from its huge array of baking ingredients, pans, decors and other products. Entry deadline is Nov. 30, with winners announced Dec. 15. (Five runners-up get $100 gift cards.) To enter, visit www.facebook.com/kingarthurflour/.

Tamale class

Owners of El Burrito Mercado in St. Paul are offering a tamalada class, or tamale-making party, as the holidays approach. Milissa Silva-Diaz and Maria Silva say this will be "more of a Mexican cooking experience versus a traditional cooking class," with participants directed by head chef Rachel Tejada through the steps of tamale-making and its history. There's wine, too. The class is from 3-5:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at Kitchen in the Market at Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis. Cost is $60. To register, visit www.elburritomercado.com or email tamalada@elburritomercado.com. Space is limited.

Spuds get some respect

Living as we do near the Red River Valley, with its famed potatoes, the Northern Plains spuds are our locavore's choice. And yet, Idaho potatoes remain iconic, and so we share with you news of the 75th anniversary of the Idaho Potato Commission. Mostly this is an excuse to share some rather gorgeous photos of a potato harvest in the Teton country at tiny.cc/v8hg0. The site, www.idahopotato.com, also includes a bushel of new recipes for this year's crop of potatoes.