With the turn of the season, some farmers markets are starting to head indoors. The Mill City Farmers Market will have monthly Winter Markets from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every second Saturday from November to April, with an opener on Nov. 9 in the Mill City Museum's Commons area. Nov. 23 will be a special holiday market for Thanksgiving ingredients. Other dates are Dec. 14, Jan. 11, Feb. 5, March 8 and April 12. Visit http://millcityfarmersmarket.org for vendor lists.

Iron Fork contest on tap

They're all winners, of course, but each contestant in the City Pages Iron Fork competition really wants to emerge victorious. The Nov. 7 event at International Market Square, presented by the International Culinary School of the Art Institutes of Minnesota, highlights six top local chefs making their best dish from a secret ingredient. There will be a similar competition among bartenders. The chefs are: defending champ Landon Schoenefeld of Haute Dish, Daniel de Prado of Burch Steak, Jack Riebel of Butcher & the Boar, Ian Gray of the Gray House, Stephanie Kochlin of Pig & Fiddle, and Patrick Weber of the Art Institutes. Tickets are $25 in advance, $35 at the door and include lots of samples and beverages. For details, visit citypages.com/ironfork.

Chin dynasty endures

Katie Chin is carrying on her mother's legacy. Leeann Chin's daughter has a new cookbook, "Everyday Thai Cooking" (Tuttle, $24.95), with Leeann Chin restaurants featuring Katie's crispy mango coconut chicken (and cookbooks) through November, or while supplies last. Born and raised in Minneapolis by her award-winning mother, Katie now works as a private chef in Los Angeles, where she's a familiar face on various food shows, including being a recent guest judge on Food Network's "Iron Chef America." Her website is www.thesweetandsourchronicles.com.

Aye, lassie

Congratulations to Marion Dauner, general manager of Vinocopia Wine and Spirits, 6636 Cedar Av. S. in Richfield (www.vinocopia.com), who was inducted into the Keepers of the Quaich earlier this month at Blair Castle in Perthshire, Scotland. Honored for "her exceptional personal contribution on the behalf of Scotch whisky," Dauner was one of only three women and only two people from the United States to be honored at the biannual ceremony, which included 53 inductees from 18 countries. We'll have just a wee dram of your best.

Mostest hostesses start here

Learn some new party-planning tips at Mpls.St.Paul magazine's ninth annual Perfect Parties from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Woman's Club of Minneapolis. The event features seminars on decor, food, fashion, table settings and gift ideas. Get a head start on holiday shopping, while sampling foods and beverages. Tickets are $20 online at mspmag.com/perfectparties and Galleria Guest Services. $25 at the door.

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