Cake Boss comes to MOA

Carlo's Bakery, the New Jersey setting for the TLC series "Cake Boss," will open its first Midwest location at Bloomington's Mall of America on Saturday; it will be the 21st location for the traditional Italian bakery. Signature treats include cannoli, lobster tail pastries, cupcakes and more. The bakery on Level 3's Culinary on North will have a 7 a.m. ribbon-cutting featuring "Cake Boss" Buddy Valastro and his family, followed by meet-and-greet opportunities available to patrons.

A pizza party for kids

The J.W. Marriott at Mall of America launches its Kids Lab Program on Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon. Any kids (community members or hotel guests) are invited to create their own pizza recipes in the lobby lounge at the hotel (2141 Lindau Lane, Bloomington, 612-615-0100). Young cooks will receive chef hats and aprons and will craft their own pizzas, with a chef's guidance. The kids' recipes will be printed up on a card that can be returned later to the hotel restaurant, Cedar + Stone, Urban Table, for a complimentary pizza based on their recipe. Sign-up is encouraged but not required, at 612-615-0124.

A harvest celebration

Terzo and Broders' Pasta Bar will host their third celebration of the harvest, called Vendemmia ("grape harvest" in Italian) on Sunday. The event will be held in the parking lot of Broders' Pasta Bar (2221 W. 50th St., Mpls.) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free with food and drink available for purchase. There will be live music and a grape-crushing contest with local sommeliers and wine buyers competing, yes, the old-fashioned way: stomping grapes. The family-friendly event will include activities for kids.

Mother knows (Sunday) best

The holiday market season is upon us. Think farmers markets with less produce, but more product. One item gaining some buzz is Sunday Best Chocolate, a sauce that goes as well on ice cream as stirred into hot coffee or milk. For 50 years, Jane Mueller's mom, Mary Margaret, made small batches of a chocolate sauce that often found its way onto Sunday desserts. Mueller, of Minneapolis, began making her own batches last fall for family and friends, then began selling at the Fulton Farmers Market this summer. The sauce is creamy and intense. One 12-ounce jar is $9. Sunday Best Chocolate will be among the many delicious vendor items at the Fulton market on Oct. 21, the Mount Olivet Holiday Boutique on Nov. 4, the Morningside Holiday Market on Nov. 18, Small Businesss Saturday Market at Sociable Cider Werks on Nov. 25 and Pax Christi Holiday Boutique on Dec. 2.

Appetizer contest at Kitchen Window

Looking to improve your cheese-and-wine pairing game? Check out what Twin Cities are finalists will demonstrate at the Glorious Bites Challenge Semi-Final Cookoff from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 5 at Kitchen Window in Minneapolis' Calhoun Square. Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards and Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. of Sonoma County are searching for an appetizer to pair with Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut bubbly. From here and around the country, a dozen semifinalists will earn their way to the finals. Local guest judges will be sommelier Leslee Miller of Amusée, Stephanie March of Mpls.St.Paul magazine and foodie Instagrammer Kim Ly Curry. For tickets, visit gloriousbites.com.

KIM ODE