Bowls for Open Arms

Soup's on at the American Swedish Institute for a fundraiser for Open Arms of Minnesota, a Twin Cities-based nonprofit that cooks and delivers free, nutritious meals to people with life-threatening illnesses. On Friday, ASI will hold a Bowls for Open Arms Soup Social from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the institute (2600 Park Av., Mpls, 612-871-4907, ASImn.org). Cost is $20 and includes a handmade ceramic bowl, house-made soup from Fika, ASI's restaurant, along with bread and a beverage. Advanced registration is encouraged; see tinyurl.com/yc7d4umv. Music from Dan Bergren, folk singer, who wrote "Share the Bowl," inspired by the exhibit of "101 Bowls" at ASI. Hear it.

Indigenous dinner at Seward Co-op

Seward Community Co-op will host its Farm Table dinner from 6-8 p.m. April 17 with Dream of Wild Health, a Native American-led nonprofit farm and youth-leadership program. During the event at the Seward Community Co-op Creamery Cafe, guests will enjoy a three-course meal featuring indigenous ingredients and hear stories about Dream of Wild Health's work recovering knowledge of and access to healthful indigenous foods. Tickets are $40-$49, and limited in number. Visit Eventbrite.com and search for Farm Table.

Let's talk food

Taste editor Lee Svitak Dean heads up a discussion on local food on April 3 from 7-8 p.m. at the Plymouth branch of Hennepin County Library (15700 36th Av. N., Plymouth), The talk is part of the Plymouth READS program. Admission is free but reservations preferred.

Celebrate at Dame It!

The Minnesota Chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier's (LDEI) annual salute to Minnesota's women chefs will be April 8 from 2-5 p.m. at Solar Arts by Chow Girls, 711 15th Av. NE. (third floor), Mpls. The taste-around, in its third year, helps raise money to fund a variety of local LDEI causes, including academic culinary scholarships for women, supporting the youth farming program Urban Roots, and micro-grants for food professionals. Mingle and chat with the chefs while sampling an array of savory small plates, wines, craft cocktails/mocktails and sweets. New this year: Wall of Wine, a Spin the Dame It! Wheel, and a Cake Walk with cakes baked by some of the best. Tickets are available via Eventbrite; order by March 30 and save $10. Or visit eventbrite.com and type in "Dame It!"

High Tea at the Westin

In conjunction with the Bachman's Flower Show at Edina's Galleria through April 8, the Westin is hosting Afternoon Tea: Edina Style. The preset menu features a traditional English cream and fruit scone with accompaniments, cucumber sandwich, toast with salmon rillettes, Scotch egg and selection of petits fours. There's a choice of Rishi tea; wine, Champagne or cocktails are an additional charge. Price is $40 (plus tax and gratuity) and reservations are recommended through Eventbrite.com or call 952-567-8000. Restaurants throughout the Galleria will be offering flower-themed food and drinks throughout the run of the show. Lavender lattes? Why not?

A gathering of women

Attention, chefs and others in the culinary field: Women Chefs & Restaurateurs, a national organization whose president is Minnesota's own Kim Bartmann, heads to Minneapolis for its annual conference April 21-23. To register or find more information about the master classes, speakers and network opportunities, go to womenchefs.org.

KIM ODE