Save the cacao forest

If you like chocolate, then you love the Ecuadorean rain forest, birthplace of the cacao tree and one of the most biologically diverse spots on Earth. To help preserve this rain forest, Chocolate Bonavita is hosting a fundraiser on April 22 toward grass-roots efforts to sustain this environment. The event includes a guided fine French and Italian chocolate tasting by chocolate curator Anna Bonavita; a virtual presentation on rain-forest preservation efforts by Judith Kimerling, a lawyer and professor of environmental law and policy, and comments from a representative of the Ecuadorean Consulate. The event is from 5-8:30 p.m. at 514 Studios, 514 N. 3rd St., Suite 101, Mpls. Tickets are $20 through www.eventbrite.com. (Search for "bonavita.") Or www.chocolatebonavita.com.

Students, this is your bag

Country Financial and the Minneapolis Farmers Market are seeking student entries for a Reusable Bag Design Contest, with entries due May 1. High school students in Anoka and Hennepin counties are eligible; this year's theme is "Live, Love, and Be Green." All designs must include the phrase "2015 Minneapolis Farmers Market." The student with the winning design will receive a $1,000 scholarship from Country Financial and have his or her artwork displayed on thousands of reusable canvas bags distributed to shoppers this season at the farmers Market. Two runners-up will each receive a $500 scholarship and have their designs featured at the unveiling. Entries must be submitted by 4 p.m. May 1 to Country Financial, Farmers Market Bag Design Competition, 2 Pine Tree Drive, Arden Hills, MN 55112. For more information, contact your school's administration or visit Country Financial's page at bit.ly/1CB4Kgo.

Sawatdee celebration

Thinking about supper? Supenn and Cyndy Harrison of Sawatdee are hosting their annual New Year Songkran celebration this week, with April 16 — that's tonight! — dinner specials and festive Thai dancing and other surprises. The celebration salutes the famed Water Festival in Thailand and takes place at Sawatdee's downtown restaurant, 607 Washington Av. S. Call to check on reservations at 612-338-6451.

Binge alert

"Chef's Table," a Netflix original docuseries from filmmaker David Gelb, who brought us the memorable "Jiro Dreams of Sushi," is to premiere on April 26 exclusively on Netflix. "Chef's Table" features six of the world's most renowned international chefs, and offers viewers the opportunity to go inside their lives and kitchens. The chefs featured include Massimo Bottura (Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy), Dan Barber (Blue Hill Restaurant at Stone Barns in the Hudson Valley and in New York City), Francis Mallmann (El Restaurante Patagonia Sur in Buenos Aires, Argentina), Niki Nakayama (N/Naka Restaurant in Los Angeles), Ben Shewry (Attica Restaurant in Melbourne, Australia) and Magnus Nilsson (Fäviken in Järpen, Sweden). Here's a link to the trailer: http://youtube/qKqj85oo2wI.

STAFF REPORTS