Hamburger haven

Looking for a summer road trip destination that's all about food? Consider the annual Burger Fest in Seymour, Wis., 15 miles west of Green Bay. While Seymour is not the only claimant to being the home of the hamburger, it certainly has the history, ever since Charles Nagreen began calling ground beef patties in a bun "hamburgers" in 1885, leading the state's Legislature in 2007 to declare the town the Original Home of the Hamburger. Its 27th annual festival on Aug. 8 promises fun, including several Golden Tickets hidden inside the wrapper of a burger, earning the winner a grocery gift card. There also is a family burger recipe contest, hamburger eating contest, a 200-pound cheeseburger grilled and served until it's gone and what's billed as the "always popular ketchup slide competition." www.homeofthehamburger.org.

Liberian cuisine celebrated

To honor Liberia's day of independence, the local community is hosting "Taste of Liberia" on July 26, featuring a first-ever Liberian innovative cuisine juried cooking competition. The Taste of Liberia "Taste-Off" will offer samples from several categories of traditional Liberian dishes and cuisine using ingredients commonly used by Liberians over the past 168 years. The categories are collard greens, cornbread, jollof rice, best traditional Liberian dish, and best nouvelle Liberian creation. The "Taste-Off" is from 1-3 p.m. at the Lodge (Stage 81) in the Robbinsdale Town Center, 4080 W. Broadway. Tickets start at $25 at https://tasteofliberia-gala.eventbrite.com. That evening, a gala celebration will include an awards ceremony recognizing American and Liberian individuals and organizations pivotal in the Ebola relief effort. See www.tasteofliberia.com.

Cooks donor event for a cause

It's the final days for Cooks of Crocus Hill's annual trade-up event, which continues through July 27. If you bring in your gently used cookware, Cooks will give you 20 percent off a piece of cookware. Then it donates your used cookware to Women's Advocates, a nonprofit based in St. Paul that provides shelter and other resources "for women and children to live independent lives free from violence." Donations accepted at any of the retail locations in St. Paul, Edina and Stillwater — but note that they can't accept any nonstick cookware.

One-stop cooking and shopping

Four chefs will offer a free cooking demo on July 28 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the farmers market inside the IDS Tower (80 S. 8th St., Mpls.). Chefs Zach Duwenhoegger from Open Arms, Travis Shaw from Basil's, Ray Roberts from Peoples Organic coffee and wine cafe, and Jeremy LaFond of Mission American Kitchen and Bar will be cooking. Throughout July, proceeds from 10 percent of the sales at this farmers market will be directed to Open Arms of Minnesota, which cooks and delivers healthful meals free to people with life-threatening illnesses.

Food on-the-go

Hungry but no time to cook or even to go out to a restaurant? A new delivery service, Caviar, joins the mix of companies which drop off restaurant meals to those at home or the office. For a complete list of restaurants — which include Rinata, Taqueria Los Ocampo and Be'Wiched — go to www.trycaviar.com/minneapolis. For its first month in this market, all orders receive free delivery. Thereafter, the delivery fee starts at $1.99; orders can be placed up to a week in advance.

Expand your culinary repertoire

Chef Takashi Yagihashi, of Slurping Turtle in Chicago (and 2003 James Beard "Best Chef: Midwest"), will demonstrate Japanese-style fried chicken and a summer ramen noodle salad Tuesday at noon at Macy's downtown Minneapolis store (700 on the mall) in the lower level culinary area. Though the demo is free, with any purchase of $35 or more in the Home department, customers receive a $10 Macy's gift card and copy of his book "Noodles." Seating is limited; reserve at 1-800-329-8667.

Takashi Yagihashi

Food trend alert

The annual Fancy Food Show of the Specialty Foods Association that recently wrapped up in New York City noted five new food trends to watch. Here you are: Gazpacho to Go (variations on the cold soup), Can't Beat Beets (think beet-blueberry bars and beet kombucha), Flower Power (saffron rose popcorn or blood orange hibiscus caramel marshmallows), Cocktail Culture (hop-pickles and Manhattan gelato) and Maize Craize (sweet corn tortilla chips and tandoori yogurt popcorn).

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