Agenda: Umami Festival, Kabbalah Cuisine, and Pizza Fundamentals

FEATURED EVENT

Umami: Food and Art Festival
The human tounge senses five tastes: sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami. Umami is a Japanese word meaning "savory" or "meaty" and applies to a sensation common in meats, cheese, and other protein-rich foods or to "earthy" foods such as mushrooms and soy sauce, high in glutamates. The Umami Festival comprises a series of tastings, workshops, and performances aimed at bringing together artists and culinarians who use food as a medium. The Umami Food and Art Festival will take place Tuesday April 8th through Friday, April 18th at Roulette (20 Greene Street). For a full list of events, ticket prices, and more information, visit the offical site.

EVENTS THIS WEEK (April 9 to 15)

Beard on Books
This month's "Beard on Books" literary series will feature a reading and discussion led by Mary Lou and Robert J. Heiss, authors of The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide. Discover new information on tea's turbulent 2,000 year history. The event will take place at The Beard House (167 West 12th Street) on Wednesday, April 9th at 12:00 noon. Recommended donation: $20/person.

The Kabbalah of Food
Murray's Cheese (254 Bleecker Street) is presenting an historic course, "The Kabbalah of Food," which will delve into the world of Kabbalah to experience and understand the food we eat and how we eat it. A tasting of cheese, oil, bread, pastries, and more will be included. The event will take place on Thursday, April 10th, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. $50/person.

Schools, Food and Community
Baum Forum and the Nutrition Program, Teachers College Columbia University, present their 2008 conference, Schools, Food and Community. Aimed at teachers, administrators, food service and public health professionals, advocates, youth, and parents, the day and a half conference will focus on the School Food revolution and getting kids more involved in their health and the culinary arts. The event will take place on Friday April 11th and Saturday April 12th at the Teachers College Columbia University (525 West 120th Street). Pre-registration is required. $115/standard package.

Extreme Chocolate Walking Tour
The 92nd Street Y is hosting a walking tour for chocoholics. Join culinary historian and instructor Alexandra Leaf to learn about current chocolate trends, visit a chocolate factory, and taste samples of an assortment of chocolates and hot chocolate. The event takes place Friday, April 11th from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., starting at Divalicious Chocolates (365 Broome Street). Tickets $75/person.

Hands-On Pizza Making
The Astor Center (399 Layafette Street) presents an action packed workshop on at-home pizza making. Led by chef Mark Bello (owner, Pizza A Casa), the class will cover important pizza fundamentals including sauce secrets, forming the perfect crust, toppings, and of course, eating. The class will take place in the Astor Center Kitchen on Sunday, April 13th from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tickets: $175/person.