Back to school

There’s a new culinary center in town, under the auspices of East Bay Restaurant Supply. I went to the grand opening a few weeks ago, and while you should be sorry if you missed it—lots of really excellent free samples and classes—there’s plenty coming up in the new classroom, which holds 40 people. Upcoming classes, most on Fridays and Saturdays, will showcase Sacramento chefs and cooks: this Saturday, September 22, Ann Martin Rolke (of local blog Sacatomato and author of the cookbook Hands-Off Cooking) will demonstrate new ways to cook with fall vegetables. Among other highlights, October 5 is the foods of Piedmont; October 19 is holiday desserts with Betsy Hite; Ginger Elizabeth Powers demos holiday cookies and candies on November 3; and the Waterboy’s Rick Mahan teaches a seafood class on November 16. For more information about the full lineup of classes, or reservations, call Carolyn Kumpe at East Bay Restaurant Supply, 522 N. 12th Street; (916) 440-0623. The store’s main line is (916) 440-0620.