Food & Drink

Sample craft beer from Twin Cities micro-breweries while enjoying the view of Purgatory Creek Park from the top of the SouthWest Station in Eden Prairie. Food and entertainment will round out the event organized by the Eden Prairie Community Foundation. $40. 3-6 p.m. SouthWest Station, 13500 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie; epcommunityfoundation.org

Join in on Mondays when local craft brewers takeover taps and offer free samples and varieties of beer for purchase. On select Mondays (July 21st, August 4th and August 18th) don’t miss dinner events with culinary creations from Tavern 4&5 Chef Zac Leeman. Each course is paired with craft beer selections from the evening’s featured brewery. Tap takeovers begin at 5:00 p.m. and dinners begin at 7:00 p.m. 

The summer schedule includes:

See the world through the eyes of fascinating speakers from around the world.  Explore new destinations.  Revel in stories of local culture.  Admire photography from lands near and far.  RSVP today. Complimentary tickets are limited.  

Join community restaurateurs and local food and beverage business owners in downtown Chaska for the 30th annual night of sampling, exhibits and live music. There will also be a Kid Zone for the younger foodies, making it a family-friendly event. 952.474.3233.

Join 1,000 other attendees and volunteers at this year’s Taste of Eden Prairie, the signature annual fundraiser held by the Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools. More than 25 local restaurants will be in attendance to give you a taste of Eden Prairie’s culinary scene, and there will also be a live band, activities and games, a silent auction, and more. Funds raised at the event will go to help the Foundation continue to support Eden Prairie public schools. 952.975.7205.

If you’re looking for a creative and slightly unconventional Valentine’s Day date, the Lowry Nature Center has just the ticket. This evening includes a romantic dinner served next to a crackling fireplace, live music by the Roe Family Singers, and a meet-and-greet with a live raptor, all capped off by a winter stroll down a candlelit trail through the woods—with an outdoor fire waiting for you at the end. Ages 21+, reservations required. 763.694.7650.

If your idea of the perfect Valentine’s Day date includes a delicious dinner with multiple courses and ritzy wine pairings, this event has been designed for you and your significant other. Chef Jenny Breen has prepared a special romantic menu, so reserve a table for two and get ready for your palate to be delighted amidst the gorgeous landscape of the arboretum. 952.443.1422.

The Arboretum’s Saturdays in the Kitchen series takes a cue from Valentine’s Day with the celebration of one of the most romantic ingredients out there: chocolate. It takes a lot more to make up that little Whitman Sampler than you’d expect, and Anna Bonavita, a scientist with a serious passion for chocolate, is ready to explain it all. You’ll be led through a chocolate tasting, as well as a history lesson on the fruit of the cacao plant and a visit to the cacao plant at the Arboretum to learn all about this sweet treat. 952.443.1422.