Butcher & Beer Night at Picnik
Picnik butcher Michael Puglisi joins chef Eduardo Ruiz for an evening of butchery demos, dinner and bottomless Eagle Rock Brews. Other than beer and meat, there will be a whole hog breakdown and instruction demo, which will include information on cuts and techniques, brining and curing, expert tips and recipes for the home cook. But wait, there's more! There will be sausage-making techniques, including a tasting, and Ruiz will prepare and serve a selection of appetizers and hors d’oeuvres, all with beer from Eagle Rock Brewery. 
WHAT: Butcher & Beer Night at Picnik
WHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 12, 6 to 9 p.m.
WHERE: Picnik, 168 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; 626-793-8008.
COST: $80 per person, includes demonstrations, food, beer, gift cards, swag bags and gratuity. Tickets are available by presale only. 

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Nyesha Arrington Pop-Up Dinner
The Fifty Seven Pop-Up series continues with Ai-Soon, chef Nyesha Arrington's evening of excellent food. The chef, who has cooked at Mélisse and Wilshire, named her pop-up after her Korean grandmother, Ai-Soon Lee, and her cooking reflects the multicultural dishes of her mixed heritage and a career cooking in Los Angeles.
WHAT: Nyesha Arrington Pop-Up Dinner
WHEN: Monday, Aug. 18, dinners available with seatings from 6:30 to 90 p.m.
WHERE: Fifty Seven, 712 S. Santa Fe Ave., downtown; 213-816-8157.
COST: Tickets are $68. 

Mexico Food Fair
You might want to plan ahead for this year's Mexico Food Fair, the giant event held at the L.A. Convention Center. Designed to showcase the vast gastronomy of Mexico's many diverse states, the fair includes food tastings, cooking lessons and conferences as well as products, including spicy peppers, chocolate, granola, agave syrup, fruit pulp and tequila. Yes, tequila. Probably worth trekking downtown just for that.
WHAT: Mexico Food Fair
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 21, to Saturday, Aug. 23.
WHERE: Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall B, 1201 S. Figueroa St., downtown; 213-741-1151. (Park in the West Hall.)
COST: Free.

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