Like sushi? Want to learn how to make it? Well, Ichiban in downtown Orlando is holding Sushi 101 classes. Learn to roll your own sushi and then enjoy a dinner that includes your choice of beer, wine or saketini; ginger salad, soup, gyoza and edamame; a Calfornia or Spicy Tuna roll (which I’m guessing is what you created that evening); and a dessert of green tea ice cream or chocolate cake. Cost is $40 per person and the next one is March 2, 2009. Call 407.423.2688 to reserve a spot. Ichiban is located at 19 S. Orange Ave.

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Winter Garden is hosting a chili cook-off January 30th to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. The event is being held at the Winter Garden City Hall, starting at 6pm, and features unlimited tastings, live music and prizes for the best chili. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2.50 for children. For more info, call 407.656.4111, ext. 2266.

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Kelly Fitzpatrick of the Orlando Sentinel reports that Wall Street Plaza has closed the kitchen at The Globe and cut back hours of operation there to only Friday and Saturdays from 8pm to 2am. Plans are to renovate the space into something else, but nothing is set in stone yet. Got any suggestions?

In the meantime, WSP has instituted a new menu across the plaza at Waitiki, including the addition of The Globe’s popular sweet potato fries.

BTW, congrats to Kelly on getting her column back at OS!

Just a short note that if you live on the southwest side of town, it seems the new Whole Foods Market at the corner of Sand Lake Rd and Turkey Lake Rd is starting up a new farmer’s market.

According to the flyer, the first Sand Lake Farmer’s Market kicks off this Saturday, November 1, and it will run every Saturday after from 9am until 2pm at that Whole Foods location.

Not sure what the market will offer, but I think it’ll be a nice weekend companion to the Lake Eola Farmer’s Market. If anyone goes on Saturday, drop us your thoughts in comments section.

According to a story by Scott Joseph, Walt Disney World has finally stopped serving foie gras at its theme park and resort restaurants.

As of October 1, the company’s last four Orlando restaurants still featuring it – Victoria & Albert’s, California Grill, Citricos and Les Chefs de France – all took it off the menu. I applaud them for the decision, though, as Joseph points out, it’s a move that will surely upset some gourmet diners.

For those that have never had it, foie gras is made from goose or duck liver, and according to several animal rights organizations, farmers produce it by forcing a metal pipe down the throat of the animal and force-feed it massive amounts of grain until its liver swells to 10 times the normal size. There has been huge pressure over the last few years for restaurants all over the U.S. to stop serving it, and an equal fight by some “gourmet” eaters to keep it on the menu.

What do you think of the decision by Disney to stop serving it?

I’m one of those who views a good beer like a good wine, especially when paired with the right food dish. If you feel the same, you might be interested in Thursday’s Beer Tasting Dinner at the Copper Rocket.

The evening will be a 4-course dinner, consisting of shark bites & shrimp for the appetizer, a hearts of palm salad, an entree of glazed pork shank on a bed of gruyere spaetzle, ending with a chocolate milk stout cake covered in raspberry drizzle for dessert. Each course will be accompanied by a beer chosen by Florida Micro Beverage, which I’m guessing is co-sponsoring this event.

Tickets are $30 per person and, according to the flyer, they’re capping attendance at 30 guests.

The event takes place September 18th from 7pm to 9:30pm and you can find more information online at the Copper Rocket’s MySpace page.