Eventwire: Imperial and Imbibe's Beer Dinner; Ecotrust's CSA Fair

COCKTAILS ON TAP — Ever-inventive barman Jacob Grier is celebrating the release of his new beer cocktail book "Cocktails on Tap" with a book signing at Powell's on March 23. The signing starts at 7:30 p.m. Afterward, everyone walks over to a book release party at Multnomah Whiskey Library at 9 p.m., where the menu will include beer cocktails from the book.

BEER FOR DINNER — Imperial restaurant and Imbibe Magazine are teaming up for "Wild Things," a special beer dinner on April 15, which coincides with the Craft Brewer's Conference. Imbibe beer editor Joshua Bernstein, and beer writer Christian DeBenedetti, founder of upcoming Wolves & People Farmhouse Brewery in Newberg will host the event, pairing dishes from chef Doug Adams with coveted beers from small producers like Ale Apothecary (Bend), Breakside, de Garde Brewery (Tillamook), Hopworks, and Logsdon Organic Farmhouse Ales (Hood River). Expect hearty plates like house-smoked kielbasa with spaetzle, and braised elk shank ​carbonnade. The event starts at 7 p.m. and is held in Portland Penny Diner's intimate space. That means seats are limited. Tickets are all-inclusive and cost $75. Click here for tickets.

P.R.E.A.M. PARTY — Get a sneak peak of the P.R.E.A.M. space this Sunday March 22,  when the LetUmEat team hosts their next takeover dinner. The menu is built to showcase flour from Camas Country Mill and oil from Oregon Olive Mill. Chefs Karl Holl and James Serlin, formerly of Perbacco in San Francisco, are cooking up a seven-course pizza and pasta-centric meal that includes chittara with dungeness crab, brown butter apples, leeks and pan fritto; and roasted squash agnolotti with spiced lamb ragu, and smoked pecorino. Chose from two seatings at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Cost is $75, not including beverages. Tickets and information available here.

CSA SHOPPING — If you're considering buying a CSA this year, you can browse through options from more than 30 farmers all in one place, and check out Ecotrusts' new Redd warehouse/upcoming food hub in the process, at the non-profit's CSA Fair this Saturday March 21. Tastebud will be cooking up wood-fired pizzas, and upcoming Seastar Bakery will be offering tastes of their soon-to-open bakery. Nostrana and Oven & Shaker chefs Cathy Whims, Jun Robles, and Brian Schmidt will compete at noon to see who can make the best meal out of an identical CSA box, plus there are kids' activities, and a cookbook swap. The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Redd, 831 SE Salmon St.

WINNER OF A CHICKEN DINNER — Just weeks after Boondockers' dramatic barn fire, they're partnering with Courtney Sproule of Din Din for a special dinner and cooking class. On Saturday, March 28 at 7:30pm, farmers Evan and Rachel will be on hand for a very French six-course meal built on using every part of their free-range heritage chickens. Cost is $65 plus gratuity for six courses and wine. The next day, Sunday March 29, from 2 to 5 p.m., they'll teach you how to make that meal, and afterward you can sit down to eat it. Cost for the hands-on class and six-course dinner with wine is $150. Click here for menu and reservation information.

SPEAKING OF FIRES — Another favorite family farm has recently suffered a devastating barn fire. Kookoolan Farms, a stalwart at farmers markets and a pioneer on the meat CSA and DIY fermentation fronts, lost two barns in a fire on Wednesday night. Although they have insurance, it'll take a while to get a check. According to their Facebook page, the best way to lend a hand is to dive in and buy a meat share if you've been considering it, or subscribe to their vegetable CSA. "It would give us a welcome bubble of cash that we can immediately use to rebuild." For more information, the farmers will be at the Hillsdale farmers market this Sunday March 22.