Thomas Jefferson’s daughter was the first American to make it, Kraft made it famous, and now you can help decide where to find the best at the First Annual Austin Mac & Cheese Festival on Sunday, November 13th. Chefs from 20 different restaurants will be on hand to compete in the ultimate mac and cheese showdown. Whether you eat it as a main course with added broccoli, tomatoes, bacon, or lobster, or you eat it as a side dish with breadcrumbs sprinkled on top, there is sure to be a favorite among the choices.

The event will be held at the Historic Scoot Inn, and doors open at 1 p.m. Admission ranges in price from $30 for unlimited tastings to $65 for early admission, unlimited tastings, and specialty cocktails as well as some free souvenirs. In addition, both entry choices allow you to vote on who has the best dish in town.

Austin Mac & Cheese Festival
When: 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 13
Where: Historic Scoot Inn, 1308 East 4th Street, Austin, TX
Cost: $30 – 65
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/austin-mac-cheese-festival-tickets-28789027757

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr kurmanstaff

Dog lovers, take note: on Thursday, November 10th, you can play with pups, check out cool doghouse designs, and help raise funds for the care of dogs at the Barkitecture Austin Preview Party. The event runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Google Fiber Space on Colorado Street and benefits Austin Pets Alive, a shelter for at-risk animals. Throughout the evening, ticket holders can enjoy food from Blackfinn American Pub, beer from Zilker Brewing Company, cocktails from Tito’s Vodka, and a raffle. Raffle prizes include an Apple Watch, a custom dog kennel, and more.

The Barkitecture preview party is happening only four miles from Elan East, so it’s an easy after-work happy hour to check out. Tickets range from $30 to $35 and are available online. Note that tickets will not be available at the door, so be sure to scoop up your ticket up soon!

Barkitecture Austin Preview Party
When: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 10
Where: Google Fiber Space, 201 Colorado Street, Austin, TX 78701
Cost: $30+
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/barkitecture-austin-2016-preview-party-tickets-27272465679?aff=es2

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Phil Dolby

While there are other cuisines available at restaurants across Texas, Russian fare tends to be harder to find. For those who crave Russian cuisine, Russian Bistro LLC on East 5th Street hosts a recurring cooking class that teaches students the basics of Russian cooking. On Monday, November 7th, the bistro hosts a fall-inspired cooking workshop where students will learn how to make Pumpkin Russian Sweet, a traditional fall treat of mixed pumpkin and prunes.

Tickets are required for entry to the class and are available online. Tickets are $10 per person and include all the cooking utensils and ingredients that you will need to make the sweet treat. The class is taking place about three miles from Elan East, which makes it an easy event to check out this November.

November Cooking Class at Russian Bistro LLC
When: 6:30 – 8 p.m., Monday, Nov. 7
Where: Russian Bistro LLC, 307 East 5th Street, Austin, TX
Cost: $10
www.eventbrite.com/e/november-cooking-class-pumpkin-russian-sweet-tickets-28516142550?aff=es2

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr inkknife_2000 (7 million views +)