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Food for the Heart The road to love can be paved with delicious intentions ONE OF THE MOST ROMANTIC ways to woo that special someone on Valentine's Day is by preparing a meal straight from the heart. Expending so much effort, preparation, love and care shows that significant other just how significant he or she is. The problem is, if you're like most people, you can't even boil water, let alone produce a meal meant to seduce and pleasure. Coming to the rescue are chefs from around the nation with Fifty Ways to Feed Your Lover, one program from the UCSC Extension Guest Chef series. This hands-on workshop includes class participation, discussion and demonstrations on preparing romantic meals for a Valentine's breakfast in bed, leisurely brunch or candlelight dinner. For a special treat, chef Janeen Sarlin will guide KBAY's morning show pair, Don Potter and Lissa Kreisler, through quality cooking practices and techniques. Designed for the novice cook, the course will also show do-ahead tricks and recipe variations designed to serve from two to 12 people. This class is perfect for preparing the traditional "you and yours" meal or a singles-only group dinner (just because you're single doesn't mean you should be excluded from the most romantic day of the year). Fifty Ways to Feed Your Lover takes place on Friday, Jan. 28, from 6:30 to 9:30pm at Mon Cheri Caterers and Cooking School in Sunnyvale. The course costs $80 and space is limited to the first 18 registrants. For more information, call 831.427.6695. Dianna Woods An Ode to Haggis Long ago, in a land far away, even before there was a Silicon Valley, the great poet Robert Burns was born in Ayrshire, Scotland--241 years ago come Jan. 25. To honor the Great Scot, huge celebrations are traditional throughout Scotland. Burns poems are read aloud, especially "Address to Haggis," in which homage is paid to the gnarly Scots concoction of oatmeal and innards. This literary and food-fest extravaganza might typically include a menu of cock-a-leekie, haggis with tatties-an-neeps, roastit beef, tipsy laird and Dunlop cheese with a wee nip of whiskey to wash it all down. I don't know about you, but I'm getting an appetite. If you rush, you still might be able to celebrate Robbie's birthday this Saturday, Jan. 22, at Trials Pub, the venerable drinking establishment located in the Thomas Victoria Building (265 N. First St., 408.947.0497). Co-owners Tracy and Robert McVeigh will pipe in the honors at 7pm, offering a recital of the poem, a whiskey toast and, of course, healthy portions of steaming haggis for true kiltsmen. Just in case you have given up the substance early for Lent, a less traditional buffet can be had for $15. Meanwhile, Scots around Campbell will celebrate his birthday and his works by hosting a dinner in his name on Tue., Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. at the King's Head pub. As has been done for the last two centuries, the Scots in attendance (as well as any Scots sympathizers) will commemorate their beloved bard with a band of pipers, recite his most famous poems (including "To a Haggis" and "My Luve is Like a Red, Red Rose") and top it off with a rousing rendition of "Auld Lang Syne," which was supposedly a Burns reworking of a traditional ballad. Tickets to the event, which includes dinner and entertainment by fiddler John Taylor and the King's Head Bangors, are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Send check or money order to Clan MacLeod Society, 3770 Flora Vista #908, Santa Clara, 95051, or call 408.871.2499 for more information. Joe Mangelli [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]