Today, October 5

Kids are encouraged to play with their food through words at Peanut Butter and the Pen. The after-school creative writing program is for third, fourth, and fifth graders and costs $17. Bring them down to 18 Reasons 4 to 5 p.m. to let them explore  life through food. 3674 18th St. (at Oakwood)

Friday, October 7

Taste your way from Justin Herman Plaza to the Westfield Centre with Gourmet Walks and its chocolate tour. For $50, you'll meet artisan chocolatiers, learn about production, and what constitutes quality. There's also a blind chocolate tasting from 15 countries, Belgian hot chocolates, and ganaches and truffles galore. Think of it as a world tour through the cocoa bean. 1 Market St. (at Embarcadero) 

Saturday, October 8

First tour then cook Latin and South American soul food in and around the Mission 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with Parties that Cook. For $95, you'll start at Mission Minis and continue on to stops for tacos and ice cream before moving on to La Cocina to make taquito cups and mini arepas. 3168 22nd St. (at Capp)

Tuesday, October 11

Food science guru Alton Brown comes to town at 1 p.m. to sign his latest book Good Eats 3: The Later Years. 1 Ferry Building (at Embarcadero)