Cheese: It’s what’s for dinner. Wait, no. Cheese: the fabric of our lives. Hmmm. Anyway, you can behold the power of cheese in the first months of 2010, when the wonderful Appleton Creamery again holds cheese-making classes. The creamery, at 780 Gurney Town Road in Appleton, will open its doors to cow and goat cheese fans to learn the tricks of the trade. A home cheese making class will include, depending on the interests of the class, the process of making jack cheese, feta, yogurt, a lactic cheese, quick mozzarella, ricotta and butter. Goat Cheese 101 will cover all the basics, and will make chevre, mozzarella and ricotta. Home cheese making will be offered Jan. 3-4, Jan. 30-31, Feb. 27-28, and April 24-25. Goat Cheese 101 will be offered Dec. 21, Jan. 18, Feb. 17 and late April. Fees are $125 a day or $225 for two days. A nonrefundable deposit of $50 is required at sign-up. Class size is limited to five, and lunch and handouts are provided. For more information, visit www.appletoncreamery.com.

Farmers Fare, the year-round farmers market, grocery store and cafe that opened last September in Rockport, has a full plate of foodcentric events set for the remainder of December. On Saturday, Dec. 19, Pastor Chuck of Portland will serve up his Maine-made applesauce and apple butter starting at 10 a.m. That same day, Santa will be on hand for the kids from noon to 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, Hatch Knoll Farm of Jonesboro will offer a sample tasting of their MOFGA-certified organic jams and jellies, and on Wednesday, Dec. 23, the Aroostook County-based Crown O’ Maine, a distributor and supplier, will serve a sample tasting of organic products. Beginning Dec. 20, Farmers Fare will offer weekly shares of wild Maine shrimp from Port Clyde Fresh Catch. Farmers Fare offers Maine-grown and -raised fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese, dairy and seafood year round, as well as baked goods and other Maine products. A cafe on-site offers breakfast and an assortment of sandwiches, salads and small plates, as well as a handful of entrees. It is located on the corner of Cross Street and Route 90 in Rockport. For more information, visit www.farmersfare.com.

Attention, restaurant owners: Maine Restaurant Week is set for March 1-10, 2010. The Maine Restaurant Association wants establishments from all over the state to come on board for the 10-day celebration of eating in Maine. The event has traditionally been very Portland-centric, but there’s no reason that any of the fantastic restaurants in eastern and northern Maine can’t participate and reap the benefits. Restaurants that sign up are asked to offer a three-course, prix fixe meal at the price of $20.10, $30.10 or $40.10. For more information, or to sign up, visit www.mainerestaurantweek.com.