• Meet Padma Lakshmi: Padma Lakshmi, host of Bravo's Top Chef, will discuss the origins of the recipes in her new book "Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet: A World of Recipes for Every Day" at The Strand Bookstore, 828 Broadway, on 11/19 at 7 p.m.

• Thanksgiving: Please Hold The Meat: Jean Marie will teach how to host an exciting and creative vegan thanksgiving from the main course to the vegan pumpkin pie. The class will be held on Monday 11/12 at 6:30 p.m., $40 at The Brooklyn Kitchen, 616 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn.

• Eco-Eatery Tour Scavenger Hunt and Cocktail Party: Meet up at the fountain in Washington Square Park tomorrow at 2:30 for a scavenger hunt through Manhattan. Each team will be given a clue sheet and will have two hours to find as many Manhattan eco-friendly treasures as they can. The end of the hunt (5 pm) the group will head to Pegu Club, a bar recently noted by Slow Food NYC with their "Snail of Approval".

• Holiday Cooking Class Benefit: The French Culinary Institute will host a holiday cooking courses to benefit HELP USA, a national non-profit that serves the homeless. The class is $450 and will be held 12/6 at the FCI, 462 Broadway.