Sherry Bisque from The Hyeholde, Roasted Red Pepper Soup from the 17th Street Cafe and Tomato and Bread Soup from Cafe at the Frick are just a few of the delicious soups to be ladled out at the 12th Annual Empty Bowls Dinner, from 3 to 7 p.m. March 11 at Rodef Shalom Congregation in Oakland.

	Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Last year's Empty Bowls created a colorful palette. Click photo for larger image.

Handmade bowls were crafted on Feb. 1 at the annual "Bowls in the Night" at Carlow College, where ceramicists worked into the wee hours to fashion 250 original bowls.

The bread-and-soup fund-raiser for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Just Harvest is meant to raise awareness of the problem of hunger in our community.

Among the celebrity soup servers are Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Andrew Stockey, Rick Sebak and Lynn Cullen. Live entertainment, children's activities and a silent auction of ceramic art are also part of the afternoon.

Tickets are $20 and include a handmade bowl to take home with you. For details, call Just Harvest at 412-431-8960.

New name for Dogma

After a year of trademark-related legal troubles, the name of Downtown's popular hot dog shop -- Hot Dogma -- will be laid to rest in a "quirky yet humble" funeral service from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Friends, family and customers will gather in the basement of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral to bid a fond farewell to the witty name and give birth to:

Franktuary.

The wake will be a lively mixture of indie music, a classical cello quartet, a bountiful buffet and chances for customers to screen their own Franktuary T-shirts.

Olive oil tutorial

Deb Mortillaro, a Culinary Institute of America chef, will discuss and sample different grades of olive oils at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Palate Partners in the Strip District.

Cost is $25. Bring recipes that include olive oil to swap and discuss. Class space is limited; call 412-391-8502.

Wine Flight

Wines from New Zealand, France and California will be featured at The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's monthly Wednesday Wine Flight at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Cabaret at Theater Square.

Cafe Zao chef Toni Pais will provide the appetizers and wine critic Dave DeSimone will answer questions. Cost is $35; call 412-456-6666.

Cook Indian

Here's your chance to "Discover a Taste of India" and duplicate it in your own kitchen. Mt. Lebanon Public Library is launching a series of international cooking classes beginning with a two-Monday-night culinary journey to India.

Instructor Manisha Bhanre taught cooking classes in India for five years before settling in Green Tree with her husband and children.

At 7 p.m. March 12 she will show how to make Butter Chicken and 7 p.m. March 19, she'll demonstrate Spicy Chicken Gravy. Cost is $16 for both classes. Sign up at 412-531-1912.

Cake for the Cat

"The Cat in the Hat" turns 50 this year -- and he doesn't look a day over 20. To celebrate, Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont will have a reading for children of all ages at 11 a.m. Saturday, followed by birthday cake and a special appearance by the famous feline himself.

Author Theodor Geisel's (aka Dr. Seuss) birthday is tomorrow.

The last word

"Only the pure of heart can make a good soup." Ludwig van Beethoven.