Belly Up Chocolate spectacular edition

With the election and Halloween now a distant memory, there's nothing stopping us from hurling ourselves into holiday gluttony. Let the fat fest begin! Thursday sees a World Kitchen Series class: Christmas cookie making. Thank you, Department Of Cultural Affairs, for your commitment to the culture of eating. Also Thursday evening, the Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academy opens its doors to the outside for an open house. This includes a tour of the school, a chef-guided chocolate tasting, a chocolate-making demonstration with Q&A session, and, perhaps most exciting of all, artisan chocolates to take home. (Call 866-443-0437 to register.) If you prefer booze to bonbons, hit up the tequila tasting at Zocalo on Wednesday, Nov. 19. Just $15 buys a cocktail, tastes of various tequilas, and a sampling of tacos. Fatsometer: 7 for those with sweet tooths, 5 for those with booze tooths. Save room for: The Family Farmed Expo, Nov. 21-23, which brings some of best food and farmers from across the Midwest to the Cultural Center.