The month of May is in full swing and springtime food events are popping up all over the tulip-lined streets of Chicago. From bake sales and farm dinners to Kentucky Derby parties, there are plenty of festivities to choose from in the days ahead.

S.O.S. Bake Sales

Help fight child hunger while indulging your sweet tooth at this year’s national Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale hosted by Butcher and Larder Saturday, May 7, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Organized by Roll Chicago, the bake sale will feature sweet and savory treats and auction packages (chef tasting dinners and theater tickets) donated from a wide range of over 30 local restaurants including Floriole, Balsan, Gaztro-Wagon, Wave and The Southern. Supporters will treat themselves to a variety of fare including Moroccan-spiced lamb and apricot hand pies; sugar cream pies; Oreo truffles; rhubarb galettes; Whoopie pies; caramels and toffee; biscotti; vegan chocolate tortes; derby pies; coconut cakes; cake balls; cookies; and much more. Direct donations can be made at Dash of Stash where 100 percent of funds raised go directly towards Share Our Strength. The Butcher and Larder is located at 1026 N. Milwaukee. For a complete list of participating vendors and more information, visithttp://www.rollchicago.com/.

Note: For those unable to attend this week’s event, the second annual National Food Blogger S.O.S. Great American Bake Sale fundraiser will be hosted by food blogger Maris Callahan of In Good Taste and John and Erica Witte of The Poison Cup, at their Lincoln Park wine and art boutique this Saturday, May 14, from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. All proceeds will be donated to help eliminate childhood hunger in Illinois. The Poison Cup is located at 1128 W. Armitage Ave. For more information, visitwww.gabs.strength.org/.

Derby Day at The Pony

The Pony in Lakeview will host its annual Kentucky Derby party on Saturday, May 7 beginning at 11 a.m. The festivities will include a “best dressed” and “best hat” contest with $100 cash prizes, $5 Jim Beam, Makers Mark and Red Stag Cocktails, $5 Mint Juleps, raffles and giveaways including a trip to the Equestrian Connection Staples. In addition to the full menu of southwestern-inspired cuisine, a $10 southern buffet will also be available featuring fried chicken, biscuits, mashed potatoes and more. Guests can catch Kentucky Derby action as the race is broadcast live on overhead plasma TVs and at tables that feature an individual flat-screen TV for viewing. The Pony is located at 1638 W. Belmont. For more information, visit www.theponychicago.com.

Meet the Market Dinner Series

Join Green City Market as its junior board launches the monthly dining series, Meet the Market, kicking off at Old Town Social Thursday, May 12, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Each month a new chef/restaurant will host a farmer creating several seasonal dishes and cocktails with that farmer’s produce for a special price at the restaurant. This week, junior board members Jaime Tunge and Chef Jared Van Camp will host Farmer Mick Klug who will be there to answer questions, talk about his farm and just pick your brain about any and everything about local food.  Complimentary passed small items include; ham and asparagus spears with housemade country ham; Klug asparagus
 goat cheese and buttermilk biscuits; Prairie Fruits Farmgoat cheese; and Klug Farms strawberry-pinot noir jam. The main menu also features “Fraise Sauvage” with Death’s Door gin, Mick Klug Farms strawberries (preserved from last year), and Champagne ($10), and
“Peach Smash” with Death’s Door white whiskey, Mick Klug Farms peach jam, fresh ginger and mint ($10). The cocktails will be $10 where $2 will go to support the junior board’s efforts in providing CSA boxes to food desserts. Old Town Social is located at 455 W. North Ave. For more information, email juniorboard@greencitymarket.orgor click here.