Culinary arts students from Bates Technical College will prepare at least 5,000 hors d’oeuvres for the 2009 Governor’s Inaugural Ball on Wednesday.

They're among the more than 360 chefs, culinary arts students, and others from across the state who are helping feed hungry revelers at the event that rings in Gov. Chris Gregoire's second term.

Bates students will prepare roasted vegetables and Washington apple on endive, Dungeness crab crostini, and chicken-stuffed Yukon golds.

I wrote about the Northwest Regional Barista Challenge earlier this week. It starts this morning at the Temple Theater. If you attend, comment here and let us know what the competition was like. A News Tribune reporter is scheduled to cover the event tomorrow.

Another coffee event happens today. Brad Carpenter of Forza Coffee welcomes Oscar and Francisca Chacon from the Las Lajas coffee growing estate in Costa Rica. The Chacons supply coffee to Forza and will be at the Pearl Street Forza from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. tonight to talk about their farm and coffee, as well as their sustainable farming practices.

Writes Carpenter, "The Chacon family has been producing specialty coffee in the fertile volcanic soil of Alajuela, Costa Rica for over 80 years. ... Over the years Las Lajas has survived the ups and downs of the global coffee market through dedication, determination, and a focus on always producing a high quality product."

Details:

Forza Coffee Visit by Las Lajas Coffee Growers
When: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. today
Where: Forza Coffee, 2209 N. Pearl St., Tacoma
Info: 253-759-9320

Northwest Regional Barista Competition
When: Today through Sunday. Doors at 9:30 a.m., baristas will compete from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Saturday. The top six will compete Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The awards ceremony is 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Temple Theater, 47 Saint Helens Ave. Tacoma
Details: Free and open to the public