My 25-year-old daughter, Tedi, is a total foodie, an ardent lover of fine food who is very critical of what and where she eats. Unlike me, she is a gourmet cook, and she does it with such ease that it astounds me.

That’s why I’m really looking forward to taking her to the next installment of the Chef’s Cooking Class series April 16 at WAVE, in the W Lakeshore, 644 N. Lake Shore Drive.

The class is a taste of what the restaurant’s weekend brunch is like, full of home-inspired recipes that attract people like former Chicago Bull B. J. Armstrong, who ate there last weekend. WAVE’s executive chef Kristine Subido will pay homage to National Garden Month with a demo and tasting focusing on brunch straight from the garden.

During the interactive, educational session, we’ll learn how to get in touch with our inner green thumbs while creating delicious dishes using fresh ingredients from backyard gardens. We may be city dwellers, but there are plenty of fruits and veggies that can grow in smaller, urban gardens, such as tomatoes or strawberries.

One thing we won’t be cooking, however, is the dish that got Subido into cooking as a young girl. Her mom ran a small catering business out of their home, making homemade Filipino sausage called longaniza. Subido would help make the family recipe from scratch, peeling and chopping the many heads of garlic and hand cranking and stuffing sausage casings.

But we will be cooking and eating a variety of items, including “hot smoking” salmon, queso fresco, hollandaise and other good eats. In addition to a multi-course meal, we’ll be served a welcome cocktail and wine with lunch.

“Our classes are a lot of fun and informative,” said Subido, a North Sider. “All the recipes that I create are easy to prepare at home, and our cocktails are tasty. It’s a great weekend outing.”

Tickets are $65 at www.waverestaurant.com. You must be 21 or older to attend. See you there!

Mug shots… Help Brunch — a new, River North restaurant opening in late May — be green. The restaurant is inviting Chicagoans and local business owners to drop off their favorite mugs for a massive coffee mug round-up. Donate unwanted coffee mugs for reuse or bring in your favorite to enjoy when Brunch opens. Drop off is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 343 W. Erie St.

Just desserts… Congrats to State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-12th), recently named the Illinois Public Health Association Legislator of the Year for her efforts to improve the health of Illinois residents.

Unemployment hard to swallow?… Scott Lee Cohen is keeping his campaign promise of holding job fairs with an event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 9, at Seward Park, 375 W. Elm St.

More than 30 companies will participate in the fair, co-hosted by Cohen and Rev. Marvin Alexander of Union Missionary Baptist Church at 940 N. Orleans. There’ll also be free health screenings.

“I pledged to the people of Illinois that one of my first priorities as governor would be to help end unemployment in our state,” said Cohen. “We cannot have economic growth without job growth. I am keeping that campaign promise.” For more information, visit www.chicagojobfairs.org.

Friendly reminder… that Wing Madness 2011, the chicken wing eating contest between 18th District cops and the city’s firemen benefitting Easter Seals Metro Chicago, is May 11 at Dick’s Last Resort, 315 N. Dearborn St. The event’s emcee is Melissa Foreman, and judges include Secretary of State Jesse White, British Consul General Robert Chatterton Dickson, the Chicago Tribune’s Rick Kogan, WCIU-TV’s Aly Bockler and me. A $25 ticket includes food and soft drinks (cash bar). Every dollar goes to the charity. For more information, visit www.chicagowingmadness.com.