DINING: Opportunities for learning — and free pickles

  First, the pickles: Aspen, Colo.-based Johnny McGuire's Deli will open in Town Square, 6605 Las Vegas
Blvd. South, on Friday (May 15). As part of its opening festivities, the deli will give a free pickle during International Pickle Week May 15-25 to anyone who mentions the week (which actually is 11 days, but who's counting?). The deli, which has been an Aspen institution for two decades, serves classic sandwiches and such offbeat choices as the Teriyaki Philly (teriyaki steak, grilled onions and peppers, provolone cheese and wasabi mayo) and the Buddha (turkey, Swiss, curry mayo, sprouts and sunflower seeds). It opens at 9 a.m. daily.
  Now, for the educational stuff: Scott Irestone, executive chef of Wolfgang Puck's Chinois at The Forum Shops at Caesars, will demonstrate techniques of Asian cuisine at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Whole Foods Market at 7250 W. Lake Mead Blvd. Irestone will prepare select dishes from the Chinois menu including marinated baby beet salad, Indonesian steak tartare and Korean beef short ribs. It's $5 per person; to RSVP, stop by the store's customer-service desk or call 942-1500.
  And chefs from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas and representatives of the Las Vegas Farmers Market will discuss the benefits of fresh produce, including herbs, at the Culinary Secrets from Professional Chefs and Recipe Exchange at 3:30 p.m. at the Summerlin Library & Performing Arts Center, 1771 Inner Circle. The presentation is free and open to the public.