For those who have a passion for food and wine, and are interested in learning more about them, the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History is planning two dinners that will feature chef-prepared meals that include an educational program.

“There will be lots of great food and local wine. There will be education in the process,” said Matt Edwards, executive director of the museum.

Edwards met Kenya-born Chef Njathi Wa Kabui, who came from a long line of farmers in Africa, while in graduate school at the University of Memphis where they both studied. He said Kabui came to the United States where he earned his master’s degree, then went on to culinary school. Now, Kabui runs a company called Organics and Sound that offers sustainable catering and education.

The first dinner will be held July 15 at Trio featuring Chef Chris Wishart and Chef Kabui. A four-course meal will be paired with Old North State wines. The program is called “Eating our Values or Our Values Eating Us? : Improving our Health and Community Through Food.”

On July 16 at Round Peak Vineyards at 6:30 p.m. the dinner will feature Chef Ed Badgett from Olde Mill and Chef Kabui. The four-course meal will be paired with Round Peak wines. The program topic will be “Multiculturalism on Our Plate: Building on a Long Tradition of Dynamic Foodways in America.”

“This is a great opportunity to bring in something that is outside of the traditional trajectory of museum programs. We wanted to have a fun program that would help us reach out to the local food and wine producers,” said Edwards. “There are a lot of foodies around here. This is a way to reach out to those folks. This is something very fun and different.”

Edwards said that he hopes that these programs will be so well received that the museum will be able to do these types of dinners every year.

July was chosen as the time to host the programs because it is a time when the most local foods are in season, he said.

Those interested in attending should call to reserve a seat as soon as possible because seating is limited, Edwards said.

The price of $60 per person is all-inclusive.

Reservations for the dinner at Trio can be made by calling 719-0123.

Reservations for the dinner at Round Peak Vineyard can be made by calling the museum at 786-4478.

Reach Mondee Tilley at mtilley@heartlandpublications.com or at 719-1930.