Tonight marks the finals of the “Panini-Off” recipe contest at Brentwood’s Coral Tree Café. The winner takes away a $250 gift certificate to CORAL TREE CAFE. And their creation will be added to the café menu. Cheer on the competitors and eat for a good cause. Ten percent of the day’s revenue goes to the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association. 310.979.TREE or www.coraltreecafe.com.
Jan. 20: Melville Wine Dinner at Nick + Stef’sChad and Mary Melville and their delish wines (Melville Vineyards for the uninitiated) pay a special visit to Nick + Stef’s Steakhouse this evening for a six course dinner. A sample of the night’s offerings: pork belly with white bean mousse and Calvados scented apple relish paired with a 2008 Estate “Terraces” Pinot Noir, a pre-release, meaning you’re tasting it before just about everyone else. 213.680.0330.
Jan. 20: Stolpman Vineyards Wine Dinner at Saddle Peak LodgeAlbacore crudo with persimmons, black garlic and grapefruit and duck confit risotto with crispy skin and wild mushrooms are among the offerings at tonight’s Stolpman Vineyards dinner at the rustic and romantic Saddle Peak Lodge. Lots of good drink from Stolpman too which has been called “one of the best Syrah vineyards in the New World.” Not that Syrah is all they’ll be pouring. $95 per person. 818.222.3888 or joshua@saddlepeaklodge.com.
Jan. 23: “Around the World in 80 Sips”Drink:Eat:Play, the outfit responsible for the Cupcake Challenge and the Los Angeles BBQ Festival, is behind tonight’s international wine festival, a.k.a. “Around the World in 80 Sips.” Brazilian wine? Israeli wine? Yep, along with some more obvious entries. The location is the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, convenient should you overindulge. $60 per person. www.drinkeatplay.com/aroundtheworldin80sips
Jan. 24-29 and Jan. 31-Feb. 5: dineLA Restaurant WeekNeed we say more? www.dineLA.com/RestaurantWeek
Jan. 25: Batic Wine Dinner at CampanileIf you are bored with California, French and Italian wines, how about some yummy Slovenian wines. Yes you read that right. Ivan and Miha Batic will be showcasing a bunch of their creations. To pair, Campanile chef de cuisine Erica Lins has come up with a six course menu that opens with fried calamari with fried lemon segments, chorizo and romesco sauce and ends with L’Aigle Noir Roquefort with house made oat biscuits. $100 per person. 323.938.1447 x16.
Jan. 27: “Offal Good” at Palate Food + WineTonight marks the third “Offal Good” at the wine bar at Palate. The new Wednesday tradition gives diners a chance to sample dishes such as calves’ brain ravioli with ricotta, raisins, brown butter and sage, and veal tongue with dandelion greens and salsa verde. Dishes are priced at $9. Or try the three course tasting menu for $25. 818.662.9463 or www.palatefoodwine.com.
Jan. 30: Cooking Class at JARSuzanne Tracht is a terrific chef and an engaging teacher. So her cooking classes are both delicious and inspiring. Today’s class, perfectly timed to include lunch, walks attendees through a haricot vert salad, braised lamb shank, and kabocha squash. Pastry chef Sandra Bustamante takes over for dessert: chocolate decadence. And sommelier Rob Harpest gives participants the skinny on what they’re drinking. $125 per person. 323.655.6566.
Feb. 4: LearnAboutWine at Simon L.A.If you’re a fan of chef Kerry Simon’s food, particularly his wonderful seared tuna, here’s your chance to learn from the man himself. “The rock n’ roll chef” will be demonstrating the recipe for tonight’s LearnAboutWine class, “Red Wine & Chef Simon’s Favorite Tuna” at his restaurant, Simon L.A. Tuna eating included. $49 with advanced reservations. www.learnaboutwine.com.
Feb. 12: In-N-Out Wine Tasting
If you’ve wondered how an In-N-Out Double-Double might get along with a quality Cabernet, then tonight is your lucky night. This is the third in the In-N-Out Wine Tasting series courtesy of LearnAboutWine. Those burgers are sure to keep snobbishness at bay. $69 per person. www.learnaboutwine.com.
Feb. 13: Valentine’s Day Master Class at Gordon Ramsay at The London West HollywoodLove the idea of a fabulous, restaurant quality meal but don’t feel like dealing with the inevitable Valentine’s Day madness? This morning, chef Andy Cook of Gordon Ramsay at The London leads a master class for couples who can then recreate his menu the following night in their very own kitchen, and then stumble off to bed instead of valet parking. $450 per couple. 310.358.7788.
Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day at RHChef Sebastien Archambault of RH in the Andaz Hotel has created a ‘sharing menu’ for this year’s holiday that will have couples passing plates back and forth. “I’ll trade you a bite of seared diver scallops with orange braised endive and cilantro seeds for a little of your roasted duck breast with red cabbage, apple and syrah wine sauce.” And if you can’t get in tonight or are juggling a couple sweeties (we won’t tell!), know that the menu is being offered Friday the 12th and Saturday the 13th as well. 323.785.6090 or www.andaz.com.
Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills
Gardens in the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills closed several months ago to make way for Culina, Modern Italian, which is slated to open in March. But romantics who are fans of chef Ashley James’ cooking aren’t out of luck. This year, Valentine’s Day goes down in the gorgeous Weatherly Room. Lobster and caviar Royal anyone? (We’re not sure what it is. But it sounds impossibly good.) $65 per person. 310.273.2222.
Feb. 20: Opening Your Own Restaurant
Despite the horror stories and sobering statistics, you still want to open your own restaurant. After all, you just know your idea for an all meatball place is what the people want. (Hey, we have heard stranger.) You might as well go into it as educated as possible. UCLA Extension offers a two day seminar for aspiring restaurateurs. The class meets all day this Saturday and next. Pre registration is required. $280 well spent we say. 310.825.9971.
Feb. 27: Thai Cooking Class at RockSugar Pan Asian KitchenWouldn’t it be nice if you could whip up your own Thai ice tea, sticky mango rice and pad Thai? RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen chef Mohan Ismail will show you how. The class includes lunch and wine pairings. $100 person. 310.552.9988.
March 18: StarChefs.com Rising Chef Revue
StarChefs.com hosts its Rising Stars Revue this evening at the Fairmont Santa Monica. Past honorees include Michael Cimarusti (Providence), Neal Fraser (Grace/BLD), David LeFevre (Water Grill) and David Myers (Comme Ca). So you know whoever is doing the decision making has exemplary taste. Expect to rub elbows with many of the town’s most acclaimed chefs and plenty of good stuff to eat. ‘Cause you can’t very well serve pigs in a blanket to this crowd. $95 per person. www.starchefs.com
