The Socialite

For those looking for a different groove to taste wine to, there's  ~HIP TASTES~, described as "wine tastings [that] are stylish events for adventurous enthusiasts looking to broaden their knowledge of the good stuff." The events definitely seem to draw a fun crowd. Hip, if you…

Arlequin Wine Merchant and Absinthe are pairing up for a pretty special evening this Wednesday, March 22: James Beard Foundation  Honoree ~FRITZ MAYTAG~ of York Creek Vineyards (also proprietor of Anchor Steam Brewery and Anchor Distilling Co.) will lead a tasting of his estate offerings (you didn't know…

One of my favorite restaurants, ~WINTERLAND~, is celebrating their one-year anniversary on Tuesday, March 28. They will be offering a six-course prix-fixe dinner for $90, with complimentary champagne with dinner, from 5:30pm-10pm. You can just swing by for cocktails and snacks in the lounge from 10pm-midnight. Happy birthday, Winterland.…

I went to one of the cooking classes at Purcell Murray in Brisbane (not Benicia) a couple weeks back, and I gotta tell ya, it's a nice little setup. Friendly people, social vibe, good food, and man, what a gorgeous showroom. It's like Euro stove porn…

Photo from Fra'Mani Okay, oink oink on this one! On March 21, the Commonwealth Club will be hosting a panel discussing one of my greatest loves, salumi. And not just any old panelists, try Paul Bertolli, (Founder, Fra'Mani Handcrafted Salumi, Berkeley), Chris Cosentino (Executive Chef, Incanto…

Hey, here's something that's NOT Italian. But it sure is boozy. March 24-25 is the ~WHISKIES OF THE WORLD EXPO~ at the Hotel Monaco and aboard a boat, the San Francisco Belle. Not sure who thought hosting a whiskey tasting/expo on a boat is great…

You'd think I was Italian or something with all these Italian events for this week. (You might as well get used to it.) This Wednesday, March 8, ~A16~ will be celebrating "La Festa Della Donna," which is International Women's Day. In Italy, all you…

This appeals to my Italian blood for obvious reasons: Ottimista Enoteca, the wine bar and eatery on Union Street, is hosting classes on regional Italian wines led by Jerad Ruhl, Ottimista's co-owner and wine director. You'll be kicking it on the heated patio while tasting some…

Okay, I am so totally going to this: on Saturday March 4, kitchen goddess and Provence princess, ~GEORGEANNE BRENNAN~, is doing a cooking demo on springtime ingredients for a perfect Provençal menu. Think lamb, and early spring produce like morels, asparagus, and fava beans. There will be a lunch following…

As if you need further inspiration to visit ~K&L WINE MERCHANTS~,  but here you go: on Saturday, March 25, they will be offering a special tasting of wines from small producers who make organic/biodynamic wines from the Loire Valley, Burgundy, Jura and Southern France. The wines are…