The fifth annual Chicago Restaurant Week will run from Friday, February 17 - Sunday, February 26, 2012. Over 200 of Chicago's best restaurants will be offering special three course prix fixe menus for lunch and dinner. For more information, click here. -guest contributor
Los Angeles Restaurant Week runs Sunday, January 29 - Friday, February 3,2012, featuring a variety of restaurants offering three-course prix fixe lunch and dinner menus, at $16/$22/$18 for lunch and $26/$34/$44 for dinner. Beverages, tax and gratuity is not included. For additional information or to see a full listing of participating restaurants and their menus, click here. -guest contributor
Join Sur La Table (4527 Travis Street Suite A) on Saturday, February 4, 2012 from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm for Secrets of a Pastry Chef. The class will walk you through a menu of classic recipes on how to prepare pastry plus recipes for Chocolate Souffles, Dark Chocolate, Caramel and Hazelnut Tart plus more. To view the full menu or to purchase tickets ($69.00 per person), click here. -guest contributor
Treat yourself or a Valentine to Dallas by Chocolate Valentine's Indulgence Tour on Saturday, February 4, 2012 from 1:00 - 4:15 pm. A limo bus will take you on a tour to four chocolate related destinations where you sample chocolate, learn its history and how it is made. The tour departs from Elegantly Chocolate (corner of Rosemeade and Marsh in Carollton). For more information or to purchase tickets ($25.00 per person), click here. -guest contributor
Join Parties that Cook at Charlie Baggs in the Belden Stratford (located at 2300 N. Lincoln Park West) for a Valentine's Day Date Night Cooking Class on Saturday, February 11, 2012 from 6:30 - 9:00 pm. You and your partner will learn cooking techniques to make your Valentine dinner both memorable and romantic. The event is $101.22 per couple and includes complimentary wine. For more information or to see the full menu, click here. -guest contributor
Join Sur La Table on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm for Game Day Blowout. The event will prepare you for a day of hungry fans, football and fun by sharing a full menu of traditional tailgate favorites that includes chicken wings, stuffed jalapeno poppers and more. The class is $69.00 per person and will take place at Sur La Table located at 4527 Travis Street Suit A. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here. -guest contributor
Philadelphia's Big Ass Beer Fest takes place Saturday, January 21, 2012 from 12:00 - 3:00 pm or 4:oo - 7:00 pm at Club Polaris (located at 460 North 9th Street), featuring more than 60 types of beers including porters, stouts, barley wines and more. The event is $45.00 and allows you to sample as much as you want. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here. -guest contributor
The Boston Wine Expo — a week long celebration of food and wine — takes place Monday, January 16 - Sunday, January 22, 2011 at the Seaport World Trade Center (200 Seaport Boulevard). Events will include A Global Adventure in a Glass on January 21-22, featuring over 300 wineries from around the world with over 1,800 wines to sample. For more information or to purchase tickets (prices vary), click here. -guest contributor
Get to know Miami beyond South Beach with the Little Havana Food Tour on Saturday, January 21, 2012 from 12:30 - 2:00 pm in Little Havana. The tour will teach you about Cuban cuisine through tasting and stories about the foods you sample. Some of the tastings will include empanadas, margaritas, homemade mamey and flan ice cream plus more. Tickets cost $59.00 and includes all tax and food. Groups will meet at the address disclosed after tickets have been purchased. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here. -guest contributor
The Barcelona Wine Bar and Restaurant will be hosting The Classics on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 7:00 pm (located at 155 Temple Street in the Omni New Haven Hotel). The event will classic and noteworthy cocktail and coordination bar bite preparation. The event is $30.00 per person. For more information or to learn about making reservations, click here. -guest contributor
Bock Fest — a seasonal beer fest in Los Angeles to celebrate the best beer from around the world — takes place Saturday, January 14, 2012 from 1:00 - 5:00 pm at Olympic Collection (11301 Olympic Boulevard). Featured beers will include Bierbitzch, Hell Lager, Schlagl Ale, XXX Weisse, Breakaway Spirits and more. For more information or to purchase tickets which include a souvenir mug and unlimited drinking ($25.00), click here. -guest contributor
Philadelphia Restaurant Weeks will run for two weeks, specifically from Sunday, January 22 - Friday, January 27 and Sunday, January 29 - Friday, February 3, 2012. Participating restaurants will offer dinner for $35.00 and many will offer a three course lunch for $20.00 (tax, alcohol and gratuity not included). For a list of participating restaurants and their menus, click here. - guest contributor
My dinner assignments were chocolate chip cookies, croissants, dinner rolls, French baguette and flowers. I ordered the croissants from a fundraiser and hoped I could pick up the rest from “MY” new grocery store, Elm City Market. I am a Market “member,” but it is open to the public. Although prices are the same, as a member (you can buy in for $200 and hope for profits someday down the road), you may get some discounts. I was in luck! Although the store sells many organic and local origin items, it also has mainstream brands… like the Pillsbury pre-cut chocolate chip cookies I needed. I also picked up local Chabaso [...]
Cookie Swap for a Cause takes place Sunday, December 18, 2011 from 2:00 - 5:00 pm at 281 Summer Street. The teams at swap.com and Boston Food Swap have partnered with the Glad to Give campaign that will donate $.10 for every cookie swapped to Cookies for Kids with Cancer. Bring a batch of cookies along with 40 copies of your recipe to swap and if you do not bake you can have a Glad container filled with cookies for a $20 donation. For more information or to register (event is free or based on donation), click here. - guest contributor
Join House of Rock on Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 7:00 pm for Rocking Around the Christmas Tree (located at 731 Peachtree Street on corner of Peachtree and 4th). The night will feature the Nine Inch Neils (Neil Diamond Tribute) and The Jagged Stones (Rolling Stones Tribute) along with one complimentary Chick-fil-A sandwich, unlimited sodas and access to the dessert bar. Those 21 and older will also receive two glasses of complimentary beer or wine. The suggested donation for the night is $7.00 and non-perishable food item. For more information, click here. -guest contributor
Enjoy an evening of delicious desert tasting, Miami's top cupcake challenge, entertainment and more as the Shops at Sunset Place hosts How Sweet it is...A Taste of the Holidays on Thursday, December 8, 2011. The event runs from 6:00 - 9:00 pm on the first level by Niketown (5701 Sunset Drive). All proceeds will go towards Neighbors4Neighbors a non-profit organization helping families in need. For more information or to purchase tickets ($20.00 per person with children 7 and under free; family package is 4 for $60.00), click here. -guest contributor
Learn how to brew your own ginger beer on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm with pariSoma classes (located at 169 11th Street). During the class you will get the chance to start a batch of ginger beer, bottle another and try samples. Each participant will go home with two 22-ounce bottles and the knowledge on how to make future batches of their own. For more information or to purchase tickets ($40.00 + tax until November 30 or $55.00 + tax after November 30), click here. -guest contributor
Plan a date night with Give Me Some Sugar's Couples Cake Decorating Class on Friday, December 9, 2011 from 6:30 - 9:00 pm. You and a guest will receive a 6 inch by 3 inch cake to decorate with buttercream. Basic piping techniques will be taught along with decorating tips. Everyone will get to take home their masterpiece. The event will take place at Give Me Some Sugar located at 2205 W. Belmont Avenue. For additional dates or to purchase tickets ($150 + fee), click here. -guest contributor
Join Chef Judson Todd Allen tomorrow, Friday, December 2, 2011 from 6:00 - 8:30 pm at Kenmore Live Studio (located at 678 North Wells) as he shares secrets on preparing festive dishes for this years holiday entertaining. The event also celebrates Chef Allen's debut in the December issue of Essence Magazine. Help make this a true winter white evening by coming dressed in your best white attire. For more information or to make reservations (event is free), click here. -guest contributor
Taste of Facebook — the largest food festival and cupcake competition — takes place Sunday, December 18, 2011 from 1:00 - 6:00 pm at 200 Peachtree Street. The event will feature over 25 vendors and 12 top cupcake/pastry chefs as they compete for best cupcake chef on Facebook. Entry tickets are $21.49 that include 12 taste coupons. The event is an Atlanta Women Entrepeneurs annual fundraiser and cupcake war providing funds for AWE workshops, educational and workspace needs. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here. -guest contributor
