Monday, December 8
Escape the cold and reserve a table by the toasty fireplace at Old Town’s Bar Baudelaire (1106 King St., Alexandria) tonight when it hosts a five-course wine dinner. Executive chef Tom Meyer’s menu includes a duck-confit-and-foie-gras salad paired with a Château Haut Bommes Sauterne 2003. Dinner starts at 7 and costs $75 per person. Call 703-739-9494 for reservations.
Tuesday, December 9
Train your nose with GiraMondo Wine Adventures’ beginners class, “The Ultimate Sensory Experience.” The class covers the origins of wine flavors and aromas, aroma categorization, and how to recognize different aromas. Appetizers and cheese will be available with the tasting of six wines. In honor of the holidays, two sparkling wines will also be served. The class, held at the Whitemore House (1526 New Hampshire Ave., NW), starts at 6:30 and costs $54 per person. Call 301-841-7609 for reservations.
Wednesday, December 10
Celebrate the cold with a winter wine dinner at Locanda (633 Pennsylvania Ave., SE) on Capitol Hill. Executive chef Brian Barszcz will prepare a five-course Italian dinner to be paired with wines from Northern Italy’s Piedmont region. The wine will be provided by Chat’s Liquors on Capitol Hill and Michael Downey Selections. The dinner, which starts at 6:30, costs $99 per person. Call Chat’s Liquors at 301-404-2359 to make a reservation.
Thursday, December 11
The Mexican Cultural Institute presents “Mexican Table: Fiesta Guadalupana in Campeche” tonight at the Mexican Cultural Institute (2829 16th St., NW). Mexican cooking expert Patricia Jinich will demonstrate how to prepare cuisines from indigenous communities in Michoacán and Campeche as well as more contemporary dishes. After the demo, there will be a buffet dinner with wine, beer, and coffee. Participants will take home ingredients and a set of recipes. The event begins at 6:30 and costs $70 for members, $75 for nonmembers. For reservations, call 202-728-1647.
Free wine, anybody? Domasoteca (1121 N. 19th St., Arlington), in Rosslyn’s Hotel Palomar, hosts a complimentary mulled-wine tasting from 5 to 8. The gourmet shop will serve a vin brûlé, a mulled wine traditionally served with panettone; negus, a traditional British mulled wine; vin chaud, a French mulled wine made with Beaujolais; and the German mulled glühwein. For additional information, call 703-594-5104.
Saturday, December 13
The “Food as Art” film series at Montpelier Arts Center (9652 Muirkirk Rd., Laurel) kicks off tonight with the Barry Levinson classic Diner. American diner food will be served during the screening. The film starts at 6, and tickets are $18 for members and seniors, $20 for nonmembers. Call 301-490-2329 for tickets.
Sunday, December 14, 21, and 28
Brunch at Firefly (1310 New Hampshire Ave., NW) just got better. Throughout December, the restaurant will offer $1 mimosas and “poinsettia” cocktails every Sunday from 9 to 2. Bartender Alice Gaber’s seasonal Poinsettia Americana recipe includes Bluecoat American dry gin, Absolut vodka, muddled grapefruit, and cranberry-and-rosemary syrup. Gaber’s signature maple mulled wine will also be served. Sunday brunch is from 9 to 2. For reservations, call 202-861-1310.
Sunday, December 14
Need help with your holiday cookies? Domaso (1121 N. 19th St., Arlington), in Rosslyn’s Hotel Palomar, will host a gingerbread-cookie class for children and adults. Pastry chef Kevin Boxx will teach participants to decorate their own gingerbread cookies and make marshmallows. Homemade hot chocolate, spiced cider, and mulled wine will be served. Students will take home recipes, cookies, and marshmallows. The class, which runs from 2 to 4, costs $10 per person. Registered guests will also get 20 percent off Domaso’s brunch menu before class. Call 703-894-5104 to reserve a spot.
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