Monday, November 16
Eat away your case of the Mondays at the Reston Morton’s (11956 Market St.), which will host an informal meet and greet with players from the Washington Redskins from 7 to 8. Fans can chat with the Skins, get autographs, and celebrate Sunday’s victory over the Broncos. For more information, call 703-796-0128. Free.
Tuesday, November 17
Meet Richard Sandoval, the chef/restaurateur behind Modern Mexican Restaurants (locally, he’s got La Sandía, Masa 14, and Zengo), when he hosts a tequila dinner at Zengo from 5 to 10. Tequila Herradura will find its way into each of four Latin/Asian courses, and guests will have an opportunity to chat with Ruben Aceves, the Tequila Herradura ambassador from Mexico, following the dinner. The dinner is $45 a person. For reservations and more information, call 202-393-2929.
Wednesday, November 18
To be a truly refined man in the nation’s capitol, it isn’t enough to subscribe to GQ, dine at Smith & Wollensky, and use a Mach 3 razor. You also have to appreciate a fine craft beer. As part of the Morrison House Hotel’s (116 S. Alfred St., Alexandria) four-part “Modern Gentleman” series, author/wine guru (and occasional Washingtonian contributor) Jason Tesauro and chef Dennis Marron will give a crash course in craft beers. Then, just in time for Thanksgiving, they’ll give a lesson on carving. The class, $80 per person, features Devin Arloski of Dogfish Head beer and offers samples of the brewery’s award-winning 90 Minute IPA. It begins at 7. For more information and reservations, call 703-838-8000.
Thursday, November 19
After months tucked inside a wagon fighting off dysentery, you better believe the Oregon Trail settlers were itching to pop open a bottle or two once they reached the Willamette Valley. Sample the varietals the state’s pioneers and their descendants have planted at a Thanksgiving-themed Oregon wine tasting at Willow. Starting at 5:30, seven Oregon wines will be paired with four small courses. Tickets cost $35. For reservations and more information, call 703-465-8800.
Friday, November 20
Former Galileo chef Roberto Donna is hosting an Italian Thanksgiving-dinner cooking class, which includes hands-on instruction, an apron, a recipe book, and a five-course meal with wine. Like a true Italian, Donna is opening up his doors to his home kitchen in McLean. The class, $160 per person, begins at 7:30. For reservations and schedule information, call 202-257-0168.
Saturday, November 21
Join two-time James Beard Award winner Susanna Foo as she hosts a Chinese/French fusion cooking class at TenPenh from 11 to 1 with the restaurant’s executive chef, Cliff Wharton. The $100 class features a four-course meal of coconut chicken shumai, Beijing chicken kabocha squash soup, half-moon lump crab ravioli, and wuxi-style braised beef short ribs. For reservations and further information, call Jillian at 202-408-0201.
You slave away each day at work to provide food for your family. For once, wouldn’t it be nice to kick back while your children bring home the bacon? Yank the youngsters out of soccer practice and enroll them in the Kids’ Holiday Cooking Camp at Spezie, which runs from noon to 4. Under the guidance of chef Cesare Lanfranconi, kids will learn about the benefits of healthy eating and get two meals (one for themselves and one for a parent), courtesy of the restaurant. Enrollment is $80. For more information, call 202-467-0777.
Sunday, November 22
Watch the former White House pastry chef Roland Mesnier as he constructs a five-by-two-foot gingerbread replica of George Washington’s Mount Vernon mansion. Mesnier will build his gingerbread masterpiece over 12 days, culminating on Tuesday, November 24. Spectators can catch Sunday’s action from 10 to 3 at Mount Vernon in the Vaughan Lobby before it’s transported to the mansion as part of the estate’s Christmas decorations. For more information, call 703-780-2000.
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