Monday, November 2
Hobnob with Redskins, Capitals, and more than 30 of the city’s top chefs at the March of Dimes’ Signature Chefs Auction at 6:30. The evening, emceed by WJLA anchor Leon Harris, features a series of live and silent auctions, food and wine tastings, and hotel and weekend giveaways inside the Ritz-Carlton in DC’s West End (1150 22nd St., NW). To reserve tickets, click here.

Tuesday, November 3
Join food writer Gail Forman at Blue Ridge for the first installment in a three-part series, “What’s for Lunch? Sustainable Foods That Sustain You at Lunch.” Over lunch, she’ll discuss sustainability with a focus on pigs and pork. The following session, at Zola on November 10, features a trip to a nearby historic “eco-gastro” restaurant. The final lunch, on November 17 at Sonoma, has a focus on Alaskan fisheries. Tickets for the three dates are $135 for Resident Associates members and $170 for nonmembers. Reservations can be made here.

Monday, October 26
Start the week with a hoppy bang at Birreria Paradiso’s Smuttynose Brewery dinner. This sudsy affair, which begins at 6:30, pairs six varieties from the New Hampshire microbrewery with a four-course meal. Get into the Halloween spirit by downing Smuttynose’s Pumpkin Ale, and meet the man behind the product, lead brewer Dan Schubert. The dinner costs $65 per person. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 202-337-4963.
 
Tuesday, October 27
Sip Heinekens and Budweisers, sample a buffet of offerings from DC dining rooms, and help make a difference at StreetWise Partners’ second annual Taste of Success, held at Jones Day (51 Louisiana Ave., NW). The organization pairs mentors with those working their way out of poverty, and participating restaurants include Mandu, La Tomate, Circa, Oceanaire, Café Saint-Ex, and many others. The event begins at 6:30. Tickets, $85 to $100, can be purchased in advance here .
 

Monday, October 19
Virginia is for lovers—if only of its cheese and wine. Start the week off with a wine-and-cheese event at Mon Ami Gabi’s Reston location (11950 Democracy Dr.), where you can sample from the barrels of the Winery at La Grange, Pearmund Cellars, and Boxwood Winery. Taste some Virginia-made cheeses while you sip, including wedges from Everona and Meadow Creek dairies. The cheeses will also appear in a few hors d’oeuvres. The event, $45 per person, runs from 6 to 9; call 703-707-0233 to reserve your spot.  

Tuesday, October 20
After winning three medals at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival, the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based Tröeg’s Brewing Company is coming to CommonWealth for a beer dinner tonight at 7. The $45 price (plus tax and tip) gets you a three-course dinner paired with six Tröeg’s brews. Call 202-265-1400 to make reservations or for more information.

Monday, October 12
Find an ATM and head to the Source to celebrate its second anniversary with a five-course wine dinner hosted by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck (and yes, we’re told he’s actually going to be in the kitchen). In honor of the late American vintner Robert Mondavi, his widow, Margrit, will pair their wines with the secret menu. The evening also features a cocktail reception with wines from the Virginia-based Kluge Estate Winery. 7 PM; reserve your $195 seat by calling 202-637-6100.

Tuesday, October 13
When we think of the Pacific Northwest, we think grunge, lots of rain, and coffee. But the region also produces some pretty impressive Pinots, Cabernets, and Syrahs. Come learn what makes the wines of Oregon and Washington unique, and taste four to seven varietals with local specialist Mike Canter’s hourlong class at Vinoteca. Tickets for the event, which begins at 7, are $35 a person. Call 202-332-9463 for reservations.

Monday, October 5

It’s all red meat and Redskins at Morton’s tonight. Skins players will be the center of an informal meet-and-greet at the beef joint’s Georgetown location to talk to fans and sign memorabilia. The players arrive at 7:30, and the event is free. For more information, including the names of the attending athletes—which should be available today—call 202-342-6258.

Tuesday, October 6

If you’re a fan of Lebanese Taverna’s shawarma and hummus, here’s your chance to learn how to create those Middle Eastern flavors at home. Arlington's Lebanese Taverna Market is hosting a hands-on cooking class appropriate for all cooking levels. It will include wine, appetizers, and dinner. The class, $60 a person, runs from 6:45 to 9:30. Call 703-841-1562 for reservations and more.
 

Spotlighting locally sourced ingredients on restaurant menus is nothing new, but they’re the highlight of the Virginia hunt country’s Celebrate the Harvest week. Now through October 4, restaurants in Middleburg, The Plains, and Upperville will create specials that focus on homegrown ingredients.

Monday, September 28
Loosen your tie at Morton’s steakhouse in Georgetown with a casual evening of Italian-wine sampling and appetizers. This installment of the restaurant’s “Uncorked” series runs from 6 to 7:30. Tickets—$50, including tax and gratuity—can be reserved here.

Tuesday, September 29
In the mood for even more wine from Italy? You won’t have to wait long or travel far from Monday’s suggestion—neighbor Cafe Milano hosts a wine-pairing dinner tonight at 6:30. Linger over five courses of sea-inspired dishes in one of Washington’s top power haunts. $100 per person (limited seating available). Call 202-333-6183 for reservations.

Former New York Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni is at Politics and Prose (5015 Connecticut Ave., NW; 202-364-1919) to talk about his candid, terrifically funny new memoir, Born Round, in which he reveals his lifetime of food issues and the ways his job as a food critic helped him over come them. Adding to the fun: Interviewing him will be pal and fellow Times writer Maureen Dowd. The free reading starts at 7.