Monday, February 22
Help ring in the Chinese New Year by booking a table at Zentan. Through Sunday, the Asian restaurant is offering a $47.08 four-course menu created by chef Susur Lee. Entreés include skewered crispy chicken, marinated steak, and caramelized black cod (our favorite) among other dishes. For reservations and more information, call 202-379-4366.
Tuesday, February 23
Have you spotted that unbeatably cheap (and delicious) herb-flavored pizza dough at Trader Joe’s but don’t know how to top it? Zola Wine & Kitchen is here to help. At tonight’s $50 Pizza Time cooking class, participants will learn how to use 12 toppings as well as three types of sauce—including roast-garlic and blue-cheese-cream. To reserve your spot, click here.
Wednesday, February 24
Amateur drink makers may know what liquors make up a Screwdriver, Seven and Seven, and Tequila Sunrise, but what about each drink’s ice content? Brothers and cocktail slingers Tom and Derek Brown reveal their secrets from 7 to 8:30 at the Passenger during the bar’s Ice Cocktail Seminar. Students will learn the history of ice (in drinks, we’re guessing) and how to incorporate the frozen ingredient to accentuate the taste and texture of mixed drinks. Cocktails include the Daiquiri, Old Fashioned, Rum Swizzle, Bombay Government Punch, and Scotch on the rocks. Tickets are $65 per person. For more information, call 202-393-0220.
Thursday, February 25
GiraMondo presents its Italian Wine Festival and Classes from 6:45 to 9 at the Whittemore House (1526 New Hampshire Ave., NW). The event features more than 25 wines from the Alps to Sicily and showcases famous bottlers such as Tuscan Brunello as well as little-known varieties such as Sardinian Cannonau. The wine tasting comes with light portions of pasta and pizza. There’ll also be two classes: At 6:45, there’s Introduction to the Wines of Italy, and at 7:30, Advanced Topics on the Wines of Italy (additional $20). Festival tickets cost $59 and can be reserved by calling 301-841-7609.
Friday, February 26
The Alliance Française (2142 Wyoming Ave., NW) is hosting a cognac tasting starting at 6:30. Presenter Guillaume Lamy will offer a variety of aged Pierre Ferrand products. Tickets are $50 for the public and $40 for Alliance members, and there’s just 40 spaces. For more information and to purchase your ticket, call 202-234-7911 or click here.
Saturday, February 27
Leafy greens may not be as synonymous with winter as, say, a hearty stew, but salad lovers can learn to jazz up their plates at La Cuisine’s (323 Cameron St.) Winter Salads and Vinegars sampling from 11 to 5. The Alexandria store (323 Cameron St.) will have a variety of balsamic vinegars such as Maletti and DeLouis Fig Vinegar, and tasters receive a 15-percent discount on all featured products.
Sunday, February 28
Head to Evening Star Cafe to celebrate the end of the Olympics games with the second-annual Oyster Roast. Starting at noon, guests can nosh on grilled local oysters, hot dogs from the local charcuterie maker Red Apron; vegetarian roasted-cashew chili; macaroni-and-cheese; mini cupcakes and brownies from Buzz; and a variety of American craft beers, wines, and ciders. There’ll be a Nintendo Wii until 3, at which time the gold-medal men’s ice-hockey game will be televised on an outdoor screen. Admission is free, and most food and drink items cost $4 to $10. The event takes place in the parking lot.
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