Monday, May 18
Best Cellars hosts “Understanding Italy,” an Italian wine dinner at Clarendon’s Sette Bello. Diners will learn about the varieties of grapes grown in Italy, why they flourish where they do, and why certain wines pair better with certain foods. The dinner, from 7 to 9, costs $80 per person or $150 per couple. For reservations, call Best Cellars at 703-741-0404.
Tuesday, May 19
“Take a stroll through Burgundy” at Old Town’s Grape + Bean (118 S. Royal St., Alexandria) and taste whites and reds from its Côte d’Or, Côte de Beaune, and Côte Chalonnaise regions. The tasting, which will include Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, will also feature a selection of cheeses, charcuterie, and other small bites to be paired with each wine. It runs from 6:30 to 8 and costs $40 per person. For reservations, call 703-664-0214.
Wednesday, May 20
Downtown DC workers can make their lunch a charitable one at the second annual “Taste of Eleven” at the Verizon Center from noon to 2. Pay $11 and take your pick of six items from 30 restaurants including Zaytinya, Zola, the Source, and Jaleo. Proceeds benefit the Capital Area Food Bank. To purchase tickets and for more information, call 202-628-3200.
Thursday, May 21
Chef Victor Albisu, chef de cuisine at BLT Steak, will host a cooking class at Lebanese Taverna as part of its guest-chef series. Albisu will use traditional Lebanese ingredients to create modern dishes, including goat-cheese-stuffed grape leaves with bitter greens and pistachio-honey vinaigrette and zaatar-spiced baby octopus with warm white-bean salad. Light mezze and wine will be served during the class, which goes from 6:45 to 8 and costs $65 per person. For reservations, call 703-841-1562.
Friday May 22
Bethesda wine bar/bistro Grapeseed hosts the next installment of its “You Be the Sommelier” wine-dinner series, where diners vote on the best wine from New Zealand, Spain, California, and Italy after tasting a flight of three wines from each country. The tasting, which begins at 6:30, is followed by a five-course dinner. The wines with the most votes will be served by the glass for the next three months at Grapeseed. Call 301-986-9592 for reservations; $100 per person.
Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24
Enjoy Memorial Day weekend! Check back soon for a grilling Memorial Day package.
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