Events

Oakland Tribune, Feb 16, 2005

- Hats off to new wine store Vintage Berkeley for making wine both accessible and affordable. With most bottles under $20, shopping for varietals such as Russian River Pinot Noirs, Argentinian Malbecs, Canadian ice wines, Basque whites and sparkling wines is a genuine pleasure. The store also offers free tastings from 4 to 7 p.m. weekdays and from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Store hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and until 8 p.m. Saturdays; plus noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. 2113 Vine St., Berkeley. Details at (510) 665-8600.

- Seafood fans will be thrilled to learn that another Yankee Pier has opened, this time at San Francisco International Airport. Now if you're at the United Domestic Terminal, you can enjoy signature dishes such as Maine lobster roll, classic New England clam chowder and fried Ipswich clam strips. The restaurant also offers an espresso bar and food wrapped for airplane travel. Details at (650) 821-8938.

- Frank Rothstein teaches "Cabernet, Merlot and Friends" from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays beginning next week and continuing through March 21. Find out more about the varietals from Bordeaux, California, Washington state, South America and Australia that are produced from traditional Bordeaux grapes such as Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Cost is $330 for the six-week course. Prima, 1522 N. Main St., Walnut Creek. Registration at (925) 945-1800.

- Co-author David G. Howell looks at the effect of soil on wine production in his book, "The Winemaker's Dance: Exploring Terroir in the Napa Valley" at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Free event. Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak streets, Oakland. Details at (510) 238- 2200.

- If it's February, it's crab season for the Lark Creek Restaurant Group. Lark Creek Walnut Creek features Dungeness crab eggs Benedict with black pepper biscuit and citrus hollandaise, plus steamed Dungeness crab with chili-lime butter and shoestring potatoes. Reservations at (925) 256-1234. One Market offers Dungeness crab salad with shaved fennel, pink grapefruit and herbal emulsion, plus Dungeness crab pappardelle with crispy proscuitto and Dungeness crab emulsion. Reservations at (415) 777-5577. For reservations at Parcel 104 call (408) 970-6104 and at Yankee Pier Santana Row call (408) 244-1244.

- "The Art of Baking Bread" with pastry sous chef Lisa Shaver is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Learn to bake brioche, foccacia and sticky buns. Cost is $49 per person. The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards, 5050 Arroyo Road, Livermore. Registration at (925) 456- 2400.

- Rosenblum Zins are popular and widely respected. Don't miss the "Rosenblum Dinner" with Kent Rosenblum at 7 p.m. Feb. 23. Chef Neil Marquis pairs Cajun-seared ahi with 2002 Russian River Alegria Zinfandel, pepper-seared duck breast with 2001 Eagle Point Mendocino Zinfandel and bittersweet chocolate and black cherry Port mousse with 2002 Carapinha Zinfandel Port. Cost is $70 plus tax and tip per person. The Pleasanton Hotel, 855 Main St., Pleasanton. Reservations at (925) 846-8106.

- Cooking classes in San Ramon include "Quick Meals from Costco and Trader Joe's" with nutritionist Jamie Davidson from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday. Cost is $32 residents, $40 non-residents, plus a $6 food fee to instructor. San Ramon Community Center, 12501 Alcosta Blvd. "Gourmet Vegetarian Cooking" is from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 28. Cost is $20 residents, $25 non-residents, plus a $8 food fee to instructor. Registration for classes is at (925) 973-3208.

Going out of town?

- Tickets are now available for the famous "Bracebridge Dinner" at The Ahwahnee hotel in Yosemite National Park. Performances are at 6:15 p.m. Dec. 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24 and 26. Dinner and lodging packages are available at The Ahwahnee for $1,429 plus tax and at the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls for $999 plus tax. Dinner only tickets are $330 plus tax and tip per person and are available after March 1. Information and reservations at (559) 253-5676.

- WineSpirit offers educational wine lectures at Napa Valley wineries through March. "Slow Wine: Connecting to the Power of Now" is Feb. 22 at Duckhorn Vineyards in St. Helena. Elizabeth Thach and David White talk about finding balance in life. "Wine and Poetry: Clarifying Wine's Inner Meaning" is March 29 at Silver Oak Winery in Oakville. Burke Owens discusses classical Persian poets. Classes are at 7 p.m. Cost is $25 per class. Details and reservations at (707) 261-8715.

Contests

- Busy cooks, grab a pencil and write a poem or essay of 500 words or less, describing why you like your slow cooker. Enter this creation in the "Ode to Slow Cooking Contest" by Betty Crocker. Prizes include a spa day. Enter online at www.bettycrocker.com/ode. Rules are also online. Deadline is Friday.

Send food event items three weeks in advance to Food Events, ANG Newspapers, 4770 Willow Road, Pleasanton, CA 94588. Fax: (925) 416- 4874. Please include name of the event, time, date, place, brief description and telephone number. Events are listed free.

ordered when accompanied by a promotional flyer. To print flyers, click on the Pasta Pomodoro link at www.gatepath.com. One flyer is needed for each table. All Bay Area Pasta Pomodoro restaurants are participating in this fund-raiser and restaurant locations are listed online. Gatepath serves people with disabilities and their families.