New Staff at laV, Sunday Roast at Gardner

Apothecary says ooh la la, L'oca D'oro offers a sneak peak, the Hightower goes to market, and more afternoon bites.

Mild to stinky is a phrase that is often used to describe what happens after we have a couple of Old Fashioneds. Lucky for you, it is also the phrase Apothecary Cafe & Wine Bar is using to describe the cheese progression that starts off their French autumn harvest dinner on Monday, Nov. 16. The $75 ticket gives you six courses from executive chef Albert Gonzalez and sous chef Matt Gallagher and wine pairings curated by Hutch Hill of New Vintage Wines. The evening ends with a tartelette, coincidentally another word that has been used to describe us.

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laV has brought on another staff member from the Little Nell in Aspen. Former head sommelier Nick Barb replaces Vilma Mazaite (also an alumna of The Little Nell) as the director of wine. Mazaite left the position in late October to helm laV’s planned Burgundy festival.

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Brunch is kinda cool. Shopping is also kind of cool. Combining the two is, like, way cool. This Saturday, Nov. 14, the Hightower is hosting a swap meet brunch 11am-2:30pm where you can buy handmade gifts while gulping a mimosa. As an added bonus, you will also be able to spite purists who believe that eating brunch outside of Sunday is a cardinal sin. Because they are the worst.

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And besides, taking care of brunch on Saturday frees you up to try out chef Andrew Wiseheart’s new Sunday roast at Gardner. For $25, parishioners at food church get three courses anchored by a roasted meat with three sides. The rotating menu will be announced via social media weekly.

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The good folks at Independence Brewing Co. are teaming up with the good folks at the Capital Area Food Bank for a Friendsgiving food drive on Saturday, Nov. 21, noon-7pm. Bring two nonperishable foods and you will receive a brownie made from IBC’s Hop Brownie brown ale. There will also be live music from Howdy Darrell and Jimmy Deveney, Thanksgiving inspired food from the Ginger Armadillo food truck, and a holiday market curated by Boss Crafts.

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In other news of the food community doing good, supper club L’oca D’Oro is hosting a benefit for the Ronald McDonald House at the site of their upcoming brick-and-mortar at the AMLI Paseo at 1900 Simond in the Mueller development. For a $25 donation, guests will chow down on spit-roasted porchetta and handmade orrecchiete while enjoying a cocktail from Treaty Oak Distillery. Thursday, Nov. 12, 6-9pm.