Food-o-file
You still have a chance to Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? for Project Transitions; plus, events from all over the Austin food map
By Virginia B. Wood, Fri., Jan. 28, 2005
Guess What?
Want to attend one of the coolest Austin dinner parties of this or any other year? A few invitations are still available for the eighth annual Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? series to be held on Saturday evening, Feb. 5. Every year, groups of generous, fun-loving folks host dinner parties to benefit Project Transitions, a local nonprofit providing services to Austinites living with HIV-AIDS. Potential guests choose from a list of 23 creatively themed dinner parties, make a $75 donation, and show up at someone's home for an evening of good food and new friendship, not to mention making a real contribution to the community. At the end of the evening, hosts and guests gather for a champagne and dessert reception downtown at Award Modern (1009 W. Sixth). If this sounds like your kind of event, contact the Project Transitions office today at 454-8646 to choose a party!
Event Menu: Jan. 27-Feb. 3
• Restaurateur Carmelo Mauro and vintner Paul Bonarrigo invite you to join them for their seventh annual Two Gentlemen of Sicily wine dinner. Enjoy a five-course meal at Carmelo's (504 E. Fifth, 477-7497) paired with wines from Messina Hof Winery; $60 per person, reservations necessary; 6:30pm, Thursday, Jan. 27.
• The Blair House Inn (100 W. Spoke Hill Dr. in Wimberley, 512/847-1111): Vintner Dinners are open to guests of the inn as well as other interested diners. Every Saturday evening in January and February, Blair House chef Christopher Stonesifer will create a special five-course meal paired with wines from a different vineyard. This weekend, Ed and Madeleine Manigold of Spicewood Vineyards will present their wines. Reservations are necessary; 7pm, Saturday evening, Jan. 29.
• Local restaurateur and wine expert Michael Vilim presents a special Wine 101 class as part of the academy at the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas. Class will be held at Castle Hill Cafe (1101 W. Fifth, 476-0728). Cost is $20 for foundation members, $30 for nonmembers, and reservations can be made at www.winefoodfoundation.org or by calling 327-7555; 6:30-8:30pm, Monday, Jan. 31.
• The owners of Z'Tejas (1110 W. Sixth, 478-5355; 9400 Arboretum Blvd., 346-3506) have come up with a unique way to celebrate Mardi Gras and make important contributions to the hunger-relief efforts of Share Our Strength at the same time. For an entire week, they'll be offering Hurricane Happy Hours and Louisiana-style menu specials for lunch and dinner, plus brunch on Saturday and Sunday. During this promotion, $1 from each Hurricane and special menu item will be donated to Share Our Strength. The week's festivities culminate in the Z'Tejas Bayou Bash, a $50-per-person Mardi Gras Party in the Annex to the West Sixth location. For party tickets or more information, contact 478-5355. Tuesday, Feb. 1-Tuesday, Feb. 8.
