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.
This article appears in January 28 • 2005.