In this week's event-planning EaterWire:
Image of Luce courtesy Facebook
E. BURNSIDE: NE Broadway's Great Wine Buys takes over John Taboada's Luce for a pairing dinner and wine tasting highlighting wines from Vietti, a region in Piedmont. Luce chef John Willis will cook up a five-course Piedmont dinner (think red wine risotto and capon served with a hazelnut and honey sauce) to match seven wines. Reservations are $75 (all-inclusive) and are available by calling Great Wine Buys.
OLD TOWN: Ping celebrates its third anniversary on Sunday, February 12 with an open party offering free food (small plates, skewers) while supplies last. The shindig's scheduled for 6-10pm, and for boozers, shochu specials (including a Szechuan pepper and mandarin orange-infused punch) will be available in addition to the full bar menu. No RSVP necessary. More information can be found here.
NORTHEAST: Chef Adam Higgs of the Southern-styled Acadia New Orleans Bistro teams up with Walla Walla's Balboa Winery for five-course pairing dinner on Sunday, February 12. Expect meaty dishes like maple-cured pork tenderloin and sweet potato brulee (paired with a 2008 Balboa Mith), smoked lamb with andouille sausage (paired with a 2009 Estate Syrah), and a bacon waffle for dessert. Reservations are $90 and are available by calling the restaurant.
OLD TOWN: Chef Jeff McCarthy hosts another dinner in his TenTop pop-up series, teaming with bartender Nick Keane for a four-course "Cocktailia" event on February 24 and 25. Each course will be paired with a signature cocktail (steak frites with foie torchon and black truffle fries are served with a "fat Manhattan," for example). Reservations are $65 and available here.
GOOSE HOLLOW: Clyde Common bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler lends his expertise to a Portland Culinary Alliance panel about carbonated cocktails on Sunday, February 12. The event, at downtown's Oregon Culinary Institute campus, includes a presentation of carbonation techniques and, of course, a cocktail tasting — because there's nothing wrong with drinking at 2pm on a Sunday. Tickets are $30 for non-PCA members and are available here.