Au Bon Climat Dinner at Palate Food + Wine, Wednesday, December 2

Jim Clenenden of Au Bon Climat winery in Santa Barbara County is one of the country's best known winemakers, and he's hosting a dinner tonight at Palate Food + Wine in Glendale. The pre-dinner reception starts at 6:30pm with traditional cheesy gougères and 2007 Stallion Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. Dinner begins promptly at 7:30pm with rye-crusted smoked trout terrine with pomegranate, hazelnuts and radish salad paired with both Tocai Friulano and Gewurtztraminer from the Santa Maria and Santa Ynez Valleys. There will also be pumpkin risotto, pork pave, braised venison osso buco and a cheese course on the menu that night. Among the varietals guests will enjoy are Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo, Syrah and Petite Sirah, all crafted under Clenenden's watchful eye. You will be able to purchase the wines there, but be sure to get your reservation in now since space is limited and the dinner costs $95 per person.
933 S. Brand Blvd
Glendale, CA 91204
(818) 662-9463
palatefoodwine.com


Repeal Day at Comme Ca, Friday-Sunday, December 4-6

Celebrate the 76th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition with specialty-themed cocktails at Depression-era prices. The only catch is that you've got to order a first round for $11 a drink, but the second round (and only the second round) costs just 76 cents. That's like $500 in 1930's dollars! To enjoy the promo, you've got to surreptitiously whisper a sweet nothing to the tune of "Roosevelt" to the hostess as she shows you to your seat. There will be classics like an old-fashioned, a sidecar and a French 75, but also new concoctions like the Mary Pickford with light rum, pineapple juice, grenadine and maraschino cherries, or a Barbary Coast with scotch, gin, crème de cacao and heavy cream. Goodness knows what cocktail specials the current healthcare debate in Congress will spawn a century from now

8479 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 782-1784
commecarestaurant.com


Cigar Dinner at Caché, Monday, December 7

And you thought you could only pair wines with fine dining. Well, Caché is going to prove you wrong next Monday with a cigar dinner in association with Hollywood Smoke. The special evening starts at 7:00pm sharp and includes hors d'oeuvres, gourmet flatbreads, assorted cheese and charcuterie, plus two fine cigars per person along with a complimentary vertical tasting of 12-, 15- and 21-year Balvenie scotch. Perfect for pretending you're a James Bond villain. The evening runs $100 per person. Reservations are recommended.
3110 Main St
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 399-4800
cacherestaurant.com




Angelica Cellars Wine Dinner at Grace, Wednesday, December 9

Okay, some tasting dinners do indeed revolve around wine pairings, and this dinner at Grace starting at 7:00pm on the evening of Wednesday, December 9, is no exception. While we usually stifle a yawn at the thought of most of these events, this one is rather exciting due to the fact that it is Angelica's first wine dinner ever. Why, you might ask, is it being held at Grace? Good question! Eduardo, Porto Carreiro, Grace's wine director, founded Angelica with his long-time friend Ben Feldman in 2005, and this is their third release. Eduardo was the very first employee at Grace, and started as a runner before moving up the ranks to become the wine director in 2004. The four-course dinner will feature tastes of each Angelica Cellars vintage-but since they only produce about 50 cases a year, space is limited. As an added bonus, Eduardo is inviting guests to bring their own special bottles in to enjoy and share with other guests, so there will be no corkage that night, though the dinner and pairings will cost $75 per person.
7360 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
 (323) 934-4400
gracerestaurant.com




Agura's Happy Hour
Agura might have just opened for business, but it's already made an impression with its eclectic décor, and for an encore, the restaurant is launching a new late-night happy hour. From 10:00pm-midnight Monday-Saturday (and 6:00pm-midnight on Sundays!), the restaurant will offer $3-5 small plates like seaweed salad, popcorn shrimp tempura with spicy mayo, and salmon nachos, 50% off drinks, and specially priced sushi rolls. Come for dinner, and stay for a cocktail.
514 N. La Cienega
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 289-1940
aguradining.com




Sunday Brunch at XIV

Upset that you couldn't make it to the new Cirque du Soleil show at the Santa Monica Pier? Well, get your fill of fire-breathers and contortionists every Sunday at Michael Mina's XIV with the restaurant's new brunch service. Sip mimosas and stare at stilt-walkers as you recover from your Saturday night out with menu items like deep-fried French toast with whipped cream, mint and blueberry syrup; and New York strip steak with eggs or frites and béarnaise sauce. Brunch goes from noon till 4pm, but the entertainment will be a regular feature from now until the clowns go home.
8117 Sunset Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 656-1414