The Friday Buffet

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Mar 7, 2008 4:03PM

It's a good day outside and with the combination of springing forward the clocks, the South Side Irish Parade Sunday, and warmer temps next week there are plenty of weeks to go out. Start the weekend off by leaving work early and heading to the Artisan Cellar at the Merchandise Mart, where they'll be having a tasting of the new-to-the area Graham Beck wines from South Africa. The free tasting runs from 3:30-6 p.m., just long enough to get you tight for the evening.

This week's lecture and tasting at Kendall College is on the history of salt and pepper. Co-sponsred by The Spice House and Slow Food Chicago, reservations to the $30 lecture were required by Wednesday, so if you have them please let us know how it went. Proceeds from the lecture go to Slow Food Chicago.

The Department of Cultural Affairs World Kitchen Series continues Saturday with a lesson on how to cook like a five-star chef. The $30 will be held at Gallery 37 Center for the Arts (66 E. Randolph). RSVP here.

Another free wine tasting on Saturday, at Galleria Liqueurs at 3409 N. Southport from 3-6:30 p.m. Wine buyer Anthony Daily will be tasting out some of his favorite selections, including Iron Horse Unoaked Chardonnay. If you've never tasted an unoaked chardonnay and have a bias on the grape, this will change your mind.

312 Chicago, in conjunction with ChicaGourmets! and Dalla Terra Winery is hosting a Tuscan wine tasting Monday night from 5-7 p.m. with special guest Guido Stucchi Prinetti of Badia a Coltibuono. Cost is $35.

Nick Mills of New Zealand's Rippon Vineyards will be at Webster's Wine Bar Tuesday from 7:30-9 p.m. to discuss wine biodynamics and lead a vertical tasting of Otago Pinot Noir. Cost is $20.

Paramount Room is hosting their first beer dinner Wednesday night, a five-course dinner paired with selections from Duvel. The dinner runs from 7-10 p.m. and costs $55.