Thursday, April 28, 2011

Weekend Eats & Drinks 4/28/11

If you were thinking of dining out tonight, know that today is national Dining Out for Life. Several Bay Area restaurants will donate a portion of tonight's sales to HIV prevention and support. In Oakland, A Cote, Mezze, Montclair Bistro and Pican will donate 25%. In Berkeley, Ajanta Restaurant, Riva Cucina and Venus will also donate 25%.

Wrap up April at Rock Wall Wine's Spring Fling open house Saturday from 1 to 5 P.M. in Alameda. Tickets are $33 online and $40 at the door, and cover your souvenir glass and unlimited tastings of Rock Wall's portfolio as well as boutique vintners like Blacksmith, Carica, Ehrenberg and more. While sipping wine, enjoy paired appetizers, live music, winery tours, barrel samples and more.

On Sunday, head to Moe's Bookstore in Berkeley. The first 100 in-store customers who buy $35 or more in cookbooks (new, used or collectible) in May will get a free goodie bag of promotions and discounts at 15 East Bay restaurants and specialty food outlets. Participating eateries include Cafe Fanny, Gather, Ozumo, Venus Restaurant, Chocolatier Blue & more.

Rock Wall Wine Company
2301 Monarch St., Alameda
(510) 522-5700

Moe's Bookstore
2476 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley
(510) 849-9938

Monday, April 25, 2011

Midweek Eats & Drinks 4/25/11

Today, get discounted tickets to Rock Wall Wine's open house tasting party on Saturday. Tickets are $18 a person via Bloomspot, include a souvenir wine glass and give you access to all of Rock Wall's wines (including new releases and futures) and tasting from boutique producers like Carica Wines, Eno and more. While tasting, nibble on paired appetizers, enjoy live music, or tour the winery. Tickets online are $33, and $40 at the door.

Also, tomorrow, head out to the Montclair Village Restaurant Walk from 6 to 8:30 p.m. For $25, get a passport good for tastings from participating restaurants. Sample clam chowder at Crogan's, spicy tuna poke at Metro Montclair, pork loin at Montclair Bistro and more. All proceeds go to local charities. Get your passport at the Montclair Book Tree, Safeway, US Bank and other retailers listed here.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Weekend Eats & Drinks 4/15/11

Whether or not you've already filed your taxes, find some tax relief today at Spenger's Fresh Fish Grotto in Berkeley. Get a selection of Bottom Line Drink Specials for $5.40 each all day, and happy hour from 3 to 6 P.M. Bar customers also get a dining certificate good for $10.40 off a return visit for dinner (while supplies last). Spenger's will offer the same deals Monday.

Also tonight, Urban Legend Cellars in Oakland is hosting a No Tax, Relax, Release Day. Admission to taste is $10 and supports diabetes research, and Urban Legend will waive the sales tax on all bottles of new releases.

On Saturday, stop by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant in Berkeley for the latest parking lot event: oysters, sausages and wine. Admission is free, while it's cash only for wines by the glass, oysters from Monterey Fish and sausages from Chris Lee from 11 A.M. to 4 P.M.

Spenger's Fresh Fish Grotto
1919 4th St., Berkeley
(510) 845-7771

Urban Legend Cellars
621 4th St, Oakland
(510) 545-4356

Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant
1605 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley
(510) 524-1524

Friday, April 8, 2011

Weekend Eats & Drinks 4/8/11

It's a weekend of beer in the East Bay. Triple Rock Brewery in Berkeley hosts its Firkin Fest on Saturday starting at 11:30 a.m. For $20, you get a souvenir glass and four pours from a variety of Bay Area craft brewers like Drake's Brewing, Bear Republic, Magnolia and more. Additional beers are $5 a piece with benefits going to the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, a nonprofit helping burn survivors.


For those willing to trek farther, the Bay Area Craft Beer Festival also happens Saturday in Martinez. From 1 to 5 p.m., walk the waterfront while tasting brews from 21st Amendment, Firestone Walker, Speakeasy and more. Tickets are $35 presale ending today at 11:59 p.m. and $45 at the door, or grab VIP tickets for $55 that give you early entry at noon.

The Sunday Supper will hit a classic car dealership in downtown Oakland from 6:30 to 10 p.m. The underground, communal dinner series is meant to celebrate the family dinner table with while drawing from urban homesteaders and purveyors. The 4-course prix fixe is $55 a person ($4.02 service fee not included), and the only alcohol available will be if you bring it yourself ($10 corkage). For the menu and tickets, visit the site.

Triple Rock Brewery & Alehouse
1920 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley
(510) 843-2739

Bay Area Craft Beer Festival
333 Ferry St., Martinez
http://www.bayareacraftbeerfestival.com

The Sunday Supper
411 26th St., Oakland