Food Notes

Art lovers mine Zinc for lively conversation
Piedmont Council of the Arts’ Art Drinks at Zinc will be from 5:30 to 7:30 this evening at Zinc Bistro.
The event, which takes place on the second Wednesday of each month, offers lively conversation with fellow arts lovers. There will be drink specials and the chance to win an artist book by Russell U. Richards, a CD of instrumental klezmer music by Joel Rubin and a gift certificate for a caricature illustration by Robin Hoffman. For information, visit www.
charlottesvillearts.org or call 971-ARTS.

Local Wine Experience looking at summer dates
The inaugural International Food and Wine Experience may be postponed until summer, organizers say.
The event is being rescheduled as a result of the economy and slow ticket sales. Dates will be determined later.
To learn more about the event, visit http://www.ifweoc.com.

Learn what’s cooking in HotCakes’ new classes
HotCakes is offering a new schedule of cooking classes.
“The Principles of Cooking” will be taught at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22 and 29 and Feb. 5. Instructor Jose De Brito will offer a study of cooking techniques for novices and experienced cooks who want to learn to cook without recipes. The class is $200.
“Frosting and Decorating” is set for 7 p.m. Jan. 28. Instructor Lisa McEwan will show the class how to make Italian buttercream, frost a cake perfectly and add decorative details. Each student will take home a completed cake. The cost is $45.
“Lava Cakes’’ will be presented 7 p.m. Feb. 3. Instructor Mikael Laughrey will teach students how to make fruit coulis, creme anglaise and a variety of chocolatey desserts. The class is $45. Make reservations by e-mail at , by fax at 295-5227 or by phone at 295-6037.

Jefferson will teach you about wine blending
Jefferson Vineyards will have a master class in wine blending with winemaker Andy Reagan will be Saturday.
Reagan will offer insights into the art and science of blending chardonnay and viognier. Wines will be drawn from the barrel. Graduated cylinders, calculators, pens and paper will be provided.  The seminar is $50 and includes a buffet lunch. Reservations are required. For details, call (800) 272-3042.

Kluge winery will host first Bridal Showcase
Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard is teaming up with Events with Panache to present the first Bridal Showcase from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard.
The Vineyard Ballroom will be the site for displays, information, performances and prizes. Brides, event planners and other guests can check out top regional vendors of food, music, clothing, stationery, photography, flowers, events and supplies. Sam Hill Entertainment will provide the entertainment.
Tickets are $10. For information, call 977-3895, Ext. 100.

Jimmy O will entertain Waynesboro crowd
Jimmy O will perform at South River Restaurant and Wine Shop in Waynesboro at 7:30 tonight. There will be dining and dancing.
From 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, there will be free wine tastings and pairings featuring wines that are less than $25.
High tea will be served at 3 p.m. Tuesday. For reservations, which are requested, call (540) 942-5567.

Party of Hope is on tap at the X Lounge
The X Lounge is bringing inauguration festivities to Charlottesville with its Bail Out Dinner and Party of Hope on Tuesday.
The Bail Out Dinner special will be from 5:30 to 11 p.m. Guests can choose one small plate and one big plate from the winter menu for $21. During dinner, watch footage from the inauguration on multiple plasma screens. The special will continue through spring.
The Party for Hope begins at 8 p.m. with a DJ, dancing and surprise guests. The restaurant’s sister company, the AV Company, will provide plasma screens with podcasts of the inaugural balls. There’s no cover for the party.
For reservations, visit http://www.thex-lounge.com or call 244-8439.

You can Feast on artisanal sausage today
Today, Feast will receive a delivery of artisanal sausage from Simply Sausage in Landover, Md., that will be just in time for inauguration parties.
The recipe for Barackwurst was created by the Simply Sausage family and staff, their sausage-maker friends, the National Capital chapter of Slow Foods and the American Institute of Wine and Food. Simply Sausage owner Stanley Feder, a retired CIA analyst with a doctorate in political science, led the effort.
The cocktail-sized Barackwurst combines elements of a Chicago hot dog and a Washington half-smoke. It contains equal amounts of beef and pork and equal amounts of white pepper and black pepper. It has no added preservatives or nitrates.
The sausages come in packages of 10 for $5.95. To reserve yours, call 244-7800.

Concert series kicks off Thursday at Clifton
Clifton’s “Tea and Harmony” concert series will be from 3 to 4:30 p.m. every other Thursday through February.
Guitarist Vernon Fischer will perform classical music at 3 p.m. Thursday. He has performed in the area for more than 30 years, playing classical, jazz, flamenco, rock, folk and rhythm and blues. Coming up in the series:
l Jan. 29: Violinist Marco Escobar and flutist Angela Kelly.
l Feb. 12: Kelly and cellist Lynanne Wilson.
l Feb. 26: Flutist Mary Ann Archer and pianist C. Frank Archer Jr.
The event is $13 and includes music, tea and Clifton’s homemade pastries. For reservations or information, call 971-1800.

Chef Maupin continues his demonstration series
Dean Maupin, executive chef of Clifton, continues his new cooking demonstration series tonight, presenting “Keeping it Light: A Class on Salads and Vinaigrettes” at 6 this evening before dinner. Each demonstration starts at 6 p.m. and includes a chance to sample the results. Diners are invited, but not required, to stay for dinner.
Coming up in the series will be “Shellfish Cookery: Lobsters and Mussels and Shrimp, Oh, My” on Jan. 21, “Handcrafted Pasta” on Jan. 28, “Slow-Braising Demo: Beef Shortrib, Lamb Shank and Duck Confit” on Feb. 4, “Great Steak: Marinades, Rubs and Butters” on Feb. 11, “Cheese Course: A Study in Fine American Artisan Cheese” on Feb. 18 and “Dessert Secrets with Pastry Goddess Erin Maupin” on Feb. 25.
For details or reservations, call 971-1800. Find out more about Clifton at http://www.cliftoninn.net.

From staff reports