To have food and dining items happening in Fairfax listed free, mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, or fax to 703-917-0991, or e-mail maweber@connectionnewspapers.com.
The Landsdowne Grille will serve a wine dinner in the private Vintage Room with resort wine sommelier Mary Watson-Delauder one Monday each month. Each dinner is designed to feature the tastes of a specific region for the evening and involves six to eight courses The room has a capacity of 16 people maximum, and the price per person ranges from $75-$100, all-inclusive. The evening begins with a reception starting at 6:30 and continues till about 10:30 p.m. For more information, call 703-729-4073.
For guidance on fixing a botched recipe or creating a new dish, guests at the Ritz-Carlton in Pentagon City will be able to talk with executive chef Gilbert Verdugo, Monday,. Nov. 25, through Wednesday, Nov. 27, between 2 and 3 p.m.
Home cooks may call the Turkey Talk Hot Line to receive expert advice from the kitchen of the Ritz-Carlton. Call 703-415-5000.
The Ritz-Carlton in Pentagon City will be holding its annual Teddy Bear Tea, Dec. 1, 8, 14 and 21; at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. A life-size bear will welcome children to the tea party, as Nanny Goat Productions performs a puppet show. Youngsters will enjoy hot chocolate, peanut butter and beary jelly sandwiches, ham and cheese sandwiches, and pint-sized pastries, including meringue mice, a palmier butterfly, a brownie bear and chocolate caterpillars. Adults will have the traditional afternoon tea with a pot of tea, selection of tea sandwiches and assorted pastries. All children will receive a teddy bear and special gift bag.
The Ritz-Carlton in Pentagon City is holding a Gingerbread House Decorating on Dec. 1 and 7 from 10 a.m.-noon and 1:30-3:30 p.m. A member of the Ritz-Carlton pastry shop will assist children 6-11 with decorating gingerbread houses. There will be hot chocolate, juice and lots of cookies for snacks. The cost is $35 per child. To make reservations, call 703-412-2760.
The hotel will hold its annual Brunch with Santa on Dec. 15 from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Guests will be treated to a selection of foods, including cold salads, shrimp, crab cocktail and more. For the children, there will be a pint-sized buffet with many child-friendly foods, including chicken nuggets, curly fries and cookies. The children are also invited to make homemade cards at the arts and crafts station. The cost is $68 for adults and $30 for children. To make reservations, call 703-412-2760.
The first Christmas Tea of the season at the historic Bailiwick Inn in Old Town Fairfax will be held Sunday, Dec. 1, with the Midnight Special carolers. Christmas lights and decorations will be up. Call 703-691-2266 for reservations.
The Ritz-Carlton at Tysons Corner will hold its Festival of Lights Hanukkah Tea on Dec. 2 at 3:30 p.m. The story of Judah the Maccabee will be told during this special tea. Guests will eat latkes, kugel, finger sandwiches and various sweet treats. Children will sing, dance, play dreidel and receive a special gift to remember the day. Cost is $42 including tax and gratuity. For reservations, call 703-917-5498.
On Dec. 3 and 4, the Winemaster Dinner Series will continue at the Bailiwick Inn in Old Town Fairfax, featuring wines from Fess Parker. There will be five wines poured. The Fairfax Choral Society will sing carols at both dinners. Call 703-691-2266 for reservations.
Tarara Winery of Leesburg, in conjunction with Savoir Fare located in Round Hill, is pleased to announce The Holiday Winemaker’s Dinner at Tarara on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 6-9 p.m..
Savoir Fare chef Joannie Wolford will join forces with Tarara’s winemaker, Daniel Alcorso, to pair each dish with a complementary wine. Wolford and Alcorso have designed the gourmet five-course menu to bring out the best in both the wine and food.
“This promises to be a fantastic evening”, said Alcorso. “We will be serving the 2001 varietals, which reflect the terrific growing season we had last year.”
During this twice-a-year event, the winery is transformed with candlelight, white linen and music. The dinner will take place in the newly renovated and expanded banquet room, with a fireplace for diners to warm their spirits. For more information, contact Heather Akers, 703-771-7100, Ext. 250
A Holiday Tea Party with Ritz C. Bear, Mrs. Claus and Rudolph will be offered starting on Sunday, Dec. 8, and on Dec. 15, 21, 22 and 23 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 2-3:30 p.m., at the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner. The cost is $42, including tax and gratuity. The teddy bear holiday party will include hot chocolate, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, ham and cheese sandwiches and teddy-bear-shaped cookies. Adults will enjoy traditional afternoon tea service. Each youngster will receive a complimentary photograph with Ritz C. Bear, a bear nutcracker and a goodie bag. For reservations, call 703-917-5498.
Join us for a fun event at eCiti on Tyco Road in McLean where you'll get to meet up to 25 other singles of the opposite sex for fabulous one-on-one conversation. Number of minutes for each encounter will depend on number of participants registered. Light snacks served. The event is at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 16, with check-in at 7:15.
Preregistration required at www.briefencountersusa.com
Ages 26-38, cost $35, dress business casual. Call 703-524-8570.
The Nutcracker Tea will be held at the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner on Dec. 16, 17, 18 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 2-3:30 p.m. and Dec. 19 at 11 a.m. The Maryland Youth Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker,” and guests will be treated to a nutcracker-theme tea, with each child receiving a nutcracker. The cost is $42 per person.
For information and reservations, call 703-917-5498.
Brunch with Santa will be held at the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner on Sunday, Dec. 15, and Sunday, Dec. 22, at 10:30 and 11 a.m. Characters such as Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman, along with Santa and his elves, will entertain at the holiday brunch. Tickets are $65 for adults, $25 for children. Space is limited, and reservations are on a first-call basis. For reservations, call 703-917-5498.
The 2002 Virginia Wineries Festival and Tour Guide is now available from the Virginia Wine Marketing Office, part of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). The free annual publication includes a listing of the state’s wineries, directions, hours of operation, maps and a listing of nearly 350 wine-related events. To receive a copy, call 800-828-4637 or visit www.virginiawines.org, or write to VDACS, PO Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218.
Every Friday, future chefs from Stratford College’s School of Culinary Arts, 7777 Leesburg Pike, Suite 500, Tysons Corner, invite the public to come and enjoy the fine cuisine that they prepare and serve. A different style of service — buffet, traditional or Russian — is highlighted each week. Lunch ($12) is served promptly at 11 a.m., dinner ($18) at 8 p.m., and a happy hour is available 6-8 p.m. Call 703-821-8570 for reservations or information.