To have food and dining items happening in Fairfax and Loudoun listed free, mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, or fax to 703-917-0991, or e-mail maweber@connectionnewspapers.com
The Healthy Eating Program “You are What You Eat”, will be held each Tuesday, Oct. 22-Nov. 12, from 9:45-10:45 a.m. at the Vienna Fresh Fields, 143 Maple Ave. E. The program will include cooking demonstrations and tastings plus tips on dressing your table for the holidays. The cost is $15 for Vienna residents and $18 for out-of-town participants, and advance registration is required. Call 703-255-6360.
L'Auberge Chez Francois, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2003, will host a special cooking seminar celebrating its Alsatian heritage. Chef Jacques Haeringer will demonstrate Alsatian recipes taught to him by his father, Francois, on Friday, Oct. 25, at 11 a.m. Bernard Sparr of Sparr Vineyards, one of Alsace's premier vintners, will be the special guest discussing the wines of that region. The menu includes a salmon souffle, choucroute garnie and a tarte aux quetsches (plum tart). The cost of the class is $85, which includes lunch, wines, tax and gratuity. To register for the seminar and get information on Haeringer's fall cooking demonstration schedule, visit www.ChefJacques.com or call 703-759-3800.
Chef Tarra from The Lunch Box will be sharing her pumpkin pies and other October fare at Tarara's Oktober Wine Days, Oct. 19-20,11 a.m.-5 p.m. As part of the Loudoun Valley Farm Tour, Tarara Winery will celebrate October with live entertainment, wine tastings, October wine specials, hayrides through the vineyard, tours of the winemaker's 6000 square foot cave and pumpkins. Experience Tarara's award-winning wines, stroll through the vineyards or along 6 miles of hiking trails. Wine will be available at special festival prices as along with Chef Tarra's pumpkin fare and recipes. Tarara Winery is located at 13648 Tarara Lane, Leesburg. Admission is free. Visit www.tarara.com for more information.
A “Trick or Treat” Halloween Tea will be held at the Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner, and the Ritz Carlton Pentagon City. The event in Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. There will be pumpkin decorating, face painting, ghostly stories and more. The cost is $40 per person, and children are encouraged to come in costumes. Call 703-917-5498.
The Tea in Pentagon City, 1250 S. Hayes St., Arlington, will take place on Sunday, Oct. 27, from 12-1:30 p.m. There will be a story teller and magician, and all children will receive a gift. Children are encourage to dress as their favorite character from Harry Potter, as they will enjoy themed food. The cost is $38 per person. Call 703-415-5000.
The Landsdowne Grille will have a wine dinner scheduled 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.
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 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 themselves. 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.