May 15

Perch yourself at the bar at Bar Bricco (10347 Jasper Avenue) to enjoy a fabulous lineup of wines and an extensive menu of what Italians call spuntini, or small plates. The uova da raviolo (a whole egg cooked inside ravioli with ricotta, then showered in a lavish dusting of pecorino) is amazing, as are the thin slices of culatello and San Daniele ham off the handsome hand-slicers anchoring one end of the bar. Wine prices are reasonable, and the staff are as adept with making thoughtful suggestions from the mostly Italian list as they are with handling the Coravin, the ultra-efficient single bottle wine preservation system. Open from 5pm until late. No reservations.

Discover new ways to pair wine and food with the Tomato’s own certified somm Mary Bailey at Host Edmonton, May 22-24. The seminar and event sced is jam-packed with entertaining experts Kevin Brauch, chefs Christine Cushing and Mark Murphy plus lots of local talent. Whether you cook, bartend or serve for a living or just love to cook, bartend and serve at home, there’s something for you at HOST. Don’t miss the kick-off featuring the Sheepdogs. See the complete lineup and buy tix, starting at $35.

Something new at La Ronde (10111 Bellamy Hill, 780-428-6611); Tieless Tuesdays, a more casual way to enjoy the view. Enjoy live jazz, specialty cocktails and half-priced wines on Tuesdays from 5pm.

Southern smoke meets big Alberta sky at Porkapalooza, Edmonton’s first southern barbecue championship, sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) with over $10,000 in prize money. There are many ways to enjoy Porkapalooza: enter a team; become an official KCBS BBQ judge; come for delicious food from local delights such as Smokehouse, Pampas Brazilian Grill, Tres Carnales, and the Local Omnivore food truck, enjoy the Porkaplooza Father’s Day Brunch, or just bring the family down for great food, music and fun. Featured are special guests Danielle Dimovski, the Diva Q from Travel and Escape’s BBQ Crawl and Brian Misko from House of Q. Visit porkapalooza.ca to enter a team for competition, sign up for the KCBS judging course or buy tickets for the Father’s Day Brunch. Otherwise it’s come one come all to Hawrelak Park, June 14 and 15, from noon on.

Wednesday tastings at Aligra Wine & Spirits (1423, 8882 170 Street Entrance 58, West Edmonton Mall, 780 483-1083): Moscatos in May, May 21, $25/person; Gins in June, June 11, just in time for World Gin Day, June 14, $30/person. Every Saturday in June, pop by to taste a different rose, perfect for summer drinking.

NAIT culinary arts alumnus Ryan O’Flynn is the new exec chef at the Westin Edmonton. We’re thrilled that the talented O’Flynn is back in town, and hope this means we can expect some interesting culinary happenings from the Westin again.

Sorrentino’s Downtown (10162 – 100 Street, sorrentinos.com) hosts a magnificent wine dinner with Signor Alberto Zenato from the prestigious Italian winery Zenato, Tuesday, June 3 $135/person++, 780-424-7500.

Indulge in a five-course dinner paired with Masi, one of the premier wine estates in the Veneto, at the Wine Room’s (10525 Jasper Avenue) fundraiser for the Edmonton Humane Society on Tuesday, June 10, $125/person, 780-756-7666.

The practical and useful Wine Writer pen is ideal for claiming your wine glass, and much less irritating than a charm hanging off said glass — who can remember which charm belongs to whom anyway? The non-toxic ink writes on glass, ceramic, melamine and hard plastic, dries in about a minute, doesn’t smudge, and comes off with soap and water. The set of three pens is available in metallics or in soft multi-colours, perfect for spring, just in time for wedding season. Terrific for cheese trays, or use on a buffet and to identify plant pots. Find the Wine Writer at Call the Kettle Black, the Pantree, Bella Casa and other fine housewares retailers. $13/set. pic

Love bourbon, love beer, love barbecue? Now open! Meat Brisket Bourbon Beer Shop (8216 104 Street) the new southern smokehouse from the Next Act crew, Nathan McLaughlin, Saylish Haas and Michael Rebalkin. Casual, fun, great food.