Coming Right Up

A few items for your culinary consideration:
 

Tuesday, April 28

It seems like everyone is getting revved up for spring. Pietro’s Prime in West Chester is hosting “Wine Under the Stars,” an alfresco food and wine dinner featuring Heather Wright from Capital Wines & Spirits. Chef Sean Powell will prepare a few surprises for guests to complement the evening’s selection of wines: 2007 Steele Pinot Blanc, 2006 VAZA Cosecha Rioja, 2005 Bonterra Syrah and 2007 Shooting Star Blue Franc.

$45/person. Reservations required. 125 W. Market St., West Chester; (484) 760-6100, pietrosprime.com.
 

Wednesday, April 29

Time to start dialing—or typing. Women’s Wine Club is back, so grab your favorite gal pals and make the trek west for a night of fine wining and dining at the Inn at Saint Peters Village. Chef David Brennan (of Catering to Your Tastes) will prepare the following ladies-only five-course menu, paired with four wines: 

• Reggiano Parmigiano cups with prosciutto and balsamic glaze
• Fagottini (pasta packages) stuffed with braised veal and béchamel sauce
• Warm spring vegetable salad with roasted tomato vinaigrette
• Pan-seared pork medallions on a bed of tangerine risotto with roasted edamame beans
• Warm peach and blueberry gratin with cinnamon sabayon

6:30 p.m. $46.95/person, including tax and service. The Inn at Saint Peters Village, 3471 St. Peters Road, St. Peters, innatsaintpeters.com. For tickets, call (610) 326-4787.

Thursday, April 30

Enjoy a night off from KP (kitchen patrol), as over 200 restaurants across the Delaware Valley participate in “Dining Out for Life,” a mega fundraising event. All you have to do is show up, and 33 percent of your meal’s cost will go to the fight against HIV/AIDS. For a full list of participating restaurants, visit diningoutforlife.com.
 

Friday, May 1

Viva Mexico! Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner, and man could we all use a party now that winter and tax day are behind us. Next Friday is Viking’s celebratory cooking class and feast commemorating the Mexican victory at the Battle of Puebla.

On the menu:
• Mexican Shrimp Cocktail (Coctel de Camarones)
• Toasted Tortilla Soup with Fresh Cheese (Sopa de Tortilla)
• Jicama Salad with Tangerines and Candied Peanuts (Ensalada de Jicama)
• Chicken with Green Mole (Pollo con Mole Verde)
• Mango Sorbet
• Mexican Sangria

I can’t guarantee you’ll get a spot, but it’s worth a try. And if you can’t get into this one, at least you’ll know where to look the next time you want to learn a few new kitchen tricks.

6-9 p.m. Viking Culinary Center, One Town Place, Suite 100, Bryn Mawr; (610) 526-9020, vikingcookingschool.com.
 

Culinary Extravagance Meets … Your Wallet

If you’re craving something more grandiose than those sandwiches you’ve been toting to work and the pasta dishes you’ve been eating to save a little money, here’s a pretty good way to satisfy your taste buds without totally breaking the bank. Jeffrey Powers—a seriously good cook and an alum of Blackfish, Striped Bass and Le Bec Fin—has been running the kitchen over at T. Burke’s for a while now, and although he’s still flying under the radar, word is getting out about his kitchen wizardry. His new prix fixe menu (changes daily) is a great way to sample his creative cuisine and keep in line with your dining budget. A recent menu featured Earl Grey poached ruby beets with domestic goat cheese, baby spinach and oranges; seared day-boat scallops with grilled scallions, crispy pink lentils and a Savora mustard sauce; red-wine-glazed beef short ribs with beach mushrooms, English pea puree and baby bok choy; and grapefruit tart with grapefruit sabayon, buttery pastry and candied zest.

For reservations, call (610) 377-1200 or visit dolce-valley-forge-hotel.com.