Tuesday tidbits - Sommelier smackdown, gin din, artisan butchery

Gin, gin!  Next Monday, October 19, Beretta's barman, Ryan Fitzgerald, will host a gin tasting followed by a family-style dinner in the downstairs dining lounge.  The fun begins at 6:30 p.m. with a specialty gin cocktail and appetizers prepared by chef Ruggero Gadaldi, followed by Fitzgerald's premium gin tasting and liquor gospel at 7:15 p.m.  The cost is $60/person, excluding tax and gratuity.  1199 Valencia Street.  415.695.1199.

 

Meatball Mondays.  Let's Be Frank is introducing a couple of new offerings that will make stopping by the Steiner Street shop irresistible.  Beginning October 19, sink your teeth into their new, mouthwatering Meatball Subs, available on Mondays only.  Stop by any Monday through Friday and they will send you home with a 12-oz. package (4 dogs per pack) of any of their hotdogs for just $1.  Starting on October 20, you'll do a double-take on Twofer Tuesdays because any two dogs will be only $8 on both Tuesdays and Thursdays! 3318 Steiner Street between Lombard and Chestnut.  415.674.6755.

Oink!  Don't forget Orson's Pig and Booze IV takes place on October 21, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  Chef Elizabeth Faulkner and her crew have come up with some porkalicious sounding dishes including:  bacon consumme with kabocha boba, beer braised brat with spicy kraut, pork schnitzel with apple mince and ginger mustard, and pecan pie ice cream with maple pork floss and bourbon pearl.  Dinner is $35, with wine or cocktails, it's an additional $20.  Oh, and by the way, stop by Orson on Tipsy Tuesdays when they showcase one of their favorite wine makers with half price off their wines all night.  They do a special tasting from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m for only $5/person.  508 4th Street. 415.777.1508.

Ocho Cinco?  No, just Ocho.  On Thursday, October 22, Tres Agaves will spotlight Ocho, its October Distillery of the Month, during a special, multi-course Jaliscan dinner accompanied by premium tequila samplings.  Leading the tasting will be Felipe Camarena of the famous tequila-producing Camarena family of Tequila El Tesoro and Ashley Miller, Tres Agaves' executive beverage director.  The event takes place at 6:30 p.m. and costs $75/person.  130 Townsend Street at Second.  415.227.0500.

Cuckoo for cocoa.  Join Marche executive chef Guillaume Bienaime and Michael Recchiuti of Recchiuti Confections for a five-course chocolate-focused menu on Friday and Saturday, October 23 and 24.  The special meal includes:  Hokkaido scallop carpaccio with coconut, vanilla, French tarragon and olive oil ganache; soup of potimarron with coco and espelette; Peking duck breast with green cabbage, chocolate and duck confit ravioli, cocoa nib, pink peppercorn and smoked duck crackling; chocolate sorbet with cocoa liqueur; and cocoa bean bombe with teecchino caramel and chocolate aspic.  Recchiuti will be available during Friday's dinner service to discuss his products and answer questions.  The dinner is $65/person, excluding beverages, tax and gratuity.  Wine pairings will be available for an additional charge.  898 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park.  650.324.9092.

The art of butchery.  On Saturday, October 24, Italy's master butcher Dario Cecchini, will make a rare U.S. appearance and treat chefs, butchers of all levels, and sustainable food industry professionals to a live demonstration on how to break down a steer and a pig.  Cecchini, was made famous in Bill Buford's book Heat and is also portrayed in Douglas Gayeton's new book, Slow:  Life in a Tuscan Town.  He is the owner, butcher and chef at his family's 250 year-old butcher shop in Tuscany, Antica Macelleria Cecchini, which has become a major tourist destination largely because of his showmanship and expertise.  Doors open at 1:00 p.m. and the demonstration will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.  Snacks and beverages will be provided during an intermission.  Douglas Gayeton will sign copies of his book from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. which will be available at a special rate.  Cowell Theater, Fort Mason.  Tickets are $275/person; $200 of the ticket price is tax deductible.  The event is a fundraiser for Marin Organic.  Group rates are available by calling Marin Organic at 415.663.9667.  Fort Mason box office:  415.345.7575 or purchase tickets here.