Tamales tip off the holidays
DEC. 6-7
INDIO, CALIF.
Tamale Festival: The family-friendly celebration each year in this Coachella Valley city south of Palm Springs offers plenty of music and children's entertainment besides delicious tamales. Tamales are a holiday tradition in Mexican and Mexican-American culture so the 17th annual festival officially kicks off the season. There are tamale-eating contests, music on four stages, Mexican folklorico dances, and other local foods. Giant tamales (a 40-footer won a contest in 1999) are displayed, and best-looking and best-tasting are awarded. The chance to taste locally-made tamales is the biggest draw. Admission is free. 760-391-4175, www.tamalefestival.net.
NOV. 30-DEC. 8
SUVERETO, ITALY
Wild Boar Festival: An ancient Tuscan town embraces one of its regional specialties in this annual tribute to all things wild pig. Pastas with wild boar sauce, prosciuttos of wild boar, and olive oil and wine are featured in this hilltop town, which was established in the 10th century. Local revelers parade in medieval costumes, and at the end of the festival, there's a big feast. Admission is free. www.goitaly.about.com.
JAN. 17-18
PESHASTIN, WASH.
Winter walk at Icicle Ridge Winery: The foothills of the Cascade Mountains promise an adventure for a winter's evening. The participants will glide through the vineyards on snowshoes with winemaker Don Wood, hearing about how the grapes are grown and the winery's production. They'll sip gluwein, a hot spiced wine, to warm up. Then the evening will end around the winery lodge fire with dinner. Cost is $65. 509-548-7019, www.icicleridgewinery.com.
DEC. 12-14
TILGHMAN ISLAND, MD.
Burgundy Wine Dinner: This elegant inn on the Eastern Shore is serving up French cuisine alongside a Joseph Drouhin Burgundy wine. The dinner and wine tasting will be accompanied by a talk by Susan Pinkard of Georgetown University, author of "A Revolution in Taste: The Rise of French Cuisine, 1650-1800" (Cambridge University, 2008). The dinner is $95; as part of a two-night stay including brunch, prices range from $600-$700. A wine event might lead you to plan a Christmas sojourn at the inn. A stay from Dec. 24-26 includes a Wassail reception on Christmas Eve and such dinner offerings as braised veal with roasted mushrooms, fillet mignon, and rabbit fettucine. Executive chef is David McCallum. Prices range from $620 to $720. www.tilghman islandinn.com.
PLAN AHEAD
FEB. 12-14
MENDOZA, ARGENTINA
Masters of Food & Wine South America: If you're looking for a blowout, you might head south to this wine-growing region that's steadily gaining acclaim. Some of the chefs to be featured are David Chang of New York's Momofuku; Benjamin Ford of Ford's Filling Station in Los Angeles; and Alain Passard of L'Arpège in Paris. Packages for the gala events, which will begin in Buenos Aires, start at $1,165. www. mfandw.com.ar.
ALISON ARNETT
Events are sometimes canceled, rescheduled, or sold out; check online to confirm. Alison Arnett can be reached at alacarte59@aol.com. 