Joe Bastianich Is In Town

Tuesday May 19th
Friulian Wine Dinner with Joe Bastianich and Valter Scarbolo at Delfina

Delfina will have both Joe Bastianich (representing Bastianich) and Valter Scarbolo (representing Scarbolo Winery, and La Frasca in Udine)Â on hand all night to pour/discuss their latest vintages. Delfina’s menu will feature Friulian dishes alongside their regular offerings, like poppy seed gnocchi with speck, peas, and morels; asparagus, potato and Montasio frico; mixed grill with polenta and house-made sauerkraut; and strawberry schnitten with lime syrup.

Delfina, 3621 18th St. at Guerrero, 415-552-4055.


Wednesday May 20th, 5pm–6:30pm
Wine Tasting & Discussion with Joe Bastianich at Spuntino

In this rare San Francisco visit, Joe Bastianich, the James Beard award-winning restaurateur, winemaker, author, and TV personality, will visit Spuntino for a special wine tasting and discussion. Joe may be considered the quieter half of the Mario Batali partnership, but he's a superstar in his own right. He makes the wine for his family's two vineyards, Bastianich in Friuli and La Mozza in Tuscany, runs 18 restaurants including Babbo, Del Posto, and Pizzeria/Osteria La Mozza with Batali, has co-authored several books, including the bible on Italian wine, Vino Italiano, and is the wine correspondent for NBC's The Today Show.

Joe will lead an informal discussion, followed by a Q&A, and book signing. Copies of Vino Italiano will be available. Joe will guide guests through a tasting of the Bastianich and La Mozza wines. Space is extremely limited. For reservations, please contact Melissa [at] ottimistasf.com or call 415-931-6410.

Cost: $20 per person
Spuntino, 1957 Union St. at Octavia.


Wednesday May 20th, 6:30pm
Palmina/Bastianich Winemaker Dinner with Joe Bastianich and Chrystal Clifton at Ottimista

I really enjoyed my last meal at Ottimista with guest chef Gemma (cozy quarters but thankfully a delightful crowd) so I’m sure this winemaker dinner will be a blast with Chrystal Clifton, half of the owner/winemaker team for Palmina wines in Santa Barbara County, and Joe Bastianich. (You can read more about their long-term friendship on the Ottimista event page.) Ottimista will be hosting a very special six-course dinner, each course paired with a Palmina and Bastianich wine of the same varietal (tocai, malvasia, rosato, and nebbiolo). Space is limited to 62 guests. For reservations, please contact Melissa [at] ottimistasf.com or call 415-931-6410.

Cost: $100 per person, plus tax and gratuity

Ottimista, 1838 Union St. at Octavia, 415-674-8400.

Joe Bastianich Is In Town
Tue May 19th–Wed May 20th, 2009

Various locations