Luce Provencal Dinner

What: A five-course Provencal dinner from Chef John Willis paired with Provencal wines hosted by Francois Sack and his son Jonathan, the winemakers of Clos Sainte Magdeleine in Cassis, France. As an added bonus, diners will be able to purchased discounted bottles of the featured Provencal wines.
When: Saturday, May 4 at 7:30 pm
Where: Luce, 2138 E Burnside
How Much: $75 per person including wine pairings. Reservations can made at [email protected]

A High-Style Kentucky Derby Party at Raven & Rose

What: Dust off those wide-brim hats, pastel pants, and checkered shirts to head to Raven & Rose for mint juleps, fancy snacks, and the best two minutes in sports. The event will feature prizes for best-dressed attendees, raffles, a billiards tournament, and a special cocktail menu for the occasion.
When: Saturday May 4 from 11 am to 5 pm
Where: Rookery Bar at Raven & Rose, 1331 SW Broadway
How Much: $25 donation gets you bourbon punch, snacks, and door prizes. Proceeds will benefit PHAME, Portland's acclaimed fine and performing arts academy for young and older adults with developmental disabilities. 

Urban Farmer’s Second Annual Kentucky Derby Party

What: A Southern-style race viewing party complete with a hat contest, multiple screens of Derby action, Woodford Reserve cocktails (including a classic Mint Julep, of course), and plenty of snacks like shrimp dip with caper crackers, oysters, BBQ pork sliders, pork belly pastrami on rye, and chocolate pecan Derby pie.
When: Saturday, May 4 from noon to 4 pm
Where: Urban Farmer, 525 Southwest Morrison St
How Much: Derby party happy hour prices vary (dishes start at $3, drinks $5 each). Call 503-222-4900 for more information.

War of the Rosés at Wildwood

What: Celebrate the start of rosé season with an afternoon of six local rosés, representing the variety in color and flavor profiles possible in Oregon. Sommelier Savanna Ray and Chef Dustin Clark have teamed up to dream up pairings for rosés of Pinot Noir from Division Wine Co. and Teutonic Wine Co., and a special early release of Bow and Arrow‘s Rosé of Gamay Noir, and delicious selections from Brooks, Gilbert Cellars and Patton Valley.
When: Saturday, May 4 from 3 to 5 pm
Where: Wildwood's Wood Room, 1221 NW 21st Ave
How Much: $35 per person (including six pours with pairings and gratuity). One lucky guest will win a 6-pack of featured rosés. For reservations, contact [email protected] or call 503-225-0130.

Hair of the Dog Brewery's 8th Annual FredFest

What: A birthday celebration for the world-renowned Portland beer writer Fred Eckhardt, featuring special brews on tap from 20 different breweries like Barley Brown's, Brotha from Anotha Motha, and Cascade Brewing, all vying to answer the perennial question, "What Would Fred Drink?" (WWFD?). All proceeds from the event will benefit the American Diabetes Association Oregon/SW Washington and Guide Dogs for the Blind.
When: Sunday, May 5 from 2 to 6 pm.
Where: Hair of the Dog Brewery and Tasting Room, 61 SE Yamhill in Portland
How Much: Tickets are $75 in advance and include a tasting glass, access to a rare collection of hand-curated beers, light fare and birthday cake, complete with a round of the "Happy Birthday" song for Fred. Tickets can be purchased through FredFestPDX.com.

Kimchi Cooking Class with Matt and Chong Choi

What: Learn all about Korea’s favorite fermented food from Portland’s local kimchi masters, Matt and Chong Choi of Choi’s Kimchi. The event is hosted by The Portland Culinary Alliance and includes a hands-on cooking and class and kimchi tasting.
When: Wednesday, May 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
Where: In Good Taste Cooking School, 6302 SW Meadows Road, Lake Oswego
How Much: $25 for PCA Members, $35 for Non-Members. Tickets available the PCA website. 

Pretzel Logic at Gruner

What: A pretzel-centric dinner Portland’s pretzel pro Andrea Slonecker to celebrate the recent release of her cookbook Pretzel Making at Home. Menu details are forthcoming but expect dishes like pretzel panzanella with beets, pretzel crackers with liptauer, speck and dill and pretzel bread pudding. 
When: Wednesday, May 8 at 6:30 pm.
Where: The Glacier Room at Gruner Restaurant,  527 SW 12th Ave
How Much: $65 per person includes wine pairings from Kermit Lynch (excluding gratuity). Reservations are available here or by calling Greg at 503-241-7163. 

Whiskeyfest Northwest

What: The Pearl District's inaugural WhiskeyFest event will bring together over 100 of the finest northwest, national and international whiskeys and scotches, signature cocktails, eclectic live music, fine cigars, local restaurants (think Bunk Sandwiches, Fire on the Mountain, What's the Scoop and more), educational opportunities, prohibition and bootlegging themed lounges and much more to benefit CASA for Children.
When: Saturday, May 11 from 11 am to 10 pm
Where: Portland Pearl District Lot 15, a 40,000 square foot lot at NW 11th Avenue and NW Northrup Street
How Much: Tickets are currently available online at whiskeyfestnw.strangertickets.com: $20 per person for early bird tickets, $25 for general admission, and $100 for the limited seating May 10th Five-Course Whiskey Tasting Dinner, which includes general admission. All tickets include 3 tasting tokens, access to the all-day festival and live music. Additional tokens will be available for $2 each. 21+

Breakside Brewery’s 3rd Anniversary Block Party

What: An outdoor party to commemorate Breakside’s 3rd anniversary, featuring live music, barbecue and (of course) beer. Per tradition, Breakside brewers will unveil three special release beers: Duck Duck Drunk Porter, HopfenWeisse, and a Blood Orange Cascadian Dark Ale.
When: Saturday, May 18 from noon to 7 pm
Where: Breakside Brewery, 820 NE Dekum St
How Much: Tickets cost $15 and include a commemorative tasting glass and 5 drink tickets for the outside tent.

Kingdom of Roosevelt Beer Dinner with Logsdon Ales

What: Portland’s newest game-centric restaurant is teaming up with Logsdon Farmhouse Ales to prepare a 6-course beer pairing dinner. Menu highlights include wild mushrooms, partridge, venison, and a preview of Logsdon’s unreleased cider.
When: Wednesday, May 22 at 7 pm
Where: Kingdom of Roosevelt, 2035 SE 39th Ave
How Much: Tickets are $100 per person (gratuity not included). To RSVP call the restaurant at 503-477-9286.

Collaborative Dinner with Bedford Post Inn Chef Jeremy McMillan at Le Pigeon

What: A five-course dinner from Chef Gabe Rucker and Chef Jeremy McMillan from The Bedford Post Inn in Connecticut. The menu boasts charcuterie, Geoduck clams, and smoked lamb shoulder with spring vegetable succotash.
When: Wednesday, May 22, with seatings at 5:30 and 8:15 pm.
Where: Le Pigeon, 738 E Burnside St
How Much: $120 per person, which includes food, wine pairings, and gratuity. Reservations can be made by calling 503-546-8796.

Know about a great event coming up that should be on our radar? Shoot me an email at [email protected] or give me a shout over on Twitter at @allisonejones. Now get out there and start eating!