Sirloin Tips for Outdoor Barbecuing

Roseann Ruiz, executive chef at the Robert Mondavi Wine & Food Center, will give tips and recipes for the perfect outdoor barbecue on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The cost is $48 to sample the dishes and sip Mondavi wines. At 1570 Scenic Ave., Costa Mesa. (714) 979-4510.

For alfresco lunching, Brandon’s in the Beverly Heritage Hotel, Costa Mesa, has opened its patio, which overlooks a two-acre lake. The patio menu offers Cobb, Caesar and Oriental chicken salads, fruit plate with yogurt and a variety of sandwiches. With a top price of $5.95, the hotel promises quick lunchtime service. 3350 Avenue of the Arts. (714) 754-5100.

The tree-shaded patio of Muldoon’s Irish Pub in Newport Beach is the setting for weekly wine tastings on Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Scheduled for tonight is Sebastiani Vineyards, Sonoma, and on Aug. 1 it’s Knocti, Lake County. Wines are $2 a glass, accompanied by complimentary appetizers. A vineyard representative will discuss the wine selections and answer questions. Muldoon’s also offers a happy hour from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, which features $2 well drinks and half-priced specials on all pub menu food, regularly priced from $3 to $6.95. At 202 Newport Center Drive. (714) 640-4110.

The wines of Marchesi Antinori will be the focal point of a special dinner at Tutto Mare on Tuesday. To complement the vintages, chef Corrado Gianotti will create six courses, including gnoccheti (spinach and potato dumplings) with a sauce of porcini mushrooms, and roasted homemade veal and chicken sausages stuffed with black and white truffles. The evening begins at 7 p.m., and the cost is $58, exclusive of tax and gratuity. 545 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. (714) 640-6333.