A Taste for Fantasy

Although the syrah grape has been cultivated in France’s Rhone region since Roman times, its origins are thought to be in the Middle East.

That is the background for the “Belly of Shiraz” event Thursday at Wine Lovers in Ventura.

Each year wine bar/shop owner Lisa Hicks fetes the grape’s Persian lineage with a themed party that includes the tasting of several syrah wines--a.k.a. Shiraz.

On the day of the event, it’s goodbye furniture. Hicks will clear out her smallish shop to make room for a 40-foot Persian table and floor pillows.

“It’s something out of Persian fantasy,” Hicks said. “There are candles everywhere, and everybody wines and dines with their shoes off, seated on the floor.”

To enhance the ancient aesthetic, a belly dancer will shimmy to appropriate music, and ethnic food will be served. Louis Ludwig, executive chef at Ventura’s Pierpoint Inn, will prepare tabbouleh, dolmades and other Persian dishes. Nine types of syrahs will be poured.

DETAILS

Wine Lovers in Ventura will host its annual “Belly of Shiraz” event at 7 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are $35. Seating is limited, so reservations are required. The wine bar and shop is at 1067 E. Thompson Blvd. Call 652-1810.

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Wine-tasting benefits never seem to be far apart. This week’s offering is the Arthritis Foundation Wine Tour, to be held Sunday in Westlake Village.

The Sonoma County Wineries Assn. will present more than 100 selections from more than 30 wineries at Provence restaurant at Westlake Village Inn.

Participants will have the opportunity to chat it up with winemakers while sampling new releases, award winners and special blends. Wares from large and small wineries will be poured.

There will also be a silent auction of wines, culinary items, travel packages and more. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served. Proceeds benefit programs and services of the Arthritis Foundation of Ventura County.

DETAILS

The Arthritis Foundation Wine Tour will be held from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Provence restaurant at the Westlake Village Inn, 32001 Agoura Road, Westlake Village. Advance, $40; $50 at the door. For more information, call 379-2960.

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For the wannabe cook in you: On Thursday, the Let’s Get Cookin’ school in Westlake Village will offer another installment of the series “Basic Techniques for Creative Cookin’.”

Morning and evening sessions of “Vegetable Basics” will acquaint students with some lesser-known as well as familiar vegetables, which will be prepared as main courses and as side dishes.

“The basics classes are geared toward people who really haven’t cooked at all or haven’t cooked much,” said instructor JoAnn Hecht.

Several methods will be demonstrated, including steaming, grilling, braising and baking.

Note: This particular course is not hands-on. You won’t be doing the slicing and dicing.

“I think when you are learning to cook, demonstration is better,” Hecht said. “You can concentrate on everything that goes on and you can see it done the correct way.”

Hecht will be joined by school owner Phyllis Vaccarelli to demonstrate the preparation of spaghetti squash; a vegetable terrine; mango sorbet; pasta with rapini sauce; and a watercress and jicama salad with citrus dressing.

Now for the good part: Class members get to eat the food.

DETAILS

Let’s Get Cookin’ will present the beginning cooking class “Vegetable Basics” twice, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m and 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday. Each class is $55. The cooking school is at 4643 Lakeview Canyon Road, Westlake Village. For more information or to register, call (818) 991-3940.

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Memorial Day weekend is big with recreational travelers. So those out and about might want to consider the California Festival of Beers in San Luis Obispo. The 13th annual event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 29 at Avila Beach Resort. Suds enthusiasts can sample beers from more than 50 microbreweries around the state. There will also be live music.

Tickets are $35, which includes a souvenir tasting glass and 25 1-ounce-tasting tickets.

Tickets for designated drivers are $10, which includes lunch and nonalcoholic beverages.

Proceeds from the event benefit Hospice of San Luis Obispo County. For more information, call (800) 549-1538.

Rodney Bosch writes about the restaurant scene in Ventura County and outlying points. He can be reached at 653-7572, fax 653-7576 or by e-mail at: rodney.bosch@latimes.com.