Catering to Literary Tastes : A wine-sipping fund-raiser will benefit E.P. Foster Library’s renovation.

Don’t expect to pick through stacks of dog-eared used books at the E.P. Foster Library fund-raiser in Ventura on Monday. Instead, a wide assortment of wines and noshes will attract participants to the event, which will be held at Rosarito Beach Cafe.

Proceeds from the tasting will support the months-long renovation efforts at the downtown library, which is scheduled to reopen Nov. 21.

Wine tastings aren’t common in the business of library fund-raising, are they?

“It’s unique to be sure,” said David Bianco, chairman of the library’s expansion committee.

The idea for the event was brought to library officials by Vons, which operates five stores in Ventura.

Vons wine buyer Nick Fisher is spearheading the event and is collecting donations from wineries and distributors.

“We’re going to have a pretty broad spectrum of wines,” Fisher said. “This will not be stuff that you would drink on an everyday basis.” Included will be new vintage releases, plus some of the less consumed wine types like sangiovese, pinot blanc and viognier.

“Some of these will be more obscure wines that represent really good value for the price,” Fisher said.

Winery and distributor representatives will discuss the various selections and field questions.

Food-wise, each deli from the Vons’ locations in Ventura will prepare the eatables and Rosarito Beach Cafe will serve some of its own recipes as well.

DETAILS

A wine-tasting benefiting E.P. Foster Library will be held Monday at Rosarito Beach Cafe, 692 E. Main St., Ventura. Hours: 5-7 p.m. Cost: $20. Tickets are available at all Vons stores in Ventura and at the door on the day of the event. For more information, call Nick Fisher at 642-6761.

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Fun With Fungi: The Camarillo Health Care District will continue its series of food classes Wednesday with “Mushrooms Holiday Style.”

Jill Peterson of Mushrooms Etc., a grower in Camarillo, will share with class participants some easy-to-prepare recipes, which can be made the evening before a party or holiday gathering.

The dishes will include a portabello mushroom appetizer, a vegetable dip, mushroom soup and--calorie counters might want close their eyes for this one--stuffed mushrooms with cream cheese and bacon.

The class will be held at 3639 E. Las Posas Road. Cost: Camarillo and Somis residents, $16; others, $18. Prepayment is required. For more information or to register, call 388-1952, Ext. 117.

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Silver Dining: The Mediterranean-inspired Jonathan’s at Peirano’s in downtown Ventura will present a winemaker dinner Nov. 14 featuring the wares of Sterling Vineyards of Napa Valley.

The five-course meal, prepared by chef Annie Harfield, will be preceded by aperitifs and hors d’oeuvres at 5:30 p.m.

The courses and wine pairings:

Smoked breast of Muscovy duck, served on a bed of pan-fried leeks and carrots, finished with red pepper-ginger relish. Sauvignon Blanc (‘98).

Pumpkin-apple soup with allspice and fresh ground cinnamon cream. Chardonnay (‘98).

Boston lettuce with toasted hazelnuts, breaded herbed Boursin cheese and minted cucumber; tossed with a fresh pear-raspberry vinaigrette. Merlot (‘98).

Prime filet mignon set on a cognac-wild mushroom-peppercorn demi-glace and finished with a fresh tarragon-gorganzola compound butter. Napa Valley Cabernet (‘96).

Fresh Bartlett pears, poached in port wine, cassis and fresh cinnamon. Sandeman ’94 late bottled vintage port. Coffee and tea included.

DETAILS

Jonathan’s at Peirano’s in Ventura will host a winemaker dinner Nov. 14. Hors d’oeruvres, 5:30 p.m.; dinner, 6 p.m. Cost: $58. Sales tax and gratuity not included. The restaurant is at 204 E. Main St. For more information or reservations, call 648-4853.

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Happy Birthday: 71 Palm in Ventura, home of French country cuisine fashioned by chef Didier Poirier, is celebrating its second anniversary. To honor the occasion, a complimentary dessert will be offered to all lunchers and diners beginning Wednesday and continuing through Nov. 11.

The restaurant is at 71 N. Palm St. Hours: lunch, Mon.-Fri., 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; dinner, Mon.-Sat., 5-9 p.m. Call 653-7222.

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.