A pair of blowout dinners to celebrate 40 years of Valentino

There aren’t many restaurants that can last 20 years, let alone 40. So Piero Selvaggio is celebrating Valentino’s 40th birthday in grand fashion, with not one but two don’t-miss events.

First, Nov. 14, he’s hosting a blow-out dinner of 40 dishes paired with 40 wines, all of them inspired by the cooking of renowned Sicilian chef (and Selvaggio’s homeboy) Ciccio Sultano. Culinary authority Darrell Corti will be MCing the event, which Selvaggio is dedicating to the late great Mauro Vincenti, who with Selvaggio introduced Southern California to so much of the Italian specialty products that we now enjoy.

Then only a couple weeks later, celebrated Piemontese chef Walter Ferretto of Cascinale Nuovo restaurant in Asti will be in the restaurant preparing a 10-course menu featuring white truffles, brought over by Urbani Truffles. Ferretto will be joined in the kitchen by Valentino alumni chefs fs Luciano Pellegrini, Angelo Auriana, Davide Giova and Valentino executive chef Nico Chessa and pastry chef Alessandro Stroppa.

The 40-by-40 dinner will cost $200 per person, wines included, or $125 for food only. The white truffle extravaganza starts at $175 per person, food only, with one white truffle course. You can add more to any course you choose for a $50 per dish supplement. Wine pairings have not yet been decided but will be available. And anyone who brings in a magnum will have their corkage waived.

Maybe this is the event you’ve been saving that 1971 Conterno Barolo for?

For reservations or more information, call Valentino at (310) 829-4313.