DATEBOOK 10/22/08: Sample the goodies at Los Angeles Wine Tasting’s wine pairing evening

FRIDAY

Wine, cheese and chocolate: Indulge in tasty couplings of wine and cheese during Los Angeles Wine Tasting’s wine pairing event. Spice up the relationship with the unique flavors of Valrhona chocolates. 7 to 9 p.m., Miele Showroom, 189 N. Robertson Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 402-1570; www.lawinetasting.com. $55, $90 for two. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

SATURDAY

Go Euro: Grab your aprons and join BeGourmet Chef Tim Ross for a culinary afternoon in Europe without the traveling expenses. Learn to prepare (and later devour) beef short ribs braised in beer, Belgian fries, shrimp with tomatoes and shiitakes, and a chocolate and pistachio dessert. 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Location given on registration, Silver Lake. (323) 610-1082. https://begourmet.home .att.net. $75.

MONDAY

Why wait for T-Day?: Now through the end of November, Daily Grill locations throughout Southern California donate a portion of the proceeds from sales of turkey dinners to downtown L.A.’s Union Rescue Mission. Order the three- course meal of butternut squash soup or green salad, roasted turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables and cranberry sauce, and spiced bread pudding with whiskey sauce to participate. $21.95 per person, not including tax and tip. For locations, go to www.dailygrill.com.

UPCOMING

Return of Joe’s Voodoo Lounge: On Halloween, stop by Joe’s Restaurant in costume for a complimentary cocktail or dessert, bring your jack-o’-lantern masterpiece before 5 p.m. to enter the pumpkin-carving contest (prize is tasting menu for two), or simply make reservations for the special holiday menu served from 6 p.m. until “the wolves stop howling.” What’s cooking? Pickled babies and candied corn (a salad of baby octopus, tiny vegetables, corn brittle and caviar), witches stew (baby pumpkin filled with sweetbreads, lobster and more), vampire’s light (seared scallops, egg yolk brûlée, baby beet clouds and more) and “Night of the Living Dead” dessert (an imaginative sweet). Joe’s Restaurant, 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice. (310) 399-5811. $50, not including alcohol, tax or tip.

Submit datebook items at least two weeks before publication date. Mail to Food Section Datebook, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012; or e-mail to fooddatebook.