CHOW! Hampton Roads is next Sunday beginning at 5 p.m. at Wyndham Resort, 57th Street and Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach. The benefit celebrates Samaritan House as well as sustainable, organic and local foods. Area chefs from restaurants such as The Boot, Croc's 19th Street Bistro, Stove, Tautog's, TradeWinds and Zoes, will be showing off their Hampton Roads cuisine. Organic coffee and desserts will be provided by Bad Ass Coffee Co.
Tickets are $83. Call (757) 631-0710 ext. 272 or go to www.samaritanhouseva.org for information.
Restaurant Week debut
Portsmouth's inaugural Restaurant Week is April 14-20. The week will coincide with the unveiling of HRT's new hybrid bus, "The Loop," which will offer free transportation through Olde Towne April 7-20, just in time to visit participating restaurants. Those taking part in Restaurant Week include Brutti's, Comfort, Krush, Roger Brown's and Stove. See a full list of restaurants at www.eat inportsmouth.com. The special prices are $20 or $30 for a three-course meal. Proceeds will benefit Edmarc Hospice for Children and St. Jude's Hospital for Children.
Think Zinc, think pink
Every Wednesday is Zinc Brasserie's "Pink" night. A pink drink menu at the Hilltop eatery in Virginia Beach includes champagne, rosé flights, cosmos, pink vodka and more. Wear something pink for food discounts in the bar; a raffle will be held for the chance for a ride in a hot pink Hummer limo. A portion of the proceeds will help the fight against breast cancer.
New in town
New at Virginia Beach's Town Center is Taza Restaurant & Bar at the new Westin It has a talented culinary crew including Lin Old, previously with Stove and Sonoma. An eggplant roulade I sampled was terrific. Lightly lemon dressed salad topped with calamari was a treat and chicken tikka skewers were savored. Service was attentive and accommodating.
Now bigger
Japan Samurai Steakhouse, at 4300 Portsmouth Blvd. in Chesapeake recently renovated and expanded its space. In addition to the traditional Japanese steakhouse offerings, sushi is available as well. For reservations call (757) 405-0035.
Happy 25th birthday
Rudee's turned 25 recently. The Oceanfront eatery has also opened its outdoor cabana for the season. The space is open on weekends through April and will be open daily in May. Sunset specials are available.
Eat, drink and learn
Learn more about wine at Taste Unlimited stores with their Wine Clubs, informal tasting groups that meet monthly in the Ghent, Newport News and Oceanfront locations. No reservations are needed, but you bring your own wine glass. Cost is $10.
If you'd rather eat than drink, cooking classes with Taste founder Peter Coe are offered at the Taste Unlimited Kitchen on 36th Street and Pacific Ave-nue in Virginia Beach. Two-hour classes are $60 each. Find out more about either program at www.tasteunlimited.com or call (757) 425-3011, ext. 14.
How convenient
Oh Thank Heaven for 7-Eleven, especially if you left home without having time to brew fresh coffee or grab that bottle of wine for an after-work gathering. The convenience chain claims its coffee will be fresh or they'll brew a new pot of their freshly ground, 100 percent Arabica beans.
In my younger days beer was my 7-Eleven staple. Now it's good to know that a recent issue of Wine Enthusiast magazine listed 7-Eleven's Sonoma Crest 2005 Chardonnay as a "best buy."
Tammy Jaxtheimer, Restaurant Critic, flavor@pilotonline.com
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