Foodstuffs: Cassoulet, Hawaiian Help and Winemaker Dinner

Cassoulet and Beaujolais

Almond Restaurant will hold “An Evening of Cassoulet & Beaujolais Nouveau,” a special collaboration dinner on Thursday, November 16, at 7 p.m. with the Foodlab at Stony Brook University. Acclaimed author Sylvie Bigar will share excerpts from her bestseller “Cassoulet Confessions: Food, France, Family and the Stew That Saved My Soul” while Chef Jason Weiner prepares a three-course meal centered around cassoulet. The delicious meal will be paired with this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau. The cost is $69 per person and tickets may be reserved at opentable.com.

Almond Restaurant is at 1 Ocean Road, Bridgehampton. Call 631-537-5665 for details or visit almondrestaurant.com.

A Hawaiian Dinner at Sen

On Giving Tuesday, November 28, Sen Restaurant in Sag Harbor invites diners to take part in an evening of Aloha featuring a Hawaiian-inspired creation from Chef Stec.

Both Jesse and Tora Matsuoka spent their formative years living and learning in Honolulu, Hawaii, which has given them a great appreciation of Hawaiian nature and culture.

Their hearts go out to the 7,000-plus people displaced by the fierce and rapidly moving fires that literally ran through Lāhāina, Maui in August.

The Matsuokas are presenting this dinner now, in support of “Giving Tuesday,” a series of weekly opportunities to come together to give, volunteer and show kindness in shared moments with communities, causes, and countries around the world.

A large portion of the profits from this event will go to the on-the-ground operators who are helping Lāhāina residents to survive and rebuild their lives — those who have suffered and lost so much.

Please help out by attending this very special dinner, or by making a donation to the cause. Jesse and Tora Matsuoka guarantee that 100 percent of the donations will go to help Lāhāina residents. Their objective is not only to feed diners at the event wonderful foods and beverages, but more importantly, they want to do what they can in support of their Hawaiian friends and neighbors. Help contribute to the rebuilding of Lāhāina while enjoying an innovatively inspired Hawaiian dinner and listening to a truly unique Hawaiian experience.

Musician Kris Kato will present a musical tribute to Lāhāina, Maui, and Hawai`i. A friend from the Islands, Kato cut his musical teeth at Tora and Jesse Matsuoka’s house while he was in high school with them. His father, a local music producer, brought Kato to King Records in Japan to record his 2001 debut solo ukulele album “South Wave.” In addition to the folk songs of Hawai`i, Kris is passionate about Hawaiian chant. His chanting teacher is Dr. Pualani Kanaka’ole Kanahele, whose mother’s likeness is currently featured on the U.S. quarter. Kato also represents the teachings of the Edith Kanaka`ole Foundation, and he served as a cultural consultant on the 2015 documentary short film, “Island to Island.” A New Yorker since 2006, Kato is also a board member for the nonprofit, Hālāwai in New York City.

The cost of the Hawaiian Chef’s Dinner on Tuesday, November 28, is $85 (tax and gratuity not included

Winemaker Dinner at Southold Social

Bedell Cellars is partnering with Chef Francois Payard who is hosting a Winemaker Dinner at Southold Social on Thursday, November 30, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The evening will feature a four-course menu and each course will be paired with a wine chosen by Bedell Cellar’s winemaker Rich Olsen-Harbich. The cost is $110 per person, plus tax and gratuity and seats can be reserved by visiting bit.ly/40bwJGu.

Bedell Cellars is at 36225 Main Road in Cutchogue. Call 631-734-7537 or visit bedellcellars.com for details.

Gurney’s Igloos by the Sea Are Back

The Retreat is once again partnering with Gurney’s Montauk as one of the beneficiaries of its famed igloos, which will be open daily through March 31, 2024.

Outdoors on Gurney’s deck are six heated igloos overlooking the ocean. Guests can stay warm and refreshed with an all new special bites and curated cocktail menu. A $50 per reservation fee upon booking will be donated to The Retreat, Concerned Citizens of Montauk, Montauk Historical Society and Project Most. Igloos can be reserved for up to six people with a two-hour time limit and with a $100 minimum spend on food and beverage.

“We are so excited that the igloos are back! And of course, we’re so thankful to be one of the organizations that is benefiting from this seasonal seaside treat,” said Loretta K. Davis, executive director of The Retreat. “Gurney’s stands out as a large business that continues to show support for the East End community as well as for The Retreat. It’s these types of relationships that keep our community strong.”

Gurney’s Montauk is at 290 Old Montauk Highway, Montauk. Reservations for the igloos are available on OpenTable.

The Retreat is a safe haven for families in crisis across Suffolk County. The not-for-profit agency provides comprehensive domestic violence services for children and adults, support for survivors, and violence prevention community education. If you or someone you know needs help, call The Retreat’s 24-hour hotline at 631-329-2200. For more information visit allagainstabuse.

More #WineWednesday Workshops

Nick & Toni’s has announced more dates for #WineWednesday Workshops. Spearheaded by Honest Man Hospitality beverage director and certified sommelier Chimene Visser Macnaughton, this collaboration with Wainscott Main Wine & Spirits is in its 10th year on the East End, offering certification-level seminars designed around themed tasting flights. Classes are open to all levels and held Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

The schedule includes: November 15, “Portfolio Perspective NKOTB France + Western” with Lyle Railsback, managing partner, France + Western Fine Wine Imports; November 29, “First Person: My Journey in Wine” with Erica Sigler, New York wholesale manager, Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant; December 6, “The Italian Way: Aperitivi e Digestivi Culture and Cocktails” with Frank Caiafa, spirits portfolio manager, Branville Wine Merchants.

Tickets for each session are $35 in advance, dining room space is limited and reservations strongly encouraged. The ticket includes tasting sheets, crystal tasting stems and small plates from Nick & Toni’s kitchen. Students are eligible for work shopper discounts on retail purchases through Wainscott Main Wine & Spirits. Tickets can be purchased by visiting Nick & Toni’s on Resy. For more information, visit nickandtonis.com or call 631-324-3550. Nick & Toni’s is at 136 North Main Street, East Hampton.