DINING NEWS, NIBBLES AND BITS >>>

Fun To Say, Fun To Drink: Pour at Four wine bar will be pouring $10 tastes of Mollydooker tonight from 5:30-8 p.m.

If It's Not Scottish, It's Crap: 99 Bottles in Federal Way will pour Great Divide Claymore Scotch Ale  from California and Belhaven Scottish Ale from Scotland - both for a buck - tonight from 4-8 p.m.

Future Things are Coming: The Harmon Brewery & Eatery will celebrate its 1000^th batch of beer with an all-day party Saturday, Aug. 7 hosted by long-time owner Pat Nagle. Festivities will include free T-shirts to the first 100 people, $3 pints, a special food menu, complimentary samples of the 1000^th brew, a meet and greet with the brewers from 3-5 p.m. and live music from 7-10 p.m.

Food Matters: Nominate your favorite food makers/growers for the Good Food Awards. You have until Sept. 15.

LINK: South Sound happy hours

LINK: Half-price bottles of wine tonight

DINING NEWS, NIBBLES AND BITS >>>

Burger Night: Crown Bar in Tacoma takes its delicious $12 to $13 gourmet burgers and reduces them to $7.99 every Wednesday night. Dude, seriously.

Drink To Your Health: Toscanos Café and Wine Bar in Puyallup hosts "Healthy Cocktails Night" today beginning at 4 p.m.

Beer Tasting: Sample two beers for $1 from 4-8 p.m. at 99 Bottles in Federal Way.

Afternoon Tea: Affairs Restaurant & Catering in University Place would like to host your afternoon tea party. Their tea menu includes cucumber sandwiches, ham and cheese filled croissants, miniature Beef Wellingtons, smoked chicken empanadas, chocolates and spices nuts, and more. Of course, the full tea service, too. For details, call 253.565.8604.

Future Things Are Coming: Primo Grill in Tacoma hosts a Northwest Seafood Preparations cooking class Saturday, July 24 from 2-4 p.m. The $65 fee includes recipes and instruction, lunch glass of wine, tax and gratuity. Reserve your spot at 253.383.7000.

Food Matters: Whose recipe database reigns supreme?

LINK: A bunch of half-priced bottles of wine tonight

LINK: Who's up for a happy hour?

LINK: Join our Nosh League you foodie

DINING NEWS, NIBBLES AND BITS >>>

Tap This: Recognizing the burgeoning craft beer market in the Tacoma area, five local watering holes - The Red Hot, The Parkway Tavern, Doyle's Public House, The Swiss, and Meconi's Pub & Eatery - will join forces for a monthly beer event, beginning tonight.  Every second Monday of the month, the five locally owned and operated joints will simultaneously tap a fresh cask of ale at 6 p.m. then yell "Tap Night Tacoma is on!" The Red Hot will tap Schooner Exact Brewing Special Edition 253-Grid IPA, The Parkway will unleash Two Beers Brewing Dry-Hopped Evolutionary IPA, Doyle's will pour Belhaven Wee Heavy, The Swiss will serve Hales Supergoose IPA and Meconi's will tap the Schooner Exact Brewing 3-Grid IPA.

Wine Monday: The Rosewood Café discounts their glasses of wine to $5 every Monday.

Future Things Are Coming: Marlene's Market & Deli in Federal Way hosts a wheat and Gluten-Free Cooking class Saturday, June 19 at 11 a.m. The cost is $35. Reserve your spot at 253.839.0933.

Food Matters: A New York Times editorial congratulates the Federal Trade Commission for closing a loophole that allowed Kellogg's to make somewhat dubious claims about its cereals.

LINK: South Sound happy hours

LINK: Restaurant coupons

LINK: Join the Nosh League

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2010 >>>

1. The Tempest Lounge kicks off its Thursday night Acoustic Open Stage event at 7 p.m. with hosts Kim Archer and Nick sandy. If you play an acoustic instrument and sing - show them what you got. Acoustic groups are welcome.

2. Wild Waves Theme Park will host the world's largest swimming lesson at 7 a.m. Keep those elbows high people.

3. Washington artists Clarissa Callesen and Ruby Re-Usable (aka Diane Kurzyna) featured in the book Who's Your Dada? Redefining the Doll through Mixed Media will discuss their artistic process at 7:30 p.m. inside the Olympia Timberland Library.

4. The Pierce County Arts Commission celebrates its 25th anniversary with a party that includes a presentation of the President's Awards to Pierce County Councilwoman Barbara Gelman, Elida Kirk Lathrop, Arts Downtown Puyallup and others, beginning at 5:30 p.m. inside the Pierce County Community Development building at 3602 Pacific Ave.

5. The Lakewood Playhouse hosts the live radio play Hard-Boiled Detectives: From the Surreal to the Sublime! featuring Sam Danger, Dan Turner and Philip Marlowe, plus wine, beer and hors d'oeuvres, at 7 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

DINING NEWS, NIBBLES AND BITS >>>

Opening Today: The Amocat Cafe opens today at 625 St. Helens Ave. in Tacoma. It's hours are 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday, and is expected to expand those hours in the future. We wrote a little something on it a while back. The three-room (eventually four rooms) cafe serves pastries from Essential Baking Co. and doughnuts from Le Donut on Hilltop. Check out the full length Guerrilla Marketing Viral Trailer for Amocat Café, directed by Tacoma Urbanist Erik Bjornson, below. Oh, by the way, the credit card machine hasn't arrived yet, so bring cash today.

Nosh League: Join our foodie social conglomerate and attend our wine and cheese tasting July 8 at Cork!

Wine Month: June is "Lesser Known Grapes" month at Pour at Four in Tacoma. Drop by the Proctor District wine bar to taste four varietals that you may not be hip to: Counoise, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot and Blaufrankisch.

Tuesday Deal: Goodfellas Italian Steakhouse inside the Great American Casino offers a four-course dinner every Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. for $20. Do it at 10117 S. Tacoma Way in Lakewood.

Smoking Deal: 99 Bottles in Federal Way will pour five smoke beers for $5 tonight from 5-7:30 p.m.

Food Matters: The spoon-fork mash-up has nothing on this – the ultimate marriage of sushi-eating style and ease.

LINK: South Sound happy hours

LINK: Restaurant coupons

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

TODAY IN DRINKS >>>

Red Hot Lunch: Tomme Arthur of Lost Abbey and Port Brewing will drop by The Red Hot during lunchtime between noon and 2 p.m. today.  Meet the man; drink his beers. 

Half Price Wine: Ramblin Jacks and I.Talia Pizzeria of Olympia, Sip and Brix 25 of Gig Harbor, and Primo grill and Woody's On the Water of Tacoma all discount their bottles of wine by 50 percent tonight. More details here.

Two Of 99: Sample two beers for $1 from 4-9 p.m. today at 99 Bottles in Federal Way.

Future Things Are Coming: Star Chefs on Broadway 2010 will consume the Pantages Theater Sunday, May 23 with live music, silent and live auctions and incredible cabaret performances under the direction of Kevin Joyce of Teatro Zinzanni. The event, which starts at 5 p.m., features dishes from Pacific Grill, Brix 25, El Gaucho, Affairs and several other South Sound restaurants. The charity event raises money for Broadway Center's arts education programs. The cost is $175 per person. To reserve your spot, call 253.591.5894.

Food Matters: Burgerville chain prints personalized calories counts on customers' receipts.

LINK: Restaurant coupons

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: Send us your restaurant and lounge news

TODAY'S SPECIALS >>>

It's Back: Salty's at Redondo Beach will be serving Copper River salmon beginning today.

Wine Tasting: Water to Wine in Gig Harbor will be pouring tastes of Cantele Winery from 3-6 p.m.

Punch It: When you have lunch at Primo Grill five times the sixth lunch is on them. Get a DO YOU DO LUNCH? card the next time you do lunch at Primo and start saving money.

Beer And Nails Night: Donny Vomit - master of the strange, bizarre, odd and macabre nature - including hammering spikes into his skull, continues his tour of the Puget Sound with a stop at 99 Bottles in Federal Way. The beer store will be pouring his namesake, Coney Island Human Blockhead Ale, plus two other beers from Shmaltz Brewing from 5 to 5:45 p.m.

Wine Dinner: Chambers Bay Golf Course hosts its first wine dinner tonight at 7 p.m. Chandler Reach Winery wines will be paired with Executive Chef Dustin Joseph's menu. The cost is $65 per person plus tax and gratuity. Call 253.460.4653 to reserve your seat.

Food Matters: A Japanese company has developed a rice paddy bra. Now that's eating local.

LINK: Restaurant coupons

LINK: Wine and beer tastings, dinners and events

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: Send us your restaurant and lounge news

TODAY IN NOSHING AND SIPPING >>>

H&L Produce: Tacoma Boys' smaller sibling is a worthy shop.

Barrel No. 51 BBQ: The Tacoma truck reminds us of the plate lunch trucks on Maui.

Beer Tasting: Thea's Market and Deli will host a Seattle Beer Tasting including beers from Pike, Hales, Elysian and Scuttlebutt tonight at 6 p.m. The cost is $5, which includes light appetizers. Thea's Market is at 1705 Dock St. by the Museum of Glass.

Meet Donny Vomit: For nearly a decade Donny Vomit has been performing acts of a strange, bizarre, odd and macabre nature - including hammering spikes into his skull. The Red Hot hosts Vomit tonight at 6 p.m. 99 Bottles in Federal Way hosts him Friday at 5 p.m. Both joints will also serve Human Blockhead Ale from Schmaltz Brewing during his appearance.

Future Things Are Coming: Salty's at Redondo Beach will be serving Copper River Salmon starting Friday, May 14.

Food Matters: Hawaiian pizza's dirty little secret.

LINK: Restaurant coupons

LINK: Wine and beer tastings, dinners and events

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: Send us your restaurant and lounge news

THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2010 >>>

1. The "Latino poet of his generation," Martin Espada will be at Philip Hall on the UWT campus around 6:40 p.m. as part of the "Arts and Empowerment Series."  A fitting umbrella to bring such a renowned writer to T-town under, Espada has published 17 books and been a finalist for the Pulitzer. Sponsored by H.O.P.E. Network, Latino Students Organization, and Tahoma West - UWT's literary journal - the reading and book-signing event will also feature Speak Your Soul poet Robert Lashley and Tahoma West poets, Star Angelina Murray and Therese Ferreria-Douglas.

2. The Scrabble Rousers will push the wood from 6:30-9 p.m. inside King's Books. Entrance fee is $10 per person with proceeds benefiting the Tacoma Community House Student Scholarship Fund.

3. Join HealthForce Nutritional educator Doug Walsh as he discusses the five-week raw food-cleansing program he recommends for safe, effective detoxification and cell enhancement at 7 p.m. inside Marlene's Market & Deli in Federal Way.

4. The Mix in downtown Tacoma celebrates its second year in business with a ‘70s Disco Party tonight featuring DJ Xade, drink specials and prize giveaways.

5. From the Sea will unleash their Here Come the Wolves EP at 8 p.m. inside Hell's Kitchen.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

NOSH PIT >>>

Aloha!: The Melting Pot in downtown Tacoma has added a Pacific Island-themed menu featuring specialty drinks through September.

Tacoma Represent: May is "Rockin' Rosé month at Pour at Four. By the way, Pour at Four now carries Tacoma's 21 Cellars' 2006 Pont 21 Cabernet.

Tightwad Tuesday: $2 beer, $2 wells, and $2 tacos, every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to close at Hell's Kitchen. You know it. You love it.

Beer Is Good: 99 Bottles in Federal Way will pour five Hefeweizens for $5 tonight 5-7:30 p.m.

Future Things Are Coming: Pacific Grill will open up on a Sunday for the moms. They'll serve a Mother's Day brunch buffet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Reserve your spot at 253.627.3535.

Drinks Matter: Sticky espresso martinis and other coffee-based cocktails are due for a face-lift. And, here to bring boozy coffee up to speed is Firelit Coffee Liqueur.

LINK: Wine and beer tastings, dinners and events

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: Send us your restaurant and lounge news