Winemaker Dinner series continues at Lone Eagle Grille
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort has recently begun a Winemaker Dinner Series at the award-winning Lone Eagle Grille.

Held on the second Tuesday of every month, the series showcases renowned regional wineries and Lone Eagle Grille’s signature cuisine. Previously featured wineries have included Crane Brothers, Reynolds Family Winery and Hall Winery.
Guests are invited to enjoy a four-course menu perfectly paired with some of the best labels in the winery’s portfolio. Each label’s winemaker attends the dinner, visiting guests’ tables to provide tasting notes and answer questions.
Lone Eagle Grille’s Winemaker Dinner on Tuesday, April 8 at 6 p.m. features Miner Family Wines.

For more information, contact the Lone Eagle Grille at (775) 886-6899 for more information or reservation.

Dining for Schools
Dining for Schools cards on sale. For $45 you can become a “cardivor” and save 50-percent at over 35 area restaurants from April 20 – June 12.
Buying a Dining for Schools Card will make you a “cardivor” and being a “cardivor” is worth every penny because with a Dining for Schools card you save 50 percent at select restaurants in the Tahoe-Truckee area. The cards, a fundraiser for the Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation, cost $45 and are valid at over 35 area restaurants April 20 through June 12.

The cards are available at all Back to School Nights, Porters Sport locations (Tahoe City, Truckee and Incline Village), Save Mart in Tahoe City and Safeway locations (Truckee and Kings Beach), Mountain Hardware and online at http://www.exined.org">www.exined.org. The Dining for Schools’ card program is one of three key fundraisers for the Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation. Other fundraising programs include Golfing for Schools and Skiing for Schools.

The Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation is a private, nonprofit corporation that supports quality education with the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District. Each year the Foundation raises money and provides grants, resources and partnerships to benefit students, teachers and educational community as a whole.

For more information, call (530) 550-7984 or visit http://www.exined.org">www.exined.org. for inquiries.

Moody’s Bistro & Lounge expands Wine List
Moody’s Bistro & Lounge is taking its wine list to a new level, with nearly 500 different selections and an emphasis on Old World varieties, thanks to the restaurant’s Wine Director, Joseph Nase.

The first sommelier in America to be honored with Wine Spectator Magazine’s
Grand Award more than once, Nase used his expertise to expand the restaurant
’s previous list of 120 selections to nearly 500. The old list consisted
almost exclusively of California wines, while the new list ventures out into
new territory with more emphasis on Italy, France, Germany and Spain.

To complement the cuisine of Executive Chef/Co-owner Mark Estee and Chef de
Cuisine Guy Frenette, Italian wines are a huge component, reflecting the
Mediterranean influence and pairing well with the seasonal, fresh, simple
flavors.

The new list will retain its regional flavor with a large selection of wines
from California, including one of Nase’s favorites, a 2006 Bohan-Dillon
Pinot Noir from the Hirsch Vineyard on Sonoma Coast as well as wines from
Napa and Santa Barbara County. Oregon wines, where the grapes grown in a
cooler climate tend to be less jammy and smaller than their California
counterparts, also will find their home on the list. Nase’s appreciation for
half bottles is another characteristic of Moody’s wine list, allowing for
groups of 4 to 6 people to create a “do it yourself” tasting menu, sampling
a variety of bottles during dinner.

For reservations, call (530) 587-8688 or visit http://www.moodysbistro.com">www.moodysbistro.com.

Beer:30 at FiftyFifty
It’s Beer:30 at FiftyFifty Brewing Co. $3 FiftyFifty beers, $3 well drinks and 25% off appetizers from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Monday – Friday.

Balance is what FiftyFifty Brewing Co. is all about. With the addition of daily lunch specials, Beer:30 happy hour and extended kitchen hours, Truckee’s beloved brewpub now provides new ways to maintain your poise throughout the week.
With the addition of Beer:30 into the mix, you can now get $3 FiftyFifty beers, $3 well drinks, and 25% off appetizers from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday- Friday. After a long day at work or play, there’s no better way to unwind than hanging out at a hip spot, drinking some quality, handcrafted brews. Finally, for all the late eaters out there, FiftyFifty will be keeping the kitchen cranking until 10:30 p.m. Now guests can get their bellies full right before getting their party on.

FiftyFifty Brewing Co.: Find Your Balance. Located in Truckee at 11197 Brockway Road, between Hwy 267 and downtown Truckee. Open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., FiftyFifty serves both lunch and dinner to complement their variety of beers brewed on the premise. FiftyFifty also features a full bar, seasonal outdoor seating on the patio and live music and entertainment.

To contact FiftyFifty, call Andy or Alicia Barr at (530) 587-BEER or email info@fiftyfiftybrewing.com.

Jake’s on the Lake Alpenglow dinners
Jake’s on the Lake presents Alpenglow Dinners. Valid Sunday through Friday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., the dinner special features a three-course offering, for $26 per person ($32 with a glass of premium wine). Jake’s landmark lounge shakes up every Friday and Saturday nights with live music beginning at 7 p.m.

For more information and reservations, call (530) 583-0188 or visit http://www.jakestahoe.com">www.jakestahoe.com.

May 18 - Best of Tahoe Chefs dinner at Resort at Squaw Creek
North Tahoe’s premier chefs are once again gearing up for the most popular food event of the year - the 9th annual Best of Tahoe Chefs. The Best of Tahoe Chefs Dinner will be held Sunday, May 18, 2008 at the Resort at Squaw Creek. This unique event brings together many of the top local chefs to help raise funds for the Tahoe Forest Cancer Center. During this annual gala, the Chefs pull out all the stops to create a delicious, one-of-a-kind menu found only at this event.

This year’s impressive line up includes chefs from Tahoe’s finest local restaurants including: Moody’s Bistro, Dragonfly, Resort at Squaw Creek, Jake’s on the Lake, Mamasaki and Pianeta, and more. The evening begins at 5 p.m. with a cocktail reception, silent auction and live music; followed by the main event – dinner, which features a new “roving feast” format with multiple food stations. The meal is interactive with guests visiting chef stations for food, wine and conversation. This new setting also provides an ideal opportunity for guests to learn more first-hand about the various dinners up for auction by the participating restaurants. Each course will feature a unique wine pairing provided by Ron Florian of Florian’s Fine Wines located in Truckee.

Tickets are $125 per person and include wine, appetizers, a roving feast provided by 13 local Tahoe chefs, dessert, and live entertainment. Tickets are limited, so call now to reserve your spot. Portions of the ticket price may be tax deductible. Proceeds benefit Tahoe Forest Cancer Center.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Tahoe Forest Hospital Foundation, (530) 550-2300 or http://www.tfhd.com">www.tfhd.com.

Jake’s hosts Mountain Aloha Tuesdays
Surf’s up! There’s nothing like bringing a bit of the beach to the mountains. Aloha is more than a word at Jake’s On the Lake, it’s a state of mind. The Tahoe City lakefront eatery offers up its version of a beach party every Tuesday evening with “Mountain Aloha Tuesdays.”

Speak softly and wear a loud shirt. The atmosphere, part hama’aina, or beach house, part rustic mountain lodge, takes on the look and fevered pitch of a tropical island luau. From 4:30 to 8 p.m., you’ll discover a wonderful collection of customers wearing Hawaiian shirts and enjoying one of Tahoe’s favorite apres-ski parties.

Mountain Aloha Tuesday offers a Polynesian – theme menu including sashimi, poke rolls, Teriyaki pineapple burgers and coconut shrimp. Discounted drink specials feature Kimo’s Mai Tai and Margarita Especial. Jake’s also offers its daily Happy Hour until 6:30 p.m. (select cafe menu items and select drinks specially priced).

Throughout the evening, patrons may purchase raffle tickets in hopes of winning lift tickets, skis, snowboards, logo wear and other prizes donated from local Tahoe merchants and resorts.

Raffle proceeds benefit the Tahoe Adaptive Ski School (Disabled Sports USA Far West chapter located at Alpine Meadows). Last winter, Jake’s Tuesday beach party raised $7,000 on behalf of this special ski school.

Jake’s On the Lake is located at 780 North Lake Boulevard in the Tahoe City Boatworks Mall. Jake’s offers discounted café menu and drink specials from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. nightly except Saturdays. Every Friday and Saturday Jake’s landmark lounge shakes up with live acoustic music beginning at 7 p.m.

For more details, information and reservations, call (530) 583-0188 or visit http://www.jakestahoe.com">www.jakestahoe.com.

This story originally appeared in the Tahoe World on March 25. The http://www.tahoe-world.com/">Tahoe World is owned by Swift Communications, tahoe.com's parent company.

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