On the Menu: November 14 through November 20

Here’s what’s happening at the Beard House and around the country next week: Sunday, November 14, 6:00 P.M. Friends of James Beard Benefit: Pismo Beach, CA Enjoy breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean while feasting on chef Evan Treadwell’s California coastal cuisine. Treadwell takes seasonal and local cooking seriously, changing the menu with each solstice and equinox and airing his regionally sourced creations with exciting and often little known Central Coast wines. Monday, November 15, 7:00 P.M. Taste of the NFL An all-star group of Texas and New York chefs is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Taste of the NFL, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting hunger whose founder, Wayne Kostroski, won our 2010 Humanitarian of the Year award. This special dinner will be held a day after a Giants–Cowboys showdown—let’s hope the rivalry stays on the field and out of the kitchen. Monday, November 15, 6:30 P.M. Celebrity Chef Tour: Las Vegas Celebrity Chef Tour events are dinners that benefit the James Beard Foundation, in which JBF Award winners and other celebrity chefs travel to private clubs, resorts, and other exclusive venues across America to prepare dinners and promote the culinary arts. Tuesday, November 16, 7:00 P.M. Sip and Savor Puerto Rico At the helm of Carmen the Restaurant, Top Chef Masters alum Carmen Gonzalez seduced diners with sophisticated Nuevo Latino fare that drew inspiration from the vibrant flavors of her native Puerto Rico. Her upcoming Beard House dinner will showcase one of her island home’s most beloved exports: Bacardi rum. Tuesday, November 16, 7:00 P.M. Celebrity Chef Tour: San Francisco Celebrity Chef Tour events are dinners that benefit the James Beard Foundation, in which JBF Award winners and other celebrity chefs travel to private clubs, resorts, and other exclusive venues across America to prepare dinners and promote the culinary arts. Wednesday, November 17, 12:00 P.M. Beard on Books In Appetite City, William Grimes, former restaurant critic for the New York Times has poured over photos, records, menus, and more to present a history of dining out in New York City. Arguably the world’s greatest city for restaurants, bars, and take-out joints, New York City boasts more varieties of cuisine and styles of eateries than any other metropolis. Grimes gives Big Apple transplants, lifelong urbanites, and awe-struck visitors a literary taste of the city’s rich culinary traditions and its journey from taverns to tasting menus. Wednesday, November 17, 7:00 P.M. Niagara Wine Country Dinner Like most people, when we think of Niagara we think of barrels—but we mean the ones used to age last year’s vintage. One of the pioneers of this burgeoning wine region is the renowned Hillebrand Estates Winery, whose executive chef, Frank Dodd, has earned acclaim for creating regionally inspired dishes that truly complement the estate’s bottled offerings. Thursday, November 18, 7:00 P.M. Best American Bistro It’s a rare restaurant that can captivate the public’s attention—and its palate—for 15 years, but Tarbell’s is no ordinary eatery. Once a pioneer on the Phoenix dining scene, Mark Tarbell is now a celebrated and much loved chef who has earned coast-to-coast acclaim for his delicious and sustainably sourced bistro cuisine. Thursday, November 18, 7:00 P.M. Celebrity Chef Tour: Denver Celebrity Chef Tour events are dinners that benefit the James Beard Foundation, in which JBF Award winners and other celebrity chefs travel to private clubs, resorts, and other exclusive venues across America to prepare dinners and promote the culinary arts. Friday, November 19, 7:00 P.M. Caribbean Florentine It may sound unlikely, but one of the best places to find modern Tuscan food is on the tropical island of Tortola, where Italian-born chef Davide Pugliese serves traditional Florentine fare infused with hints of Caribbean flavor. Pugliese’s standout cuisine will be a perfect match for winemaker Pio Boffa’s bold Piedmontese wines. Saturday, November 20, 7:00 P.M. Flavors of the Pacific Rim A true citizen of the world, Beard House alum and Canadian chef Chris Mills wowed fans on Japan’s Iron Chef and won a hard-earned fifth-place finish at the 2001 Bocuse d’Or. Now he uses those global travels as inspiration for his Pacific Rim–inflected cuisine at the Joey Restaurants. For details and reservations, visit www.jamesbeard.org/events or call 212.627.2308.