On the Menu: October 3 through October 6

What better way to welcome October than with a fall feast at the Beard House? Monday, October 3, 7:00 P.M. Louisiana Style Diners at Drew’s Bayshore Bistro can enjoy a true down-home, low country meal without even leaving the tri-state area. Run by chef/owner Andrew Araneo, a 2010 JBF Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic, Drew’s upscale bistro fare features the best of Gulf Coast cuisine: bold flavors, Cajun specialties, and spectacular seafood. Tuesday, October 4, 7:00 P.M. Hamptons Classic From Mexican street food–turned–haute cuisine to exquisite Mediterranean fare, the menu created by these talented chefs reflects the laid-back elegance of the South Fork. Locally sourced ingredients support the sophisticated flavors that have turned these restaurants into the favored dining spots of the Hamptons elite. Wednesday, October 5, 12:00 P.M. Beard on Books: Paula Wolfert's The Food of Morocco Award-winning author and authority on Mediterranean cuisine Paula Wolfert explores the rich and vital cuisine of of Morocco in The Food of Morocco. Wednesday, October 5, 7:00 P.M. Harvest by the Bay Since taking over the kitchen at Fifth Floor, David Bazirgan has been universally lauded for his “brilliantly executed” cuisine, as Michael Bauer wrote in a glowing San Francisco Chronicle review. Bazirgan, who trained under JBF Award winner Barbara Lynch at No. 9 Park in Boston, is the former chef of San Francisco’s renowned Chez Papa. Thursday, October 6, 7:00 P.M. Farm-to-Table Pioneer Long before farm-to-table cuisine was de rigueur, L’Etoile’s founding chef (and JBF Award winner) Odessa Piper looked to local farmers for inspiration and ingredients. Nearly 35 years later, acclaimed chef and owner Tory Miller carries on that legacy, creating mouthwatering meals that celebrate the bounty and terroir of Wisconsin. Thursday, October 6, 7:00 P.M. Santa Monica: Friends of James Beard Benefit A Santa Monica landmark, Shutters on the Beach has captivated visitors for almost two decades with its casual elegance and breathtaking surroundings. This special benefit will kick off chef Michael Reardon’s Coast to Coast James Beard Dinner Series, and will be followed by an event at the James Beard House in November. For details and reservations, visit www.jamesbeard.org/events or call 212.627.2308.