Agenda: Tequila, Chocolate, and Wine

FEATURED EVENT

Tequila: The Future of Tradition
As spirits go, tequila often gets a bad rap. To educate imbibers about agave (above), tequila's flavor profile, and its rich history, Astor Center (399 Lafayette Street) is presenting a class, "Tequila The Future of Tradition." A discussion will be led by David Suro-Piñera, President of Siembra Azul Tequila and Foundation. along with tequila experts Dr. Rodolfo Fernandez and Claudio Jiménez Vizcarra, all of whom will be presenting in New York City for the first time. Sample a variety of tequilas, learn proper tasting techniques, and finish the evening off with appetizers from Café Frida. The class will take place in Astor Center's Gallery on Friday, May 9th, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets: $45/person.

EVENTS THIS WEEK (May 7 through 13)

Spring Beers and Spring Cheeses
Saxelby Cheesemongers' Anne Saxelby is teaming up with Back Forty's Michael Fuquay to present a spring cheese and beer tasting. Among the bounty, discover cheeses from Vermont's Lazy Lady Farms and Jefferson, New York's Brovetto Dairy paired with seasonal wheat and other light beers, including Troeg Dream Weaver Wheat from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Schneider Edelweiss Organic Hefeweizen from Bavaria, Germany. The event will take place at Back Forty (190 Avenue B) on Wednesday, May 7th, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Reservations: 212.388.1990. $25/person.

WEP Fundraising Event
The Women's Education Project is hosting a fundraising event to benefit students from the poorest backgrounds in South India succeeding in college and pursuing meaningful careers. The evening's festivities will include fine Indian vegetarian food, Bhangra dancing, open bar, plus raffles for prizes like Betsey Johnson jewelry, Conan O’Brien tickets, a yoga class, and more. The event will take place at  the Om Factory (265 West 37th Street) from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. For more information, contact the program's direction, Zoe Timms. $20/door donation.

Chocolate and Wine Tasting
Join Joan Cukos, owner of the artisinal chocolate shop Chocolat Moderne, for a sampling of her confections paired with wines. Try peanut praline with Amontillado sherry or dark ganache with cabernet sauvignon. The free event will take place at Bottlerocket Wine + Spirit (5 West 19th Street) on Saturday, May 10th, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Reservations are not required.

Wine and Sailing Excursion
Dynamic Outdoors is hosting a sailing excursion to Long Island Sound combined with an afternoon wine tasting at North Fork Vineyards. Spend the two hour adventure learning sailing skills or simply relaxing. Arrive at the vineyard and enjoy a picnic lunch with the wine tasting. The event will take place on Sunday, May 11th, departing at 9:00 a.m. from the Upper West Side and 9:15 a.m. from the Upper East Side, with the return arrival at about 5:00 p.m. Tickets: $79/person.

All in the Family
Throughout the month of May Murray's Cheese (254 Bleecker Street) is celebrating "The Mothers of Cheesemaking." "All in the Family" is a class focusing on cheeses produced by family run businesses. Join instructor Lousie Geller for a plate full of cheese from families like the Kehler brothers of Jasper Hill Farm and the mother-son combo at Cato Corner Farm. The class will take place on Monday, May 12th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. $50/person.

Slice, Dice and Spice NY
If you've got a little free time and are itching for a culinary getaway, head upstate to the Finger Lakes for Slice, Dice and Spice, NY. Among the highlights is an Iron Chef-style competition featuring the regions’ culinary assets. Teams will be asked to create a meal using common "Market Basket" ingredients, plus one secret ingredient. All of the products used in the competition will be exclusive to the region from local farmers and food producers. The event will take place beginning Monday, May 12th, through Thursday, May 15th, at the New York Wine & Culinary Center (800 South Main Street, Canandaigua). For more information, visit the official site. Tickets for the Final Cook-Off are $50/person.

Image: Siembra Azul.