Agenda: Cassoulet Cookoff, Winter Restaurant Week, and America's Kitchens

FEATURED EVENT

Cassoulet Cookoff
As part of its Mid-Winter Sausage Fest Week, Jimmy's No. 43 (43 East 7th Street) is hosting a Cassoulet Cookoff/county fair-style fundraiser to benefit the New York City Greenmarket. Area chefs will compete with their one dish creations, all of which must contain sausage from a Greenmarket vendor. The cookoff will take place on Saturday, January 17th from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. Tickets: $20/at-the-door.

EVENTS THIS WEEK (January 14 through 20)

The Pre-Industrial Pig
Slow Food NYC is hosting an eight-course dinner and discussion on the environmental and health benefits of pasture meats, "The Pre-Industrial Pig." Presenters include farmer Henry Morren and Underground Food Collective members Jonny and Ben Hunter and Kris Noren. The event will take place at Astor Center (399 Lafayette Street) on Wednesday, January 14th at 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $80/person, $65/slow food members.

An Evening with Dana Cowin
ICE (50 West 23rd Street) presents a recreational class, "An Evening with Food and Wine Editor-in-Chief Dana Cowin." For the interactive discussion, Cowin will speak of her life, career, changes in the food industry, and more. The class will take place on Wednesday, January 14th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tuition: $65/person.

Festi dei Formaggi
The James Beard House (167 West 12th Street) welcomes Fortunato Nicotra, executive chef at Lidia Bastianich’s Felidia, for a Festi dei Formaggi. The cheese inspired feast will feature dishes such as Gorgonzola with Pear and Frisée, Taleggio and Mushroom Lasagna with Duck Sauce, and Mascarpone, Black Truffle, and Limoncello Tiramisù. The event will take place on Saturday, January 17th at 7:00 p.m. Tickets: $200/person, $150/JBF members. (212.627.2308)

Winter Restaurant Week The winter session of New York City restaurant week is here! Select restaurants throughout the city will be offering three-course prix fixe lunches for $24.07 and three-course prix fixe dinners for $35. The two week event will take place from Sunday, January 18th through Friday, January 23rd and from Sunday, January 25th through Friday, January 30th. Click here for a list of participating restaurants and to make reservations.

Zagat Vintage Dinner Series
Zagat Survey is presenting a Vintage Dinner Series now through the end of March. Chefs from participating restaurants, including Daniel, Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Del Posto, Le Cirque, and Jean Georges, will replicate menus inspired by 19th century ingredients. Each dinner will create an opportunity to sample dishes that have become virtually extinct over the last century. Seating for each event is limited, so it is encouraged that guests make reservations directly with their chosen restaurant as soon as possible. Click here for the calendar and list of participating restaurants.

COMING UP

America's Kitchens
The Culinary Historians of New York present, "America's Kitchens" with Nancy Carlisle. Carlisle is the curator of Historic New England and co-author of the new book, "America's Kitchens." The lecture will cover the history and evolution of the "heart of the American home" from the 17th century to the present. The event will take place at Mount Vernon Hotel Museum (421 East 61st Street) on Wednesday, January 21st at 6:30 p.m. RSVP by January 20th. Tickets through Brown Paper Tickets: $40/person, $25/members, $22/students.