“Cooking With Class” on Channel 10 features chef Frank Terranova of Johnson & Wales.

The Providence Journal / Sandor Bodo

This week and weekend

Z-Bar & Grille, 244 Wickenden St., Providence, (401) 831-1566, will celebrate its 15-year anniversary with original menu food and wine specials all day and night on Wednesday, Nov. 25.

Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of East Providence will hold its annual Holiday Breakfast on Saturday, Nov. 28, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the Santa Maria Club, 846 Broadway, East Providence. The menu features eggs, baked beans, hash brown potatoes, French toast, sausages and pastries. Tickets are $8, $5 for youngsters under 12, which include a free photo with Santa. For more information call (401) 431-1675.

Local 121, 121 Washington St., Providence, (401) 274-2121, local 121.com hosts a benefit for the Rhode Island Food Bank featuring music by Otis Read and the Lucky Band Wednesday, Nov. 25. Suggested donation is $10 and non-perishable food items. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery, 417 Hixbridge Rd., Westport, Mass., (508) 636-3423, westportrivers.com will hold its annual Holiday Open House Saturday, Nov. 28, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., including a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and caroling.

News

Derek Wagner of Nicks on Broadway in Providence is one of “40 Chefs Under 40” selected by the new environmental Web site Mother Nature Network as one who has made an effort to cook with sustainable ingredients yet make dining the ultimate eco-epicurean experience.

To view all 40 chefs go to www.mnn.com/food/ cooking-recipes/stories/ 40-chefs-under-40.

Thanksgiving openings

Amanda’s Kitchen, 54 Smithfield Ave., Pawtucket, (401) 723-7222 is open Thanksgiving Day for breakfast from 7 a.m. to noon.

Asterisk Restaurant & Bar, 599 Thames St., Newport, (401) 841-8833, asterisknewport.com has a fixed-price Thanksgiving Day menu ($25, $12 children) with seatings from noon to 8 p.m. in addition to its regular menu.

Bassett’s Inn, 2227 West Shore Rd., Warwick, (401) 737-6073, bassett.inn.com opens Thanksgiving Day at noon with the last seating at 4:30 p.m. A children’s menu is also available. Call for reservations.

The Lighthouse Restaurant, 1665 Hartford Ave., Johnston, (401) 331-6445 is open for breakfast Thanksgiving Day from 7 a.m. to noon.

Seaplane Diner, 307 Allens Ave., Providence, (401) 941-9547 is open for breakfast Thanksgiving Day from 7 a.m. to noon.

The restaurants and buffets of Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., feature special dining offerings from traditional turkey dinners to prime rib in celebration of Thanksgiving. For more information call (888) 226-7711 or visit Mohegansun.com.

Todd English’s Tuscany showcases a four-course Chef’s Tasting meal at $47 ($82 with wine pairings). It will serve a dinner menu throughout the day in lieu of their Tuscan Table and lunch menus.

The Longhouse, open from noon to 8 p.m., will served a carved roast turkey with sides and dessert for $26.

Pompeii & Caesar offers a three-course meal from 5 to 10 p.m. for $32. Turkey Saltimbocca with sweet potato gnocchi covered in sage brown butter and spicy broccoli rabe is featured.

Birches Bar & Grill offers a customary Thanksgiving dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. for $21.95.

Sunburst and Seasons Buffets will both offer a roasted turkey dinner with all the usual Thanksgiving fixings. Sunburst Buffet will also feature prime rib of beef with hot sides for $19.81 from 10:30 am to 9 p.m. Seasons Buffet, open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., is offered at $16.98.

More Thanksgiving

La Salle Bakery at 993 Smith St., Providence, (401) 831-9563 and 685 Admiral St., Providence, (401) 288-0081 offers a full array of holiday cakes and cookies as well as bread, rolls and traditional pies. Featured are apple pie topped with caramel and pecans, holiday harvest bread filled with cranberries, nuts and raisins and Italian Torrone, a nougat-based candy with whole roasted almonds.

Wine and spirit events

22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille, 22 Bowen’s Wharf, Newport, (401) 841-8884, 22bowens.com, will host a tasting of Glenlivet led by Richard Crawford Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. Selections from the Glenlivet Range will be complemented by small tasting dishes including lobster bisque prepared by chef Matthew Preble. The cost is $25 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations required for limited seating.

The Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Ave., Newport, newportartmuseum.org, hosts an evening of champagne tasting on Friday, Dec. 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. with Bellevue Wine and Spirits. Champagne and sparkling wines from around the world will be sampled. Also guests will get a sneak peek at the designer-created “Holiday Tables” on view throughout the Museum’s Griswold House from Dec. 4 through Jan. 3. Additional contributors to the Dec. 4 event include Plantation Catering, Hotel Viking, Kilwin’s Chocolatiers and Glorious Affairs. Tickets, $15 for members and $25 for non-members, can be obtained at the door or by calling Larry Bacon at (401) 848-8200, ext. 109.

Coming up

Ponderosa Steakhouse, 562 Washington St., South Attleboro, Mass., (508) 399-7250 will celebrate its 35th anniversary Thursday, Dec. 3, through Sunday, Dec. 6. A 20 percent discount will be offered to all past employees, who, along with restaurant guests, are invited to fill out a page with their favorite Ponderosa memory. Everyone will receive a special cupcake.

The West Warwick High School Instrumental Music Department will hold a breakfast fundraiser Sunday, Dec. 6, from 8 to 10 a.m. at Applebee’s Restaurant, 24 Midway Rd. (Garden City), Cranston. The cost of the full breakfast, which includes beverages, is $7 for adults and $5 for children under 10. Tickets, which will be sent out when payment is received, must be obtained in advance by sending a check and your name, address and phone number to West Warwick High School Band, c/o Metro Narcisi, Webster Knight Drive, West Warwick, RI 02893.

The Providence Biltmore, 11 Dorrance St., ProvidenceBiltmore.com will hold a Holiday Celebration Thursday, Dec. 10, in the Grand Ballroom. A cocktail hour featuring passed hors d’oeuvres and a cheese and fruit display will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. followed by a four-course dinner and music provided by Cover to Cover. The choice of entree is stuffed boneless breast of chicken, jumbo shrimp scampi served over champagne and asparagus risotto or a vegetarian selection. The $50 fee includes hors d’oeuvres, dinner, service charge and tax; call Elise Shatraw at (401) 455-3021 or eshatraw@ providencebiltmore.com to reserve. Reservations must be received and pre-paid by Friday, Dec. 4. Overnight accommodations are available that night at a special $99 rate.

The Jewish Community Center, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, will host a Hanukkah Party Friday, Dec. 11, from noon to 2 p.m. The $3 admission fee includes lunch, music and door prizes. Reservations must be made by calling Neal Drobnis, Jewish Family Service Coordinator of Kosher Nutrition, at (401) 861-8800, ext. 107.

Festival Ballet Providence will hold Clara’s Tea and Brunch at Federal Reserve, 60 Dorrance St., Providence, Sunday, Dec. 13, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., preceding the matinee presentation of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.” Tea sandwiches, breakfast items, pastries, desserts and teas from around the world are featured. Tickets are $35 for ages 12 to adult, $25 for children 6 to 11 and $15 for youngsters 6 and under. Space is limited; call (401) 353-1129 to reserve.

The Boston Wine Expo at the Seaport World Trade Center will be held Saturday, Jan. 23, and Sunday, Jan. 24. The Grand Tasting showcases over 350 international and domestic wineries from 13 countries pouring over 1,800 different wines. Industry experts host the 2010 seminar program, offering seminars for all levels of wine lovers. This year’s keynote speaker is Kevin Zraly. Show hours are 1 to 5 p.m. and the trade show hours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information call (877) 946-3976 or go to WineExpoBoston.com.

The R. I. Hospitality Association (RIHA) and R.I. Hospitality Education Foundation (RIHEF) will hold the Stars of the Industry Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 801 Greenwich Ave., Warwick. Cocktail reception and vendors’ area at 4; dinner and awards ceremony at 5 p.m. To purchase tickets, $75, call Kimberly Wardyga at (401) 223-1120.

On TV

“The Best of Constantino’s Roundtable” will air a segment on personal chefs Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. on PBS Channel 36.

“Cooking With Class” features chef Frank Terranova, an associate instructor at Johnson & Wales University, cooking “Cowboy Ketchup and Rhode Island Hot Sauce” next week during the noon and 5 p.m. newscasts on Channel 10.

On radio

“Dining Out with Bruce Newbury” broadcasts live from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, from ARDEO Mediterranean Taverna at Waterplace in the Union Station Plaza, Providence. He will be joined by proprietor Joe Jamiel and some of the restaurant’s chefs. The show is on 920 AM.

Classes

The Sunnyside, 267 Water St., Warren, (401) 247-1200 demonstrates how to prepare an indoor tailgate party with ease with do-ahead recipes for pulled pork sandwiches, mushrooms stuffed with sausage and spinach and other items Monday, Dec. 7, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The fee of $50 includes recipes, tastes and wine.

Eastside Marketplace, 165 Pitman St., Providence, 831-7771, eastsidemarket. com is sponsoring a holiday appetizers class conducted by chef Bill Andrews Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 6 to 7 p.m. Andrews, director of Food Services at Eastside, will prepare baked brie, stuffed mushrooms and crostini with olive tapenade. Call to register; the fee is $10.

On the menu

The Boat House, 227 Schooner Drive, North Tiverton, (401) 624-6300, boathousetiverton.com, has a three-course fixed-priced menu for autumn for $19.95 available Tuesday through Thursday. Entree choices include Asian-style short ribs, pan-seared blue cod, bourbon-brined half chicken and local pumpkin ravioli. Scallop and shrimp baked stuffed lobster is available on Sundays only, also for $19.95. Guests who purchase two entrees Sunday through Thursday or two three-course fixed-price menus can enjoy 20 percent off any bottle of wine.

Christie’s, 351 Thames St., Newport, (401) 847-5400, 41no.com, offers surf and turf specials every Thursday: half a lobster tail and chili-rubbed sirloin, plated for two, and presented with a bottle of wine for $50 ($25 for one, served with a glass of wine). Select big plates are $10 with the purchase of any small plate Monday through Wednesday until the end of the month.

Castle Hill Inn & Resort, 590 Ocean Drive, Newport, (401) 849-3800, castlehillinn.com, is offering three-course fixed-priced “Winter Prelude” dinner specials weekdays through Dec. 20 featuring a selection of appetizers and a choice of entree and dessert. Entree selections are Long Island duck cassoulet, Scottish salmon or three-cheese cannelloni. The Inn’s two-course “Leisurely Lunch” for $19, available Monday through Saturday, features a choice of appetizers and entrees, including a Cuban sandwich, New England fish stew and chicken salad. Guests can enjoy 50 percent off any selection from the wine list on Wine & Dine Sundays, also through Dec. 20.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, One Exchange St., Providence, (401) 533-9000, flemingssteakhouse.com, is offering a three-course dinner for two for $99, twin Ocean Point lobster tails or lobster tail and filet mignon, through Dec. 15. The side dishes are roasted pumpkin crepes or caramelized potato tart, a pistachio-encrusted goat cheese salad and carrot cake topped with pineapple-rum caramel.

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Geppetto’s Grilled Pizzeria, 57 De Pasquale Square, Providence, (401) 270-3003, geppettospizzeria.com, has an offer for holders of DineGift gift certificates. From now through Jan. 31 any guest dining at Geppetto’s may present a DineGift gift certificate at the time of payment and receive a discount equal to the dollar value amount listed on the certificate. Maximum discounted amount may not exceed 35 percent and other rules apply.

Gregg’s Restaurants & Pubs at 1303 North Main St., Providence, (401) 831-5700; 1359 Post Rd., Warwick, (401) 467-5700; 1940 Pawtucket Ave., East Providence, (401) 438-5700 and 4120 Quaker Lane, North Kingstown, (401) 294-5700 feature three new menu items: sweet ’n’ spicy chicken wings, lobster roll and lobster mac and cheese. Gregg’s Red Velvet Holiday Cake returns on Tuesday, Dec. 1. Decorated with cake crumbs and white chocolate curls, it retails for $5.45 a slice or $26.95 for the whole cake. Orders for all desserts, platters and holidays sides are accepted at all locations; go to GreggsUSA.com.

Providence Oyster Bar, 283 Atwells Ave., (401) 272-8866 and Providence Prime, 279 Atwells Ave., (401) 454-8881, providenceoysterbar.com offer $30 three-course fixed-price menus which include a choice of soup, salad or appetizer, several entree selections, and house-made desserts. Both restaurants will be open weekdays for lunch in December from noon to 4 p.m.

Tranquil Waters Spa and Café, 1479 Fall River Ave., Seekonk, Mass., (508) 336-6676, now offers breakfast items such as strawberry peach crepes ($6.95) and Eggs Benedict Napoleon ($7.50) served with sides of sweet potato hash Thursday through Saturday beginning at 9 a.m.

Trattoria Simpatico, 13 Narragansett Ave., Jamestown, (401) 423-3731, trattoriasimpatico.com offers Tuesday night entree specials for $16.95 and half-price appetizers Sunday through Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m.

Boston holiday happenings

The Beacon Hill Holiday Stroll will be held Thursday, Dec. 10, from 5 to 9 p.m. Sip, shop and savor the holiday luxuries at Beacon Hill’s shops, boutiques and restaurants amidst the sounds of Victorian carolers, a full brass ensemble and the Apollo Club of Boston. Free pictures with Santa are offered at Hill House at 127 Mount Vernon St. from 3:30 to 6:45 p.m. and the tree lighting ceremony with Santa starts at 7 p.m. For more information call (617) 720-7888 or go to beaconhill businessassociation.org.

Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers, 50 Park Plaza at Arlington Street, will offer a three-course Holiday Tea Friday through Sunday afternoons from Dec. 4 through Jan. 3, with seatings at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. The fee is $32.50, $16.50 for children 8 and younger. Reservations are strongly recommended by calling (617) 654-1906.

gciampa@projo.com