Tuesday
They're departing (slightly) from their soft cheese obsession at Obika Mozzarella Bar at 7 PM tonight, when they present a five-courser built around the Austrian-German influenced cooking of the northeastern Italian region of Tre Venezie, with a meal of vegetable strudel in zabaglione sauce (and fried smoked mozzarella), mezzelune ravioli filled with radicchio (and smoked mozzarella), and pork filet with guanciale (and no mozzarella), with apple fritters for dessert. $38 per person, with a wine pairing for $15 extra (310-556-2452).
Wednesday
Those who love coffee, but don't know much about it beyond words like "venti" and "latte," will get at highly caffeinated one-hour lesson in "coffee cupping" at Barista 101 at L'Epicerie Market in Culver City, from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, with Marcus Young of the Specialty Coffee Association of America leading a tasting of beans from around the world. The $17 fee includes a one pound bag of coffee to take home - whole bean, of course (310-815-1600).
[Also see: Mario Batali to Cook at Coast on January 28]
Thursday
Have dinner with Hot Tamales Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger at their Border Grill in Santa Monica, where they'll be joined by Don Julio Tequila "catador" Kevin Vanegas for a four-courser of lobster ceviche, and braised pork belly, with a different tequila cocktail with each course (begins at 7 PM; $55 per person; 310-451-1655).
[Also see: Le Zinque Arrives in Venice]
Friday
Sample more than 100 top wines from Bordeaux at the 2012 Union Des Grand Crus Tasting at the Petersen Automotive Museum from 7 to 10 PM, many poured by the winemakers and Chateaux owners themselves ($59 per person; 6060 Wilshire Blvd.; go to www.wallywine.com for details and tickets).
Saturday
They're now serving brunch, both Saturdays and Sundays, at The Tripel gastropub in Playa del Rey, with an à la carte menu available from 9:30 AM to 4 PM (for those who REALLY sleep in) of dishes like banana bread French toast, burrata egg white omelettes, duck hash and a dish called "The Cure" -- a pretzel burger topped with a fried egg and avocado. To wash it down, there's their Bloody Beer -- lager spiked with spicy tomato juice with celery salt around the rim (310-821-0333).
[Also see: Abigaile and Planet Dailies Coming Soon]
Sunday
The Winter 2012 edition of dineLA begins today, running through January 27, then picking up again from January 29 to February 3. For our recs on where to book head here.
[Also see: Pressed Juicery Truck: Food Truck of the Week]