Dan's Papers -January 9, 2009 -

Nick & Toni's is now offering a new four-course menu to celebrate Italy's Tuscan region for $38 per person. The menu will be available all night every night until Sunday, January 11, except on Saturday, January 10, when it will only be offered until 7 p.m. The menu includes: White bean and tuna salad; risotto with porcini mushrooms; calamari in tomato broth and Swiss chard; milk braised pork loin and roasted onions; and homemade local berry jam and almond tart. For details, call 631-324-3550.

In an effort to fill the empty shelves at local food pantries after the holidays, Art of Eating and Hampton Event Management International presents "Ladles of Love" Fundraiser to benefit Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Montauk, Sag Harbor, Southampton and Springs food pantries. The event will be held on Saturday, January 17 from noon to 10 p.m. at Art of Eating and HEMI, 74 Montauk Highway, Amagansett. Community members are urged to donate much-needed non-perishable boxes, cans and fresh produce throughout the day to help neighbors. Complimentary coffee and cider will be served to anyone making a donation or who just needs a hot beverage. Admission is free. The evening's event, "Soup Kitchen Ladle Out," will feature live music and local restaurants ladling out their best soups from 6 to 10 p.m. A limited number of passes for "Soup Kitchen Ladle Out" is available and costs $49 per person. All profits will be donated to the East End Food Pantry Network. Local donors include: Amagansett Wine & Sprits, Bermuda Parties, Emil Norsic & Son, Hampton Coffee Company, Herman Lamison Security, Matt Murphy Event Lighting, The Milk Pail, Montauk Printing, Peconic Woodworking-Jim McConville, Plum TV, Southampton Publick House, Wainscott Wine & Spirits, WordHampton Public Relations, Babette's, Cynthia Battaglia Catering, Della Femina, Golden Pear, Gurney's, Harvest on Fort Pond, Il Cappuccino, La Fondita, The Laundry, The Meeting House, The Palm, Paradise Caféé, Robert's, Sen, Stuart's Seafood, Taste of the North Fork, Tweed's Restaurant and Dark Horse Catering, Vivian and the Merry Makers, Mama Lee and Friends, Bastards of Boom, Jim Lawlor, Matt Coss, Garrett Shuppe and Friends and Cross Roads Music. Call 631-267-3312 or visit www.ladlesoflove.com for more information.

Jamesport Manor Inn will host their second annual wine dinner featuring Macari Vineyards of Mattituck on Friday, January 16 at 7 p.m. Executive Chef Eric Rickmers and Winemakers Helmut Gangle and Paola Valverde crafted a five-course menu paired with wines. The menu includes: Crisp fried Ipswich clams and chile-mint vinaigrette with 2007 Sauvignon Blanc; basil crusted pork tenderloin and spicy curry emulsion with 2008 Early Wine; Crescent Farm duck breast and thyme infused duck jus with 2004 Cabernet Franc; braised beef cheek, ricotta cannelloni and sage brown butter with 2004 Reserve Merlot; and crepes with Explorateur cheese and red wine dates with 2005 Block E Chardonnay. Vegetarian pairings are available upon request. Cost is $70 per person. For more information, call 631-722-0500.

OLA, the East End's Latino organization, has a new arm - OLA YG (Younger Generation). Their mission is to promote, empower and inspire the Latino community on the East End as they work to unify and educate the community. To kick off this new chapter, OLA and OLA YG will host a benefit on Sunday, January 25 at Townline BBQ/La Fondita from 3 to 5 p.m. Executive Chef Joe Realmuto created a special menu for the event, which includes: Chips and pico de Gallo, quesadillas, chicken flautas, tinga tostados, calamari cocktail and al pastor skewers. Tickets are limited. Cost is $15 and includes a soft drink. There will be live music and a cash bar. For reservations or more information, contact Linda Shapiro at 631-329-5480.

Jason Weiner, executive chef and co-owner of Almond, will cook a special dinner at The James Beard House in New York City on Thursday, February 19 at 7 p.m. Cost is $125 for James Beard Foundation members and $155 for non-members. The menu will be paired with wine and includes: Raw fluke with pomegranates, grapefruit granita and crispy leeks; chestnut soup with foie gras crouton, 50-year sherry vinegar and brown butter creeme fraiche; roast rib of veal, caramelized mirapoix and spinach-oyster coulis; and banana cake, caramelized bananas and house made banana ice cream. Call 212-675-4984 to make a reservation.

Matto now offers a new affordable takeout menu to kick off 2009. Takeout is available Thursday through Tuesday starting at 5 p.m. Place your order by phone at 631-329-0255 or fax 631-329-0224. Takeout items include: Raviolini fritti, $8; insalata Matto, $9; spaghettini alla carbonara, $18; pizza napoletana, $8/$17; pollo alla casalinga, $21; and salmone oreganato, $22. Call 631-329-0200 for more information.