Dan's Papers -February 13, 2009 -

Executive chef and co-owner Jason Weiner, of Almond in Bridgehampton, will cook at The James Beard House in New York City on Thursday, February 19 at 7 p.m. The cost is $125 for James Beard members and $155 for the public. Dinner items include raw fluke, chestnut soup, seared diver scallops, roast rib of veal and "Bananas," with banana cake, caramelized bananas and housemade banana ice cream. For reservations, call (212) 675-4984.

Cupid's arrow is striking the East End! On Valentine's Day, Almond will offer sexy specials and a romantic starter including a glass of champagne, a chilled oyster with cucumber mignonette, and a warm blini with caviar for $22 per person. Additional specials will also be offered. For more information, call (631) 537-8885. Townline BBQ in Sagaponack will offer a $40 "to go" dinner for two on February 14. Items include half short rib, half rack of pork ribs, half pint of baked beans, half pint of Townline bread and butter pickles, half pint collard greens, cornbread and red velvet cupcakes. Call (631) 537-2271 for details. Nick & Toni's will celebrate Cupid with a la carte specials, including an amuse, Prosecco with passion fruit sorbet ($13), Satur Farms beet "carpaccio" ($18), dry aged Porterhouse steak for two ($98), wood-roasted whole fish for two ($85) and chocolate layer cake with blood orange sorbet ($12). Call (631) 324-3550 to make a reservation. Stonewalls Restaurant will serve a Valentine's Day dinner prix fixe from 5 p.m. The menu includes vol-au-vent with seafood champagne, baby arugula salad, Montauk swordfish, grilled dry aged filet mignon, chocolate praline mousse cake, and strawberry shortcake. Price ranges from $45 to $55, depending on the selected entrée. For reservations, call (631) 506-0777.

Legends Restaurant in New Suffolk brings back their international-style tapas for dinner Sunday through Thursday beginning Wednesday, February 18 until Thursday, March 19 (excluding St. Patrick's Day). Diners may try tapas to experiment with more exotic dishes or enjoy as a prelude to dinner. Items include pan-fried gnocchi ($5), crispy avocado ($5), patatas bravas ($4), grilled marinated skirt steak ($9), Chorizo sausage "planks" ($8), Asian-style pork quesadilla ($7), orange-sherry chicken ($8), tuna carpaccio ($9), seafood vol-au-vent ($8), and Teriyaki salmon and pineapple ($10). For more information, call (631) 734-5123.

Jamesport Manor Inn, in Jamesport, hosts a wine dinner featuring Martha Clara Vineyards on Friday, February 27 at 7 p.m. The five-course tasting and pairing menu includes Hog's Neck Bay oyster with 2002 Blanc de Blanc, shaved citron salad and herb basted shrimp with 2007 Five-O White, celery root soup with 2007 Estate Reserve Chardonnay, lamb loin with 2005 Five-O Red, and almond macaroon and dark chocolate ganache "burger" with 2005 Estate Reserve Merlot. Vegetarian pairing is also available. ost is $70 per person plus gratuity. Reservations are required. The restaurant is also participating in the Winterfest "Jazz on the Vine" celebrations. A special $20 three-course brunch and lunch prix fixe will be offered daily and a $29 three-course dinner prix fixe will be offered Sunday through Thursday during Winterfest. For information, call (631) 722-0500.

Rowdy Hall, in East Hampton, has announced a new "Sweet Sixteen" special offered every night beginning at 5 p.m. The special features one entrée for $16, which changes nightly. Sample specials are coq au vin chicken pot pie, pork milanese, and beer battered fried shrimp with sweet potato fries. For further information, call (631) 324-8555.

Some restaurants are bidding farewell for winter vacation while others are coming out of hibernation. Matto in East Hampton is now closed until spring, date to be announced. Call (631) 329-0200 for details. red/bar brasserie in Southampton opened just in time for Valentine's weekend. They will be serving dinner Wednesday through Sunday from 6 p.m. Prix fixe menus will be offered all-night Sunday through Thursday, and until 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Menus include two courses for $26 and three courses for $29. Fare changes nightly. Call (631) 283-0704 for information.

Hamptons Restaurant Week is just around the corner! East End restaurants will serve up $24.95 prix fixe menus from Sunday, March 29 through Sunday, April 5. The current roster includes: A Touch of Venice, Café Max, Cooperage Inn, Edgewater Restaurant, Fresno, The Inn Spot on the Bay, Jamesport Manor Inn, LaPlage Restaurant, Legends Restaurant, Lighthouse Grill at Montauk Yacht Club, Montauk Manor, Oaklands Restaurant & Marina, Olde Speonk Inn, Pierre's, red/bar brasserie, Shippy's Pumpernickels Restaurant East, Stone Creek Inn, Stonewalls at The Woods, TRATA, Trumpets on the Bay, Villa Paul Restaurant, Vine Street Caféé and Wildthyme Restaurant. Vineyards will also offer $24.95 bottles of wine to accompany the prix fixe including Wolffer Estate Vineyards. For more information, visit www.hamptonsrestaurantweek.com.