FESTIVALS START GEARING up this time of year. One of the favorites, Bella Sera, is shaping up to be a spectacular evening of fine food and wine, taking place 6-10 p.m. Saturday at Renaissance Park.
A $60 ticket gives you access to the house wine — unlimited amounts, so pace yourself — and food from Niko’s Southside Grill, Greenlife Grocery, Food Works, 212 Market, Blue Orleans, Taco Mamacita, Alleia and The Hot Chocolatier. Volunteers will stroll through the park with servings of Neidlov’s Bread, and Chattz will be serving coffee, cappuccino and espresso as well.
Purchase the Wine Taster’s Select ticket for $100, and you’ll get all that plus food from Table 2 and 50 additional premier wine selections. There will be just 400 tickets available for Wine Taster’s Select.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.bellaseraevent.com, at Chattanooga Downtown Partnership, 850 Market St. (on the second floor above Market Street Tavern) or at the gate on the day of the event.
Bella Sera is a benefit for Chattanooga Endeavors, an organization that works to get former prison inmates back into the work force.
HERE’S ANOTHER FOODORIENTED festival to put on your calendar. An Evening of Champagne & Chocolates, scheduled 6-9 p.m. Friday at Chattanooga Theatre Centre. This is a benefit for Little Miss Mag Child Care Center, now in its 92nd year of offering child care to working-class families who pay on a sliding scale. With today’s economy, I would imagine that the scale is sliding more toward those who can afford little if any tuition.
You’ll sample an array of chocolates, from dark to light and white. And some quirky treats, too, such as chocolate-covered potato chips, geranium bourbon chocolates and smoky blue cheese truffles. Rembrandt’s and The Hot Chocolatier will offer truffles. Intentional Chocolates will be there with samples of its dark Hawaiian chocolate with organic raspberry.
You’ll also enjoy a wide range of hors d’oeuvres from Tara Plumlee of A Silverware Affair Catering and sip champagne or wine courtesy of Riverview Wine & Spirits, or beer from Gordon Biersch. A silent auction will feature items such as a beach home rental, a scooter and artwork.
Tickets are $50 per person or $90 per couple. They can be purchased at the Theatre Centre, www.LittleMissMag.org or by calling 266-5286.
FOOD WORKS, A popular restaurant on Chattanooga’s North Shore, is offering new items with new prices, reflecting the owners’ commitment to providing a quality meal with the economy in mind.
“Our dinner menu has been modified to appeal to the costconscious consumer with lower menu prices and a concept that focuses on ‘progressive Southern’ cuisine,’ ” said chef/co-owner Troy Sutton. “We will continue to explore and slowly build around that concept.”
Food Works has reopened for lunch as well and is serving brunch on Saturday and Sunday, with champagne and Bloody Mary specials.
I drove past Food Works at lunchtime last week and was happy to see the parking lot full. It looks as if the new concept is working out well.
And don’t forget half-price wine by the bottle or by the glass on Monday nights from 4 o’clock until closing.
Food Works is at 205 Manufacturers Road.
E-mail Anne Braly at abraly@timesfreepress.com.
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