Kitchen Classes for Kneady Kids

You can hear a pin drop in some cooking classes, where the students, usually stellar cooks themselves, revere the chef. Others take place in school classrooms, kind of like home economics. One thing’s certain about learning to cook with Alan Greeley in the kitchen at the Golden Truffle--it’s fun.

And now kids can do it too. Greeley has introduced a cooking class for ages 7 to 11; the first one takes place on Saturday.

The children will learn to make sandwiches of homemade veal bologna and buttermilk sweet onion biscuits; spicy swordfish and shrimp won-tons with guacamole; homemade mustard and ketchup; and lemon-lime eclairs.

“This is a life-enhancing cooking class,” explained General Manager Letia Short. “The kids are going to learn how all these things are made. Some they may never make again--but some they will.”

Class is from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It’s $24 per child and includes lunch. Parents can enjoy a prix fixe three-course lunch--different from the kids’--for $24 (without beverage, tax and tip) while the child is in class.

1767 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa. (714) 645-9858.

*

Stafford’s Fine Wine & Specialty Co. has staged weekly wine tastings since it opened in Irvine a year ago. One thing’s for sure, these tastings are affordable.

Upcoming events:

*Friday, Charles Krug, $4 for four wines.

*Aug. 18, Schramsberg, $6 for four sparkling wines.

*Aug. 25, Chimney Rock, $3 for three wines.

Samples are roughly 4 ounces, though proprietor Kent Stafford said it’s hardly scientific.

“This is a very casual atmosphere,” Stafford said.

Tastings take place on Fridays from 4 to 7 p.m. The “wholesale retailer” was located in Rancho Santa Margarita for three years before moving to Irvine.

17801 Main St., Suite F, Irvine. (714) 474-4416.

*

Italian food and Italian wine demand Italian cigars, of course. Mezzaluna Ristorante, in conjunction with the Henry Wine Group and Tinderbox Crystal Court, presents a four-course, three-wine, three-cigar dinner featuring the cigars of Milan-based Savinelli.

According to Romano Molfetta, owner of Mezzaluna, Savinelli is the only Italian cigar available in this country.

Among the courses Molfetta has planned are a pollo alla cacciatore with artichoke, served with the 1991 Rudolf Bindella Vino Nobile de Montepulciano and Savinelli Robusto. The sweet course is tiramisu, Montenegro Liqueur, Savinelli Churchill and espresso.

It all takes place al fresco (phew!). First smoke, 7 p.m. The cost of $75 per person includes tax and tip.

2441 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. (714) 675-2004.