Dining Notes

Williamson County is hitting the bottle this weekend, or more accurately, hundreds of bottles, with two major wine events taking place simultaneously and within spitting distance of one another. Organizers of each are urging participants to drink up, as this community consumption of adult beverages benefits the children of Williamson County. Wine Down Main Street has donated over $190,000 in four years to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Williamson County. The fifth annual event, which turns Franklin’s Main Street into a linear wine bar, takes place this Friday night from 7 to 10 p.m. Wines will be poured into participants’ commemorative wine glasses in the street’s shops, which will also be having special sales; food from local restaurants will be available for purchase along the way. There are, um, grape expectations for the first Factory Wine Festival, a three-day extravaganza of wine, food, cooking, arts and music taking place at The Factory at Franklin and benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee and Williamson County Cultural Arts Center. The shebang kicks off Thursday night, Nov. 3, with Vintner’s Dinners at three locations: Saffire Restaurant, Viking Culinary Arts Center (both in the Factory) and Criallo’s Bistro & Bar, at 1935 Mallory Lane. A different vintner will be represented at each. Reservations for the $65-per-person dinners are required; call 309-0787. Friday morning at 11 a.m., Stoveworks Restaurant is hosting a Champagne Brunch and Fashion Show. Other Factory retailers will be presenting seminars and demonstrations all day Friday and Saturday on topics including “Understanding Abstract Art,” “The Story Behind Your Turquoise” and “How to Order Wine in a Restaurant.” Seminars are free. Seven cooking classes will be held in Viking Culinary Arts Center’s Demonstration Theater; classes are $15 each or $75 for all seven. The really big show is uncorked Friday night with The Grand Wine Celebration and Silent Auction, taking place from 7 to 10 p.m. at The Factory. Over 200 wines will be poured for sippin’, spittin’ and swallerin’, with many collectible vintages available for purchase in the auction. Five of Nashville’s wine distributors will be supplying the wine portfolios; on Saturday, Cool Springs Wine & Spirits will discount the wines featured at the tasting. Tickets for the Grand Wine Celebration are $50 per person, available at Woody’s Smokes & Brews (1935 Mallory Lane), Antiques at the Factory, or by calling 309-0787. Log onto www.factorywinefestival.com for a schedule and description of all classes and seminars. Down under downtown Morton’s presents its last wine dinner of the year Friday, when it pairs Australia’s most well-known wine, Penfolds, with four courses of the steakhouse’s signature fare. Penfolds’ head sommelier, Matt Lane, is flying up from down under to dine with guests, describe the four wines and the port that will be poured, and talk about the 150-year-old history of the noted winery. The dinner begins with a reception at 6:30 p.m. and seating at 7; cost is $165 per person, including tax and gratuity. For reservations, contact Julie Turner at 259-4558. Food chain This weekend, the Nashville Convention Center will be crawling with foodies attending the first Nashville Cooking, Gift and Food Expo. The three-day event presents more than 70 exhibitors; demonstrations and classes by local chefs, vendors, purveyors and food industry professionals at three different cooking stages (gourmet, grilling and baking); wine tastings and six wine seminars led by Ed Fryer from The Wine Shoppe at Green Hills; and cooking competitions.  Event hours are 1-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat. and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. Tickets are $8 in advance at Wild Oats stores, $10 at the door, $3 for ages 8-17, and free for children under 8. Log onto www.cookingbydesign.us for information. Slow down Slow Food Nashville and Belle Meade Plantation present something to stew over on Thursday, Nov. 10, with a screening of the documentary Southern Stews: A Taste of the South. Following the 6 p.m. screening, there will be a stew contest and tasting. The free event is part of the Plantation’s Second Thursday Film Series, with films provided courtesy of Humanities Tennessee. For more information and details on entering your stew, contact 356-0501, ext. 31, or check the website at www.BelleMeadePlantation.com.