RESTAURANTS + BARS

Troy Restaurant Week and other dining events

Melody Baetens
The Detroit News

Food and beverage events

Preview tastings at Castalia: Castalia is a cocktail lounge inside of Sfumato Fragrances shop in Midtown, set to open March 21. To give a preview of what’s to come, the shop is hosting ticketed tastings with a fixed menu of cocktails based on Sfumato’s fragrances and paired snacks. 7-9 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. and March 14-17. $40. 3980 Second, Detroit. CastaliaCocktails.com.

V313: Detroit’s Premiere Vegan Celebration at Eastern Market: Try a variety of food from local vegan chefs, restaurants and vendors, plus live music, games and speed-dating. 3-9 p.m. Thurs. $15. Shed 5, 2934 Russell, Detroit. V313.info.

Empty Bowls Detroit at Eastern Market: A fundraiser for Cass Community Social Services, this soup-fest features food from 20 local restaurants, plus beer, wine and desserts. 5-10 p.m. Fri. $40, $100 for sponsors. Shed 5, 2934 Russell at Alfred, Detroit. emptybowlsdetroit.com.

Spring Vegetarian Dinner at Frame: Chef Rebecca LaMalfa teams up with Drought juice company to present a “root-to-flower” vegetarian feast featuring fava bean cannoli, asparagus and morel salad, grilled artichoke, beet goat cheese tortellini and pineapple carrot spice cake, plus beverage pairings using Drought juices. 6 p.m. Fri.-Sat. $45 plus tax and fees. Saturday dinner is sold out. Inside of Joebar, 23829 John R, Hazel Park. framehazelpark.com.

Hard Cider and Honey Pairing at Blake’s Orchard: A benefit for nonprofit organization Bees in the D, this event pairs a flight of Blake’s Hard Cider products with five local honeys. The event also includes a tasting of a not-yet-released Blake’s cider. 7-10 p.m. Fri. $44.28. 71985 Armada Center, Armada. Eventbrite.com.

Winter Beer Carnival at Chevrolet Plaza at Little Caesars Arena: Michigan craft beer, lawn games, giant Jenga, carnival games, food trucks and more. 1-5 p.m. Sat. $40. 2645 Woodward, Detroit. detroitbeercarnival.com.

Troy Restaurant Week: Twenty restaurants will participate, offering three-course lunches and dinners for $15-$45 Sunday through March 16. Make reservations and view menus at troyrestaurantweek.com.

Cooking Class Series at the Root Restaurant & Bar: Learn to cook with executive chef Nick Rodgers. The first class at 11 a.m. Monday covers soup, followed by brunch food on April 2, seafood on April 9 and pickle and charcuterie basics on April 16. $75-$100 per person, per class. 340 Town Center, White Lake. Reserve by calling (248) 698-2400.

Tuesday Takeover at Detroit City Distillery: To celebrate Detroit Night (3/13), Detroit-based startup Marketing Supply Company is hosting a happy hour at this Eastern Market distillery. They’ll buy the first $1,000 in drinks, and all the tips will benefit Journi, an organization that helps Detroit kids learn computer coding. Filipino food will be available for purchase from Kusina Cusine. 4-11 p.m. Tues. 2462 Riopelle, Detroit. (313) 338-3760.

Tour de Vin at Republic: This wine dinner features favorite dishes from past events. Each course is paired with wines chosen by Sean Sutton from Michigan’s Woodberry Wines. The dinner takes place in the floor above the restaurant, which is in the castle-like G.A.R. building. 6:30-9 p.m. March 15. $100. 1942 Grand River, Detroit. Eventbrite.com.

Luck of the Irish whiskey class at Village Workshop: Learn about varieties of Irish whiskey and compare six labels with spirit expert Michael Schafer. 7-8:30 p.m. March 15. $45. 455 E. Cady, Northville. (248) 667-7157.

Bell’s Brewing Beer Dinner at HopCat Royal Oak: A four-course, ballpark-themed dinner paired with five Bell’s beers. 5:30 p.m. March 20. $31.80. 208 W. Fifth, Royal Oak. Eventbrite.com.

Vegan Goes Mainstream at Revolver: Chefs Jay Gundy and Katie Coon collaborate for a six-course, plant-based meal. 6 and 9 p.m. March 23-24. $45. 9737 Jos Campau, Hamtramck. revolverhamtramck.com.

Celani Wine Dinner at Rugby Grille: Hosted by Tom Celani, owner of Celani Family Vineyards, this three-course meal will be paired with his wines. 6:30 p.m. March 28. $150, plus tax and tip. Reservations required. 100 Townsend, Birmingham. (248) 642-5999.

Whisky Experience 2018 at Eastern Market: A benefit for the Luella M. Harden Foundation, which raises money for college scholarships and contributes to the Leukemia Society, this spirit-tasting event has samples, swag, some food and more. 5:30-9:30 p.m. April 20. $54.84, $75.95 for VIP. Eastern Market, 2934 Russell, Detroit. facebook.com/luellamhardenfoundation.

Chef’s Schoolyard Dinner at Great Lakes Culinary Center: A benefit for Detroit Prep, this first annual dinner is a collaboration between local chefs John Vermiglio, James Rigato, Anthony Lombardo, Brad Greenhill, Joe Giacomino, Andy Hollyday, Kate Williams and Alex Clark. 6-9 p.m. April 30. $250. 24101 W. Nine Mile, Southfield. detroitprep.org/schoolyard.

Detroit Sushi Festival at Eastern Market: Food from local sushi restaurants and vendors of Japanese of culture. Aug. 24. $27, $54 VIP. Shed 5, 2934 Russell, Detroit. detroitsushifest.com.

Restaurant briefs

Happy 30th to Rattlesnake: To celebrate three decades of fine dining in Detroit, the Rattlesnake Club will offer a three-course dinner for $39 per person throughout March. Choose from an 8-ounce Brazilian lobster tail or an Angus beef 6-ounce filet. You must make a reservation to take advantage of this promotion. Call (313) 567-4400 ext. 6235 to reserve.

Jolly Pumpkin hits Grand Rapids: A west Michigan location of sour beer brewery and restaurant Jolly Pumpkin is set to open March 22. The pizzeria and brewery is at 428 Bridge St. NW in Grand Rapids.

Deals at MGM Grand: Wolfgang Puck Steak and Topgolf Swing Suite at MGM Grand Detroit have launched new happy hour deals that include deals on draft beers, cocktails and wine Mon.-Thurs. in the early evening. Wolfgang Puck also has half-off wines on Tuesdays all night, with food purchase.

Melody Baetens