On the Plate: Upcoming Food and Wine Events

June 9th: The Rosés of Summer
The good folks at Artisanal Cheese Center invite you to taste summer, in the form of six refreshing rosés paired with twelve of the world's best cheeses. Tix are $75 and can be purchased by calling 212-871-3144. Artisanal Premium Cheese Center, 500 West 37th Street, 2nd Floor, entrance on 10th Avenue, 6:30pm - 8:30pm.

June 11 & 12: The Third Annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party
Time to bring out the 'cue. Taste local favorites Blue Smoke and Dinosaur along with some heavy duty out-of-town pitmasters, all of whom will be smoking up a storm during this benefit for the Madison Square Park Conservancy. If last year taught us anything, it's get there early. Noon-6 p.m. at Madison Square Park. Admission to the block party is free, including live music and seminars. For more details, visit www.bigapplebbq.org

June 13: A Taste of Times Square
For the 12th year running, more than 50 restaurants will offer $1 tastes, including Virgil's (in case you didn't get enough BBQ over the weekend). West 46th Street between Broadway and Ninth Avenue, 5pm - 8pm. Tickets are available starting at 3pm. For more information and a full list of participants, visit www.timessquarenyc.org.

June 13: Five Course Sake-Tasting Dinner
Five sakes, five courses. Simplicity at its best. 7:00 p.m., at Komegashi Re-Construction Cuisine, 928 Broadway. $75/person, call 212-475-3000 for reservations.

June 15: Little Italy, From Market to Table
Join Ron Ciavolino from the Institute for Culinary Education for a combination shopping tour and hands-on cooking class that starts with cappuccino at Ferrara and shopping in Little Italy and ends with an Italian luncheon that you cook yourself, including Prosciutto di Parma with Figs; Pasta Dressed with a San Marzano Tomato Sauce; Italian Sweet Sausages Roasted with Potatoes, Garlic and Rosemary; Sautéed Broccoli Rabe; Fruit and Cheese; and Pastries and Demitasse. Tuition is $89 (discounted from the original $105). Visit www.iceculinary.com to register. The class meets at Ferrara Café, 195 Grand Street between Mott and Mulberry Streets, and then proceeds to ICE at 50 West 23rd Street, 10:00am - 4:00pm.