On the Plate: Upcoming Food and Wine Events

April 8: Broadway Panhandler Knife Sharpening Benefit
Bring your knives to Broadway Panhandler to get sharpened and benefit City Harvest at the same time. We did this last year and can't tell you what a difference a sharp knife can make, especially when it's combined with doing something good for the world. Between 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., bring in up to three knives and get 'em professionally sharpened for a mere $10. You can sharpen your knife skills as well from 2-4 PM, when Norman Weinstein will demonstrate how to properly use a classic Chef's knife and the Santoku to chop, slice, dice, mince and julienne. 477 Broome Street at Wooster.

April 8: Wedding Wine Tasting at The Greene GrapeThe Greene Grape in Brooklyn will pour three reds, three whites and a sparkling wine all for under $15 -- ideal for a wedding or other large event. The lovely ladies of Luscious Brooklyn will provide sample hors d'oeuvres. 12pm to 3pm, 765 Fulton Street between South Oxford and South Portland in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

April 9: Pravda's 10th Anniversary
Our little Pravda is turning 10, and is celebrating by offering $3 drinks (now, that's the kind of 10th birthday party we can handle). And just to make the celebration more fun, you have to pay in Russian Rubles (which you can exchange at the door; $3 will equal 100 Rubles), and they'll be unveiling their new 10th anniversary cocktail, the Pravda Muscvoy, made with house-inflused orange vodka (we haven't tasted that one, but their other infused vodkas are quite tasty). The celebration will begin at 6pm and continue on through 1am, but make sure you bring cash -- 10th Anniversary prices aren't available if you pay by plastic. 281 Lafayette St.

April 9: Annual Pre-Passover Jewish Lower East Side Tasting Tour
Just in time for Passover, you can remind yourself of what it's all about (or explain it to the non-Jew you might be bringing home for his/her first Seder). Join the Big Onion as they wander through the Lower East Side and explore the 350+ years of Jewish history and culture within. Stops include: the founding site of the B’nai B’rith, the Jewish Daily Forward building, the historic Eldridge Street Synagogue, and sites associated with Abraham Cahan, Lillian Wald, and Jacob Riis. And of course, there will be noshing. Meet: Southeast corner of Delancey and Essex Streets, in front of the Olympic Diner. Adults $15. Tour Hotline (212) 439-1090 email info@bigonion.com

April 10: Kosher for Passover Wine Tasting at Crush
Don't make your guests drink Manishevitz! If you're looking for something a little more upscale for your Seder this year, head over to Crush for a sampling of outstanding Kosher producers like Tishbi, Recanati and Castel. During the tasting, all bottles of kosher wine are 10% off - and all mixed cases are 15% off. 5-7 pm, 153 East 57th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues.