On the Plate: Upcoming Food and Wine Events

April 22: Taste of Chinatown
Rain or shine, For merely a few dollars per plate you can explore many of the dishes offered by Chinatown's best restaurants. Taste local favorites like the pork fried dumplings from Fried Dumpling, summer rolls from Pho Viet Huong, Malaysian Curry Noodles from Jaya, and bubble tea from Ten Ren. And don't forget the fortune cookie writing contest. On Baxter, Bayard, Doyers, Mosco, Mott, Mulberry and Pell Sts. 1–6pm. Call 212-868-1368 or visit explorechinatown.com for more information.

April 22-23: Free Brunch at Xing
Xing is introducing brunch this weekend, and to start if off right, they're offering it for free to the first 50 people through the door on Saturday and Sunday. The Brunch menu features a dim sum options and an Asian spin on traditional American brunch with offerings like Five Spice French Toast, a side of Chinese Sausage, and a duck egg omlette with crab. Bruch starts at 11am, 785 Ninth Avenue, between 52nd and 53rd.

April 22-23: Greek Orthodox Easter Lamb Roast
Nothing says Easter like lamb on a spit. On April 22nd, from 6 p.m. on, Estiatorio Milos will be roasting sixteen lambs on spits right outside the restaurant for six hours. Once the lambs are finished, they will be paraded through the dining room where special guests and parishioners from the nearby Greek Orthodox Church’s midnight mass will greet them. If you miss the midnight serving, you can still celebrate on Sunday, April 23, when you can get roasted lamb and potatoes a la carte for $35. 125 West 55th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues. For reservations please call 212-245-7400.

April 24: Beer Dinner at HQ
HQ restaurant is joining forces with Distinguished Brands to create a five course tasting menu with matching beers. Try Long Island Steamers, pilsner caraway broth, bacon bread with Veltins Pilsener, “Fastest Growing” Pils Bier, from Germany; Fish and Chips with Czechvar, Original Premium Lager from the Czech Republic, and more. 6:00pm - 9:00pm, $40, 90 Thompson Street, between Spring and Prince. For reservations, call 212-966-2755.

April 25: Free Ice Cream!
It's the most wonderful day of the year -- Ben & Jerry’s annual Free Cone Day. From Noon–8pm, your nearest Ben & Jerry's will be dispensing free cones. The lines may be as long as the Shake Shack's, but it'll move a lot more quickly . . .