If the thought of matzo ball "sinkers" and your aunt's dried out brisket are making you dread Passover, perhaps you can convince the family to eat out for the seder this year. Many restaurants are offering more traditional seders, but some are kicking up the spice. For a Mexican twist, try Toloache for matzo in preparations you'd never imagine. Dig into the Matzo tostada “Yucatan” (crispy matzo tortilla, achiote smoked white fish salad, “Yucatan style”......

March 29: Best Cellars University at Pair of 8's Pair of 8's owner Ron Didner and new Chef Matthew Hamilton (formerly of Prune, Uovo, and Zuni Cafe, pictured at right) pair up with Best Cellars to host the first of this monthly series starting with Wine 101. Wine will be paired with five courses. $70 for a single class and $65 for two or more classes, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Call 212-362-8730 to register. 568......

Yesterday morning, the nominees for the 2007 James Beard Foundation Awards were announced at the Beard House on West 12th Street. In additional to New York restaurant stalwarts David Waltuck of Chanterelle, Floyd Cardoz of Tabla, and Terrance Brennan of Picholine (which was rebooted in 2006 to impressive reviews, the nominees also include a bumper crop of young chefs including David Chang for Momofuku Ssam Bar, Daniel Humm for Eleven Madison Park (both for......

March 3 - 5: Hop Heaven NYC New York City's annual salute to the hop, features hop-heavy beers on tap at Hop Devil Grill. Taste Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA, Bell's Hop Slam and Rogue I2PA, or one of 20 others offered on tap starting Saturday at 12:00 PM and ending this Monday morning at 12:00 AM in the morning. 129 St. Marks Place, 212-533-4468. March 4: Food Bank's Time Out for Hunger Over 90......

February 11: Second New Indian Dinner - A Benefit for Kids with Cameras Tabla is proud to present a multi-course dinner prepared by several of the world’s leading New Indian chefs, including: Maneet Chauhan, Vermilion, Chicago; Melissa Walnock, Pastry Chef, Tabla, New York City; Vikram Garg, IndeBleu, Washington, DC; Kirti Pant, Junnoon, Palo Alto; Hemant Oberoi, Taj Luxury Hotels; Mumbai, India; and Floyd Cardoz, Tabla, New York City. The dinner is a benefit for Kids......

May 7 - 8: James Beard Foundation Awards Next week, the James Beard Foundation will present its annual awards -- Sunday for journalism and Monday for excellence in the culinary industry. It'll be tough to get in, but we'll share the winners with you next week. More information on their website. May 9: Tabla at ICE Tabla's executive chef Floyd Cardoz will lead a cooking demonstration and tasting of favorite homestyle Indian and Indian-inflected New......

All the foodies are in a tizzy today as the coveted James Beard Award nominees were announced last night. The actual awards ceremony and reception will be held on May 8, at an event celebrating "the culinary legacy of New Orleans." Reservations for the May 8th event can be made by calling 212-367-9490 or toll free at 1-866-362-6442. Admission is $375 ($325 for James Beard Foundation members/$120 for students - find your old ID cards......

It was bound to happen. The Hamptons, or as Gothamist likes to think of it, a displacement home for wealthy New Yorkers, finally got their own wine and food festival. The talent read like a who’s who of the food and wine circuit: Rick Moonen, Michael Romano, Steven Jenkins and Floyd Cardoz all boarded the Hampton Jitney to share their secrets with those who could afford the $150 ticket. Or for the big spenders $650......

No, that's not what we mean -- get your minds out of the gutter. A dozen of New York's chefs are joining together for "Get in Bed," a benefit for Plan USA's tsunami relief efforts. On January 31, twelve chefs including Floyd Cardoz of Tabla, Food Network host and cookbook author Tyler Florence, and Zak Pelaccio of 5 Ninth, will each cook one dish, for a total of eight savory and four sweet dishes. The......

Everyone we know is doing something, however small, in response to the devastating disaster, but some are doing what they do best: cook and eat. We've heard of a few food events to benefit the tsunami relief effort, but please let us know if you've heard of any others. - On January 11th, five chefs specializing in Asian Cuisine will be holding a five course dinner at Sapa, 43 West 24th Street. Sapa's chef Patricia......