What’s happening for July 9, 2009

• Advocate Food writer
• Published: Jul 9, 2009

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

NEW ORLEANS — Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, 1751 Gentilly Blvd., is sponsoring a “Tastings at the Track” summer food and wine tasting program. Held in partnership with Dorignac’s Food Center, each tasting will showcase 25 wines for $25 per person.

Live entertainment will be provided by The Yat Pack. Tickets are available at Dorignac’s (710 Veterans Blvd. in Metairie) and if not sold out, will be available at the door.

The July tasting is “Summertime Sensations” and will feature 25 light, refreshing wines from around the world that are ideal to sip during the sultry summer months. Crisp whites like pinot grigio and sauvignon blanc will be featured in addition to dry rosé wines and delicate reds such as pinot noir. The casual, reception-style tasting will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 22 on the fourth level of the Fair Grounds Clubhouse.

“Bargain Bottles: More Bang for the Buck” is the topic for the 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 26 tasting. Guests will sample 25 red and white wines.

The September tasting will be held Sept. 23 with a theme of “The Unusual Suspects; Uncommonly Good Varietals.” No chardonnay, merlot or cabernet sauvignon allowed. This tasting will explore the plethora of lesser-known grapes such as torrents, gruner veltliner chenin blanc, petit verdot and cabernet franc.

In addition to the 25 wines sampled at each program, guests will also taste a selection of cheeses. The casual tastings will also feature wine experts who will discuss and answer wine-related questions.

For more information, visit http://www.fairgroundsracecourse.com or call (504) 948-1285.

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest thoroughbred racing facility, has been in operation since 1872.

Bastille Day dinner scheduled at Juban’s
Juban’s, 3739 Perkins Road, is planning a Bastille Day Celebration wine dinner  July 14. The menu will replicate the recipes of Auguste Escoffier, the father of modern French cuisine.

Courses will feature Rabbit Terrine, Duck Consommé, Stuffed Turban of Sole, Beef Filets With Truffle Madeira Sauce, Cheeses and Seasonal Fruit. Each selection will be paired with French wines.

The reception starts at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:15 p.m. Cost is $65 per person including tax and gratuity. For reservations, call (225) 346-8422.

Pennington to host child obesity event
Pennington Biomedical Research Center and the Louisiana Council on Obesity Prevention and Management will present an in-depth program on childhood obesity as it relates to public health. The daylong conference is scheduled Sept. 16.

The information will be of interest to health care professionals,  including physicians, nutritionists, physical activity specialists, registered dietitians, nurses, health educators, psychologists and counselors. Health-care policymakers, such as researchers, media, business and civic leaders, parks and recreation personnel and early childhood and school-age decision-makers will also be eligible to attend.

The professional conference is free. For more information, log onto http://www.pbrc.edu and click on the conference logo, “Childhood Obesity and Public Health: An Ounce of Prevention or a Pound of Cure?”