A local liquor distributor is pulling out the stops for a high-end wine tasting and charity event next week. Glazer's Companies of Louisiana (www.glazers.com) will host the tasting, called Winesday, on Jan. 16 at Ralph's on the Park (900 City Park Ave., 488-1000; www.ralphsonthepark.com), Ralph Brennan's Mid-City restaurant. Winesday will showcase bottles from 30 wineries and importers, including wines from Krug, Bonneau du Martray, Etude, Chave, Dr. Loosen and Siduri. Admission is limited to 150 people and tickets cost $120 each. The two-hour event begins at 5:30 p.m. and includes light hors d'oeuvres from Ralph's. Winesday also doubles as a fundraiser to support City Park and volunteer efforts to help rebuild the huge public park after Hurricane Katrina. For tickets, call Jenny Hunter at 234-1055 or email her at jhunter@glazers.com.
Gypsy Jazz and Jasmine
Shoppers at this Tuesday's Crescent City Farmers Market (200 Broadway Ave., 861-5898; www.crescentcityfarmersmarket.org) may find a little more glide in their stride thanks to the smooth, sensual guitar stylings of Tony Green (www.tonygreen.net) and his band Gypsy Jazz. Green will perform at the outdoor market as part of the ongoing Vespa-sponsored Jazz Series from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday also marks the debut of Sara's Restaurant (724 Dublin St., 861-0565; www.sarasrestaurant.com) as this month's vendor in the Green Plate Special tent, where shoppers can get a freshly prepared lunch to eat al fresco or take to go. The hybrid Creole-Asian restaurant will serve dishes like sesame-crusted salmon with mango sauce, black bean salsa and jasmine rice; golden lentils and spinach soup; and samosas with tamarind sauce. The Tuesday market is held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. rain or shine.
From Fire to Boil
A Houma-based seafood supplier and restaurateur has opened a new spot for boiled and fried seafood and other south Louisiana favorites in the Lower Garden District. Big Al's Seafood (1377 Annunciation St., 265-0324) opened just before Christmas in the historic firehouse building that previously had been home to Fire!, a California-style restaurant that relocated to Florida earlier in 2007. As at its original Houma location (1226 Grand Caillou Rd., Houma, 985-876-7942), the new Big Al's serves items like frog legs and alligator alongside more typical seafood offerings, plus raw and chargrilled oysters. Big Al's is open for lunch and dinner daily.
