We all know beer batter is the key to frying up superior fish 'n' chips. It's no wonder, then, that so many restaurants are catching on to the beauty of beer-and-seafood pairings. The Victory Brewing Company is celebrating this beautiful relationship with a five-course dinner, including seafood stew with Festbier, mako shark salad with Victory Sunrise Weissbier and ceviches with their Kolsch. Maritime Beer Dinner, Victory Brewing Company, 420 Acorn Lane, Downington, 610-873-0881, www.victorybeer.com.

Chicken breast stuffed with wild mushrooms and smoked gouda. Sounds like something you'd see at a four-star restaurant, right? In reality, it can be found on the menu of The Spirit of Washington Dinner Train. James Porterfield, author of From the Dining Car: The Recipes and Stories Behind Today's Greatest Rail Dining, invites readers to explore the kitchens of public and private trains. Hang around long enough and he'll also reveal the best-kept secrets of railroad chefs. James Porterfield book signing, Barnes & Noble, 4801 Concord Pike, Wilmington, Del., 302-478-9677

Take advantage of Restaurant Week, your twice-a-year opportunity to eat for cheap at pricey spots like Alma de Cuba or Brasserie Perrier. GiGi (319 Market St., 215-574-8880) boasts a four-course meal including dishes like pork porterhouse and paella, and the five-course menu at Crescent City (600 S. Ninth St., 215-627-6780) will feature shrimp Creole, jumbo lump crabcakes and marinated pork tenderloin. Center City Restaurant Week, www.centercityphila.org/restaurantweek for a complete list of participating restaurants.

Share Our Strength has organized a national dining event to benefit hurricane relief efforts on the Gulf Coast. Restaurants will donate a portion of their proceeds to help rebuild cafeterias, open summer meal programs and offer assistance to affected workers. The charity drive includes the following Philadelphia restaurants: Matyson (37 S. 19th St., 215-564-2925), Buca di Beppo (258 S. 15th St., 215-545-2818) and Old Original Bookbinders (125 Walnut St., 215-925-7027). Restaurants for Relief, www.strength.org for a complete list of participating restaurants.

Remember that romantic cruise ship scene between Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in An Affair to Remember? No? Well, your girlfriend does. Sweep her off her feet by treating her to a moonlit evening aboard the Liberty Belle. The $80 VIP deal grants you access to the third-floor lounge, an open champagne bar and a full Caribbean dinner buffet. Moonlight Caribbean Cruise, The Liberty Belle, The Naval Yard, 5100 S. Broad St., 215-620-7875.