The Week In Eats

Get Out!

by Nikki Volpicelli

Tinto hosts a journey through the Spanish region of Rioja — home to some seriously fine wine — with a four-course Basque tapas menu complete with wine pairing and dessert. Chef de cuisine David Conn will cook up house-cured jamon de pato (duck prosciutto), white asparagus gratin, steelhead trout and potatoes with caramelized shallots for the special event. Tinto, 114 S. 20th St., 215-665-9150, tintorestaurant.com.

If McDonald's joe is the worldliest you've gotten in the coffee realm, a lesson on cultural beans from OCC may help to get your palate ready for some fine sipping. Jack Treatman will lead an informal tasting of beans from the continent of Africa. Learn how to handle a Chemex manual drip brewer and try varieties from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia. Register with Treatman by e-mailing jack@oldcitycoffee.com. Old City Coffee, 12th and Arch streets, Reading Terminal Market, 215-592-1897, oldcitycoffee.com.

The Institute is giving out free candy and popcorn during the Oscars — but only if you rock sleepwear at the bar. Watch the 81st annual Academy Awards from the comfort of your own in-booth plasma TV or chat with other drinkers about who's wearing what while gawking at the bar's big screen. The PJ party includes $3 specials on Dale's Pale Ale drafts and Old Chub and Gordon cans. The Institute, 549 N. 12th St., 215-765-8515, institutebar.com.

Philly Cooks! features local chefs competing in four categories — best entrée, best appetizer, best dessert and dish of the year. Judges will include Marc Summers, host of the Food Network's Unwrapped, and Eagle Jon Runyan, with reps from Philly Mag, yelp.com and NBC-10 also on the panel. In the days following the event, participating restaurants are hosting $75 tasting menus for two. Proceeds benefit The Ronald McDonald House. The Shops at Liberty Place, 1650 Chestnut St., 215-851-9055, phillymag.com/phillycooks.

Choose between two all-inclusive restaurant crawl start times — 4 p.m. or 6 p.m. Buses will take participants to four different local venues, where diners can pick and choose from special set menus. Bistro DiMarino will be doing day boat scallops and eggplant apps; Blackbird will offer Thai spring rolls and gnocchi. The Tortilla Press will follow up with a third course of beef tampicano or garlic chipotle shrimp. If that's not enough to convince you South Jerz has some good eats, a visit to the Pop Shop for chocolate comfort bread pudding just might do the trick. Call 856-979-3333 for reservations.