What's Cooking

Get Out!

by Erin Szrankowski

[ the week in eats ]

How great was that episode of I Love Lucy where Lucy makes wine, merrily stomping on grapes? Now you get to experience it for yourself. The Wine Room of Cherry Hill is giving the public a chance to stomp grapes to support a great cause — Alzheimer's disease research. For each person who gets in on the action, the Wine Room donates $10. (Additional donations are welcome.) Each romp takes about 30 minutes, and in between sessions, food and wine tastings will be offered. No registration is required. The Wine Room, 1 Esterbrook Lane, Cherry Hill, N.J., 856-424-9463, thewineroom.com.

Over the span of three days, Memphis will tap 33 types of beer in a blind beer-tasting competition to see who's got superior 'buds. Tasters sample different categories of beer, ranging from IPAs to Belgian brews, culminating on Sunday, when participants submit their guesses. The drinker with the most correct answers will receive beer-oriented goodies, like vintage Lambics and beer glasses (not to mention bragging rights), courtesy of the Taproom. If you want to be a part of the contest, download the ballot, which is located on the Taproom's Web site (see below). Memphis Taproom, 2331 E. Cumberland Street, 215-425-4460, memphistaproom.com.

Labor Day Weekend is on its way, which means the last leg of summer is concluding. But not to fear — take this tour to mark the end of the season. Beginning at XIX (200 S. Broad St., 215-893-1234), guests will get fresh oysters, scallops and mussels, followed by an open Q&A session on how to better prepare seafood. The tour then moves to a cocktail tasting at Tavern 17 in the Radisson-Warwick Plaza Hotel (220 S. 17th St., 215-790-1799), where bartenders will mix up summery drinks and provide tips on crafting the perfect alcoholic beverage along the way. Then, in the perfect cap-off to summer, the tour will end with a barbecue-style dinner at Chima Brazilian Steakhouse (1901 JFK Blvd., 215-525-3233). cityfoodtours.com, 800-979-3370.

Throw on your jersey and get yourself to the nearest Chick-fil-A. To kick off the 2009 college football season, participating locations will give away a free Chick-fil-A sandwich to every sports apparel-wearing fan, which means Eagles and Cowboys fans can finally enjoy a meal together without the threat of blood. There are five local Chick-fil-A restaurants.

First Person Arts wants you to take a stroll with Fork owner Ellen Yin. As part of its quarterly series, Yin will lead a walking tour through the area, exploring different flavors that make South Philly food what it is. Guests will sample such items as goat tacos and spring rolls at various local eateries. The tour will begin at 11th and Washington at Nam Phuong and will end with a champagne toast and book signing of Yin's latest, Folklore. firstpersonarts.org.