All You Can Eat

News and notes from the San Antonio food scene

Recently opened: Pei Wei Asian Diner, 1802 N. Loop 1604 East (in the Northwoods Shopping Center), opened last month.

Pei Wei specializes in pho, a classic Vietnamese comfort food of hot broth and noodles. Their menu consists of salads, noodle bowls, rice bowls, and appetizers, including minced chicken in cool lettuce wraps.

The restaurant is owned by the same company that operates P.F. Chang's China Bistro.

Signature dishes include spicy Korean-Asian coconut curry, ginger broccoli, and lemon pepper with chicken, beef, shrimp, scallops, or vegetables with tofu. Kids meals are available. For more information, call 507-9160.

Riccardo's, a new pizza place at 2327 N. St. Mary's between Josephine and Ashby, is another addition to an apparent resurgence of the strip's eateries, including The Sweet Bean Café and the Hot Spot Pit Barbecue. Featuring pizza, calzones, lasagna, and burgers, Riccardo's is open every day until 3:30 a.m., which should make the bar crowd from Joey's and the Mix happy. The phone number is 737-1730.

Compiled by Marlene Jasso and By Lisa Sorg

Wine tasters and flu fighters

Marveling over Merlot

Guest chef Steve Howard will visit Spicewood Vineyards to celebrate the Merlot Nouveau 2004 release at a dinner on November 13 at 7pm. The first course will be the chef's New Orleans-style turtle soup, followed by a main course of wood oven-roasted Angus short ribs, with Hill Country peaches and berries for dessert. For more information, visit www.spicewoodvineyards.com.

A bottle of red, a bottle of white

Massimo Ristorante e Bar, 1896 Nacogdoches, hosts a wine tasting of Chilean and Italian reds, and two Italian whites on November 17 at 6:30pm. Italian wine expert Lauri Gowen will be the guest speaker. Cost is $35 per person, which includes appetizers. To RSVP, call 342-8556.

Wines and rides

Drinking and driving isn't a good idea, but during this wine tasting, let others get behind the wheel while you tipple. Richard Maiescheski, president of Eclipse Wine Distribution will discuss the Wines of Jorge Ordones, while guests taste wines and ride in a 1931 Ford 4-door Town Sedan or a Ford Phaeton. The event is scheduled for November 14 at the Grey Moss Inn, 19010 Scenic Loop Road. Car rides run from 6:45pm.-9pm. For reservations, call 695-8301.

Wine on the cheap

On November 17 at 7pm, Sun Harvest, 8101 Callaghan will offer an inexpensive wine tasting to discover which vinos compliment Thanksgiving dinner. The $5 admission includes wine and cheese samples.

Fighting flu naturally

Sun Harvest also will host a free seminar on natural remedies and special dietary needs for the flu season. The seminar will be on November 13 at 1pm.