Food and Drink Agenda: Westward Ho -- Bulgarini Gelato Makes W.L.A. Appearance, Silverlake Wine Travels to Hollywood, Palmina Wines and Grilled Squid at Dominick's, Plus, Terroir Battle and Rosario Dawson Appearance at Corkbar Downtown

Mark Wills/Friends of the Hollyhock House

Fine tastes that go together: wine and historic architecture

All right, Westside gelato appassionati. No more excuses for never having experienced Bulgarini Gelato, the finest in our region. Il Moro Ristorante's tasting menu on Saturday, May 30 features Bulgarini goodies and Harmonique Wines with every course, thus fulfilling many a lingering childhood and adulthood fantasy. Two prix fixe menus are available: $50 for five courses, or $95 for seven decadent dishes and pairings. We won't tell your mom that you ate dessert throughout dinner. (Exclusive of tax and gratuity, full menu here.)
11400 W. Olympic Blvd., West L.A., (310) 575-3530 or www.ilmoro.com.

In its continuing effort to stretch its reach beyond Glendale Boulevard, Silverlake Wine has come up with an idea that sounds so great it's sick. Take a Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece, one of Los Angeles's best public spaces and cultural institutions, and bring a rotating series of boutique/small-production artisanal wines for tasting. You've got to be kidding. Why hasn't anyone done this sooner? We blame City of L.A. bureaucratic red tape. Regardless, patron of the arts and unconventional spirit Aline Barnsdall would be proud to see her homestead used for this purpose when Silverlake Wine starts tastings on the west lawn at Olive Hill/Barnsdall Park this Friday, May 29. Hell, she might even forget her ongoing bitter arguments with FLLW.

Friday's tasting is an all-French lineup, starting with a sparkling wine by Domaine J. Laurens, followed by a predominantly Negrette-based Rosé from Fronton by Dom. Le Roc, a Cab Franc-intensive Coteaux Du Quercy, and Château la Liquiere from Languedoc concludes the progression. Buy tickets online for $15 in advance (up to six hours prior), and $25 last minute (online or on site).

One more quick thing about SLW and then we promise we're done. The Sunday, May 31 tasting features Palmina Wines and catering by Heirloom L.A. The Palmina crew heads west the next night, Monday, June 1 for a special winemaker dinner at Dominick's with Steve and Chrystal Clifton. Chef Brandon Boudet's menu of grilled local squid, sheep's milk ricotta ravioli with morels and peas, oven roasted wild salmon, BBQ beef brisket with creamed spinach, and grilled Blenheim apricots with honey gelato and polenta butter cookies is designed around five Palmina wines that the Cliftons will bring. The restaurant will also debut the latest release of Dago Red house blend made from Palmina grapes that's served at Dom's and Little Dom's.
8715 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles/West Hollywood, (310) 652-2335 or www.dominicksrestaurant.com

Corkbar has added a Night Cap happy hour Monday through Thursday starting at 10 p.m., in addition to new flights, menu items and a full calendar of events. This Sunday, May 31 brings terroir battles to the fore: three Rhone-style vs. Bordeaux-style wines as interpreted by California winemakers; the $35 cost includes small plates and charcuterie. On Thursday, June 4 from 6:30-8:30, Rosario Dawson imports a bit of NYC mixed with L.A. glam when she hosts a fundraiser for the Lower Eastside Girls Club of New York that features a raffle, open wine bar and hors d'oeuvres. Tickets with a suggested donation of $35 can be purchased here. Later next month, winemaker Ethan Lindquist of Ethan Wines comes to Corkbar on Friday, June 19 for a five-wine pour ($19 per person).
403 W. 12th St., Downtown, (213) 746-0050 or www.corkbar.com.