Kitchen confidential . . . The Western Reserve School of Cooking (140 North Main Street, Hudson) will again provide sneak peeks into the kitchens of the region's best chefs with the fall edition of the school's popular Restaurant Sampler series. This time, the lineup of outstanding culinary talent includes Zachary Conover from the Leopard Restaurant in Aurora (October 23), Michael Symon from Lola (October 30), Paul Minnillo (November 13), Moe Schneider and Jeff Allgood from Moe's in Cuyahoga Falls (November 20), and Vid Lutz from Johnny's (November 27). Besides demonstrating some of their favorite dishes, the generous chefs will share samples of their creations along with a banquet of wisdom about the culinary arts. If you ever wished you could "see how they do it," up close and personal, this is your golden opportunity. Cost for the entire Monday evening series is $120; individual classes are $28 each. Call 330-650-1665 to register. But hurry: the slots fill up fast.
A Murphy-Goode night . . . The wine will flow -- and the food sounds divine -- at next week's Winemaker Dinner at Brandywine Ski Resort (1146 West Highland Road, Sagamore Hills). The August 18 eight-course meal will highlight the products of Murphy-Goode Estate, a family-owned winery nestled in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley. The spot has earned plenty of critical acclaim since its 1985 inception, and guests will have ample opportunity to pick a personal favorite during the Friday night event in Brandywine's beautiful banquet center. Among the food and wine pairings will be littleneck clams tossed with artichokes and kalamata olives in fresh pasta, served with a 1998 Alexander Valley Fumé Blanc Reserve, and goat-cheese-stuffed baked apples with caramel drizzle, served with a 1997 Sauvignon Blanc Musque. A Murphy-Goode representative will be on hand to discuss the wines and answer questions between courses. Cost for the 7 p.m. sit-down dinner, complete with crystal-laden, white-linen-dressed tables and a lush view of the Cuyahoga Valley, is an all-inclusive $65. Call 330-467-2242 (in Cleveland) or 330-657-2334 (in Akron) for reservations no later than noon on Monday, August 14.