LET THEM DRINK CAKEBREAD: Famed California vintner Cakebread Cellars will be star at a four-course wine-paired dinner at Jonathan’s Ristorante (15 Wall St., Huntington village, 631-549-0055 jonathansristorante.com) Wednesday, Aug. 30 starting at 7 p.m. The winery, named for Jack Cakebread who founded it in 1973, is one of California’s most respected wine producers. A Cakebread rep will be at Jonathan’s to talk about and pour four celebrated wines while Executive Chef Tito Onofre’s kitchen serves up dishes designed to pair with them. Arrival on time for a selection of appetizers and a glass of Cakebread’s 2016 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc. First course pairs octopus with a 2015 Napa Chardonnay; the second: a risotto with wild mushrooms and black truffle paired with a 2015 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. Next savor filet mignon with Cakebread’s celebrated 2014 Napa Cabernet. Dessert follows. Jonathan’s $95-per-person wine dinners frequently sell out, so make reservations early. And tell ‘em The Long-Islander Foodies sent you.

*Long Islander News Photo/Lauren Peller*
Smoothie bowls from Plant Wise.

EAT HEALTHY AT PLANT WISE: For vegans and health fanatics, Plant Wise (15 East Deer Park Rd., Dix Hills), a 100% plant-based eatery, to promote a whole food plant based diet as a way to achieve a long lasting health. From smoothies to smoothie bowls to salads to wraps to juices to gluten-free nori sheet sushi, Plant Wise offers tasty options to eat plant-based food. Their smoothie bowls seem to be a hit; try the Butter Cup smoothie bowl if you love peanut butter or order the classic Berry Twist bowl that has strawberries, blueberries and bananas. The fresh juices and smoothies seem to be popular as well. If it’s protein you’re after, the Mean Green smoothie has kale, spinach, strawberries, chocolate protein and bananas. Aside from smoothies and juices, their food selection is interesting, inventive and healthy. The Little Kahuna Sushi Roll has gluten-free nori paper, veggie tuna (chickpeas, celery, broccoli, red onion, almonds), kale and cranberries. The Foodies highly recommend the Veg Out Bowl that can be served over brown rice, quinoa or a bed of spinach. The Veg Out Bowl has roasted veggies (sweet potato and zucchini in cashew maple glaze), homemade hummus and raw broccoli florets.

Celebrity chef Tom Schaudel cooked a made-in-NY menu at the LI Welcome Center on the Long Island Expressway in Dix Hills.

COOKING DEMONSTRATION: One of Long Island’s most well-known chefs, Tom Schaudel, hosted a cooking demonstration at the Long Island Welcome Center at the rest stop between exits 51 and 52 on the Long Island Expressway in Dix Hills. If you’ve been there, you know there’s more to the rest stop than bathrooms and vending machines. A Taste NY Marketplace that opened in 2016 promotes farm and food products produced exclusively in New York. Schaudel, a serial restaurateur whose eateries include Jewel in Melville, and a devotee of locally sourced ingredients, conducted a 90-minute cooking demonstration on Aug. 8 to explore creative recipes using local products. The event was a sold-out success, and if we know Tom, produced delicious results. For more event info, check out ligreenmarket.org.

*Long Islander News photo/Janee Law*
Brew Cheese has opened at the former Cilantro space in Northport.

BREW CHEESE OPENS: Calling all beer and cheese lovers, Brew Cheese (40 Woodbine Ave., Northport 631-239-1927) recently opened up its second restaurant in the space where Cilantro was located. This beer and cheese eatery has cases of cheeses, canned craft beers, and shelves loaded with specialty food. Brew Cheese offers $18 cheese boards and 15 different mouthwatering grilled cheese sandwiches to choose from.

LIKE A VEGAN: An afternoon of vegan eats, informational sessions and vegan friendly wares awaits at the Vegan Food and Info Extravaganza planned for Saturday, Aug. 26, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Walt Whitman High School (101 West Hills Rd., Huntington Station). Admission is free.

The Foodies

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