Birmingham Restaurant Week is this week and next

Upcoming food and beverage events

Birmingham Restaurant Week: Nearly two dozen restaurants in Birmingham will offer three-course lunches for $15 and dinners for $30 through Friday and also Feb. 5-9. Visit BirminghamRestaurantWeek.org.

Fire & Ice Chili Cook-Off Pub Crawl in Downtown Mount Clemens: Neighborhood pub Three Blind Mice will defend its crown as chili champs at this year’s event. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thurs. $15, $25 per couple (includes wristband good for chili sample at each stop. Downtown Mount Clemens. (586) 469-4168 or downtownmountclemens.com.

Mina’s Liberian/Mediterranean Pop-Up Dinner at Brooklyn Street Local: Chef Ameneh Marhaba blends Liberian and Mediterranean cuisine at her monthly pop-up dinners. Tickets must be purchased in advance. 7-10 p.m. Sat. $43.23. 1266 Michigan, Detroit. kitchenramarj.com.

Free Froyo at TCBY: National Frozen Yogurt Day is Tuesday, and some local TCBY locations will give away a free six ounce froyo. Limit one per customer. Find the closest location to you at tcby.com/find-a-store.

Vegbash at Royal Oak Farmers Market: A celebration of vegetarian and vegan cuisine from a dozen local restaurants, plus music, product exhibits, vendors and more. 6-9:30 p.m. Feb. 8. $10 for ages 12 and over (includes $5 food voucher). 316 E. 11 Mile, Royal Oak. vegbash.com.

Red wine class at Village Workshop: Explore six varieties of red wines just in time for Valentine’s Day with wine expert Michael Schafer. 7-8:30 p.m. Feb. 8. $45. 455 E. Cady, Northville. (248) 667-7157 or thevillageworkshop.com.

The Pizza Throwdown at Eastern Market: Area pizza-makers gather under one roof for sampling and pizza-related discussion. Tickets include five sample slices. Noon-3 p.m. Feb. 11. $15. Shed 5, 2934 Russell, Detroit. dinedrinkdetroit.com.

Ferndale Pride Fundraising Dinner at GreenSpace Cafe: Only 50 seats are available for this five-course dinner that benefits Ferndale Pride. 7-10 p.m. Feb. 11. $65, $35 for additional wine pairings. 215 W. Nine Mile, Ferndale. eventbrite.com.

Inverno in Toscana at Cafe Cortina: A winter Tuscan dinner paired with five regional wines, 5 p.m. Feb. 11. $135 per person, all inclusive. 30715 W. 10 Mile, Farmington Hills. (248) 474-3033.

Dearborn Restaurant Week: More than 35 participating restaurants will offer fixed-price, three course meals for $10, $20 or $30 for lunch or dinner. Feb. 12-18. Downtown Dearborn. DearbornRestaurantWeek.com.

Greek Wine Dinner at Bridge Street Social: Ted Diamantis, founder of Diamond Wine Importers, will give a tour of Greece via wines paired with a five course meal. 6 p.m. Feb. 13. $60, plus tax and tip. 107 S. Bridge, DeWitt. (517) 668-1837.

Valentine’s Day at the Apparatus Room: Chef Thomas Lents will prepare a fixed-price, French-influenced dinner with oysters with pink peppercorn and radish, black garlic spinach Caesar salad, duck and chestnut agnolotti and more, plus live jazz music and live art. Feb. 14. $95 per person. 250 W. Larned, Detroit. (313) 915-4422.

Made to Eat in Michigan at Leon & Lulu: A seasonal farmers’ market with small-batch, artisanal food vendors. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 18. Free admission. 96 W. 14 Mile, Clawson. (248) 288-3600.

Restaurant briefs

Lumen is hiring: In preparation for its spring opening, Lumen Detroit, 1903 Grand River in Beacon Park, is starting the hiring process. Operated by the folks behind Birmingham’s Big Rock Chophouse and Griffin Claw Brewery, Lumen will hire 50 full- and part-time employees. Fill out an application online at lumendetroit.com or attend open interviews at the restaurant noon-8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat.

Coneys by Candlelight: American Coney Island is teaming up with WCSX for a contest to allow 10 couples to renew their vows at the restaurant at 11 a.m. Feb. 14 with a reception open to the public with coney dogs and a coney cake. Visit wcsx.com for more info.

Roma Café accolades: Janet Sossi Belcoure, owner of the longstanding Eastern Market restaurant Roma Café, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan Restaurant Association. It’s the highest award given by the MRA. Belcoure has since sold the restaurant to chef Guy Pelino who renamed it Amore da Roma.

More Fazoli’s: Quick-service Italian chain Fazoli’s has plans to open three new restaurants in Dearborn, Taylor and Allen Park later this year or in early 2019. This is part of an expansion for the brand that includes more restaurants in Georgia, Oregon and Alabama as well as Metro Detroit.

Melody Baetens