5-course menu with Ojai wines at Maison Giraud; Gorge dinner to help needy

On Wednesday, chef Alain Giraud of Maison Giraud in Pacific Palisades will be cooking a five-course menu paired with wines from the Ojai Vineyard.

He’s chosen a crab salad with green apple and fines herbes for the Viognier Roll Ranch, while pan-roasted wild sea trout with wild mushrooms and porcini emulsion is paired with the 2012 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County.

The main course is wine-braised lamb shank with cipollini onions and baby turnips. The wine? A 2011 California Syrah. The dessert is a roasted pear tart with salted caramel ice cream.

The cost for the food and wine is $69 per person, not including tax and tip.

To make reservations, call Maison Giraud at (310) 459-7561.

Celebrate fall and at the same time help support the Hospitality Kitchen in downtown L.A., which serves more than 4,000 meals a week to the needy, by attending one of two “Thanks for Giving” dinners on Tuesday, Nov. 19, and Wednesday, Nov. 20, at Gorge, the charcuterie house and wine bar on the Sunset Strip.

Co-owners chef Elia Aboumrad and pastry chef Uyen Nguyen have planned the four-course menu with wine pairings by Master Sommelier Darius Allyn. Dishes include apple soup with crème fraiche, roasted pine nuts and chipotle; wild mushroom tart with shallot confit and parmesan shavings; duck confit a l’orange with Valencia orange sauce and potato puree; and, to finish, a grand pumpkin macaron with pumpkin custard and caramelized almonds.

Each of the first three courses will be paired with two mystery wines, which Allyn will reveal and discuss between courses. The giant pumpkin macaron will be served with a dessert wine.

Make reservations for the “Thanks for Giving” dinner by calling Gorge at (310) 657-6328. The cost is $110 per person.

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