This Week’s Five Best Food and Drink Events in NYC – 2/23/2015

This week, take a chance on something new. Here are five food and drink events that offer something worthwhile.

POPular Mondays with Chef Alonso Nuñez, Caracas Arepas Bar, 91 East 7th Street, Monday, 7 p.m.

Venezuelan cuisine is much more than just arepas, which is why chef Alonso Nuñez is inviting guests to learn more about his native country’s flavors through a series of Monday-night dinners. Green mango salad, plantains filled with fish stew, and mini tamales are a few courses people can experience as part of a $40 four-course dinner. Drinks are not included, but will be available for purchase; secure your seat in advance.

Chinese New Year with Kar Yee, Court Tree Collective, 371 Court Street, Brooklyn, Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Party with a fellow herd of food enthusiasts as you celebrate the year of the sheep and Chinese New Year. Revelers who head out to Red Hook will enjoy a five-course meal with drinks included. Dishes include spring rolls, chicken with goji berry, and crispy pork. Buy your ticket in advance.

Eat Heartily with Chef Rocco Sacramone, Central Restaurant Lounge & Bar, 20-30 Steinway Street, Queens, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.

Rocco Sacramone of Trattoria L’Incontro is leading a cooking demonstration designed to get you thinking about heart health. The chef will prepare a variety of dishes while discussing the benefits and risks of select foods, and a complimentary tasting of each dish is included. Guests are required to complete their free registration in advance and can do so through the Mount Sinai website.

More Than Maize & Mole: Nahuatl Language Through Food, City Lore: The Gallery, 56 East 1st Street, Thursday, 7 p.m.

Food has the power to tell a story, and in some cases can serve as a gateway to an entire culture. Focusing on Nahuatl phrases from the Mexican state of Puebla, Irwin Sanchez leads a history lesson behind staples of Mexican cuisine, which also includes traditional preparation techniques and a tasting. Students will learn the proper pronunciation of Nahuatl words like “tomato” and “chocolate,” too. Reservations are $10.

Exposed, The Farm Soho, 447 Broadway, second floor, Friday, 6 p.m.

Geared toward those with an interest in nutrition and sustainability, this two-day conference includes local guest speakers such as a chef from Bagatelle and Jeffrey Zurovsky, co-CEO of Wichcraft. Guests can sample a variety of goodies geared toward a positive lifestyle and participate in workshops designed to get you thinking about the decisions you make on behalf of your body. Tickets to the first day of the conference are $35.