This Week’s Five Best Food and Drink Events in NYC – 2/17/2015

Breathe easy. The pressure of selecting the perfect restaurant at which to dine with a loved one — or just yourself — is now over. Here are five great ways to celebrate a stress-free week.

NYC Restaurant Week, Multiple Locations, Monday through March 6

New York City Restaurant Week kicks off Monday, with savvy diners scoring three-course lunches for $25 and $38 dinners — plus, the occasional brunch. A great time to explore restaurants you’ve been meaning to try out, this year’s selection of notable restaurants include Venetian pasta-centric All’onda and subterranean Japanese date spot Cherry. For the full list of participating restaurants and their offers, click through the NYC Restaurant Week website.

Carnaval, SushiSamba, 87 Seventh Avenue South, Tuesday, 8 p.m.

Dancers, samba music, and plenty of caipirinhas will help heat up the West Village on Tuesday in celebration of Carnival. In addition to traditional musical and dance performances, guests can also dine off a special menu, including bites like a ceviche platter and Brazilian chocolate brigadeiros. The restaurant will also offer its usual assortment of tropical sushi rolls, and a live feed of samba in Brazil will air onscreen.

DIY Homegrown: Fermentation — International Breads, The Horticultural Society of New York, 148 West 37th Street, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.

Drinking alcohol isn’t the only way to enjoy fermentation, as this class led by the Horticultural Society of New York plans to teach eager-to-learn students. Covering the history and health of breads such as sourdough, injera, and idlis, students will sample each bread as well as take home a few recipes to create on their own. Reservations start at $15, for members; secure them here.

2nd Annual Black History Food Expo 2015, Whole Foods Market, 808 Columbus Avenue, Thursday, 6 p.m.

Guest speakers including food blogger Nicole Friday and Aaron Beener of Seasoned Vegan headline a panel discussion on following your food dreams. The event includes an African food tasting beginning at 7 p.m. Guests are encouraged to RSVP in advance here.

New York City Beer Week Opening Night, Multiple Locations, Friday, 7 p.m.

Beer enthusiasts looking to create their own craft crawl can take advantage of the 100 participating locations tapping kegs for NYC Beer Week. In Manhattan, Fools Gold and Cooper’s Craft Kitchen & Bar are among a few places that will offer special beers in celebration of the week-long event, while Dirck The Norseman will offer its very own cask ale. Guests can also participate in voting for The Ruppert’s Cup beginning Friday, a people’s choice award given to the craft brewery whose beer impresses the most; additional information on NYC Beer Week events, including a full lineup of participating breweries and bars, can viewed here.