Dining 3: Wine tasting with decidedly wild scenery, perfect pasta

Wines in the Wild

Sample more than 80 domestic and international wines along with a variety of hors d' oeuvres at the Wines in the Wild fundraiser at Brookfield Zoo. All wines in the tasting can be purchased, with 10 percent of the proceeds being donated to the zoo. The Women's Board of the Chicago Zoological Society hosts the event with its theme of Cheers to 75 Years, in recognition of Brookfield Zoo's many achievements.

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. Tickets begin at $100 per person and include the wine tasting, a commemorative wine glass, zoo admission and parking. For reservations call (708) 688-8670 or visit czs.org/wines.

Perfectly prepared pasta

In honor of National Pasta Month, executive chef Kevin Provenzano of Carlucci Restaurant in Downers Grove will conduct a pasta-cooking class. Participants can learn to cook a variety of gourmet pasta dishes including mushroom ravioli, tagliatelle with lamb ragu and black tagliolini. After class, students can dine on the items they prepared and sip specialty wines, selected by the chef.

1:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Carlucci Restaurant, 1801 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove. $50 per person. Reservations are required. Call (630) 512-0990.

Just $19 to celebrate 19 years

Cafe Pyrenees in Libertyville is offering a special $19 four-course dinner menu to its patrons in honor of restaurant's 19th anniversary. Chef and co-owner Jean-Marc Loustaunau has created the special menu, featuring fare such as pork viennoise, sauteed tilapia with angel hair pasta or chicken en phyllo basket. Round out the dinner with an apple tart with caramel sauce for dessert. The special anniversary menu will be offered through the month of October.

Cafe Pyrenees is at 1762 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Call (847) 362-2233 or visit cafepyrenees.com.