Monday, July 6

National Fried Chicken Day at MAX's

You can celebrate this extremely important holiday many different ways at MAX's Wine Dive, including their standard fried chicken offerings and a gluten-free fried chicken with mashed potatoes and collard greens. The Washington location will offer a fried chicken picnic basket, which is a full take-out dinner for two with potato salad and coleslaw, plus a choice of wine pairing. Depending on the wine, the picnic basket is $60 to $99. The Fairview location will feature a special spicy fried chicken entree. 4720 Washington and 214 Fairview.

Chef's Dinner at Fluff

Chef Rebecca Masson and Chef Matt McCallister from FT33 in Dallas will be hosting this seven-course dinner, complete with wine pairings and a champagne reception, at Fluff Bake Bar. The menu will be a surprise, but with those two at the helm, it's sure to be a delicious evening. Call 713-522-1900 for reservations. 314 Gray, 6 p.m. $95, plus $55 for wine pairings.

Tuesday, July 7

Balcones Whiskey Tasting at Reserve 101

Texas craft distillery Balcones will have plenty of whiskey and representatives at this tasting, including Head Distiller Jared Himstedt. Attendees will try six whiskeys, including two special releases: Texas Blue Corn Bourbon and True Blue Cask Strength. Balcones is the most-decorated distillery in Texas, and all the proceeds from this event will go to the Lucky Dog Rescue, so there's every reason to go sip whiskey and have a grand time. 1201 Caroline, 6:30 p.m. $20

Bordeaux 2010 Wine Class

Bear Dalton, a Spec's wine buyer, will lead this vintage-specific class on Bordeaux wines from 2010, which is considered to be the most recent "Great Vintage." Attendees will sample 12 red wines from the vintage and discuss what this vintage is and how the wines are aging at the Wine School at l'Alliance Français, 427 Lovett. 7 p.m. $120

Champagne Dinner at Aura Brasserie

This dinner at Aura Brasserie features fois gras crême brûlée with figs, a salmon duo, Guinea hen and Texas peach butter cake with champagne sorbet. Each of the four courses is paired with its own champagne, and the opening reception will have yet another champagne offering, plus hors d'oeuvres. Call 281-403-2872 for reservations. 15977 City Walk, reception begins at 6:30 p.m. $99

Wednesday, July 8

Sundown at The Grove has Beer and Bites

Every Wednesday between now and September 9, you can find beer flights from various craft breweries and custom cuisine to pair with the brews at The Grove. Brewmasters will be there to mingle with you, and DJ Sun will provide tunes. There will be giveaways, including tickets from presenting sponsor Southwest Airlines. This week's featured brewery is Houston classic Karbach Brewing. Reservations are recommended, which you can make via The Grove website, and you can get season tickets for $250 per person or $450 per couple. 1611 Lamar, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. $20

Reverse Beer Dinner at Hay Merchant

Usually, when The Hay Merchant hosts beer dinners, Kevin Floyd picks the beers, and Chris Shepherd designs the menu. This time, things are going to be reversed; they promise that it will still be incredible. Attendees will experience between five and seven courses and beer pairings, which have yet to be unveiled. Buy your ticket here. 1100 Westheimer, 6:30 p.m. $75

Mockingbird Hosts Champagne Dinner

Champagne Brand Ambassador Florent Noir of Perrier- Jouët and G. H. Mumm will be leading this champagne dinner at Mockingbird Bistro Wine Bar. It's a five-course meal, complete with a red snapper carpaccio, scampi-style shrimp risotto, seared Rohan duck breast and a Houston Dairymaids cheese plate. There's also a reception prior to the dinner. Call 713-533-0200 for reservations. 1985 Welch, reception at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. $125

Landry's Chef Series at Morton's

As part of the annual chef series that Landry's restaurants host every year, Chefs Mike Colbert and Frank Lewis will be cooking and hosting this dinner at Morton's The Steakhouse. It's a five-course meal, complete with wine pairings for each course, during which guests can interact with the chefs. The menu includes avocado deviled eggs with fried oysters, shittake-dusted yellowfin tuna, and black-pepper crusted Black Hill Ranch beef tenderloin. Call 713-629-1946 to make reservations. 5000 Westheimer. $95

Thursday, July 9

Pop-Up Dinner at Glitter Karaoke

It's Thursday, so it's time for another pop-up feast at Glitter! This week features Black Hill Meats, with Chef Jett Weinstock and Master Butcher Felix Florez. Whatever's being cooked, it'll be full of protein, and your stomach will be full of happiness. 2621 Milam, 8 p.m.

Friday, July 10

Burgundy Wine Tasting at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse

It's time for the annual summer wine tasting at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, and this year's feature is Burgundy and Chardonnay grapes. The tasting includes seasonal hors d'oeuvres and over a dozen wines from various producers. Call 713-780-7352 for reservations. 5839 Westheimer, 5:30 p.m. $90

Friday and Saturday

Firefighter's Cookoff at Pasadena Fairgrounds

This two-day festival has moved to its new home at the Pasadena Fairgrounds for this year, and is also celebrating its first ever Margarita Mix-Off, brought to you by El Tiempo Cantina and Titanium Tequila. The winner's margarita will be featured on the menu at El Tiempo locations around Houston, so it's time to start perfecting that recipe! There will also be live music, including Seth Candan, a Bloody Mary contest on Saturday, and a barbecue cookoff. The entire event is a benefit for Firefighters Helping Firefighters, which provides financial assistance to firefighters and their families during difficult times. Pasadena Fairgrounds, 7902 Fairmont Parkway. Visit the festival website for the complete schedule and more information.

Saturday, July 11

Bake Sale at Fluff

It's beginning to look like these themed Saturday bake sales are an institution at Fluff Bake Bar. This week's theme is an American breakfast. Get there early to get whatever patriotic treats you like! 314 Gray, opens at 10 a.m.

Pizza Parking Lot Party at VOM FASS

You can pick up your own personal-sized pie at this collaborative parking lot party, hosted by VOM FASS and Oliva Wood Fired Pizza. Try the mushroom and cheese with truffle oil, prosciutto and arugula with balsamic vinegar, lemon margherita, quattro formaggi with fresh tomatoes or a spicy alla diavola with salami. You can RSVP here, but it's not required. 2424 Times, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Free Bastille Day Tasting at French Country Wines

Or, rather, a pre-Bastille Day tasting; the holiday is actually July 14, but who's counting? You can try free wine samples starting at 12 p.m., with live French music from Captain Accordion beginning at 3 p.m. CreativeCrepes will also join in with their crepe cart outside of French Country Wines, 2433 Bartlett. Noon to 6 p.m. Free

Sunday, July 12

Ben & Jerry's at VOM FASS

As if that previous collaboration didn't sound awesome enough, VOM FASS is also partnering up with Ben & Jerry's for an ice cream social that will feature interesting oils, seasonings and more that you can add to ice cream for especially decadent results. There will be pumpkin seed oil, blueberry balsamic, sea salt and beyond! Be there and beat the heat with an insane sundae. RSVP here, but again, it's not required. 2424 Times, Noon to 3 p.m.

Cocktails on Tap at Julep (Added 7/11, 10:31 a.m.)

Jacob Grier, a hometown cocktail connoisseur who now bartends atThe Multnomah Whiskey Library in Portland, will be at Julep to sign copies of his new book, Cocktails on Tap. The book has recipes that merge craft cocktails and craft beer— craft beertails? No matter what you call them, you can try samples of the drinks in the book, including one that was originally created by Julep manager Kenny Freeman. 1919 Washington, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.