From a brunch sampling extravaganza to fiery burger night, here's a look at this week's hottest culinary happenings:

Monday through Wednesday

SaltAir Chef Series: The Philippines at SaltAir Seafood Kitchen

The 12-week, travel-inspired chef series (ending Wednesday, October 5) continues at SaltAir Seafood Kitchen, 3029 Kirby. This week's passport takes diners to the Philippines. The tasting menu is available for $50 per person, with a beverage pairing at additional cost. For reservations (highly recommended), call 713-521-3333.

Tuesday, September 27

Pork Chop Night at Eight Row Flint

Matt Creel, cook at Eight Row Flint, 1039 Yale, is taking the classic bar offering of Pork Chop Night and elevating it by using seasonal ingredients and interesting flavors. The pork chops will be brushed with bourbon mustard — a nod to Eight Row Flint’s bourbon program — served with field pea salad, grilled vegetables and bacon vinaigrette. All food service begins at 5 p.m. and will continue until the chops sell out. The regular menu is always available as well.

All We Need Farms Dinner at Harold's Restaurant, Bar & Terrace

Guests are invited to a six-course dinner with All We Need Farms at Harold’s, 350 West 19th, at 6:30 p.m. Chef Antoine Ware’s menu will feature dishes such as yellow fin tuna carpaccio with citrus and local chilies, braised pork garganelli pasta and fried goat cheese gelato. The special dinner costs $85 per person plus tax and gratuity, and includes a choice of a beer, wine or cocktail pairing, with each course crafted and selected by bar manager Lauren Muse. Reservations can be made by calling the restaurant at 713-360-6204.

“Baked Apples: Savory & Sweet” Cooking Class at Central Market

Central Market, 3815 Westheimer, will host Abby Dodge, an expert baker and author of ten cookbooks, at the Central Market Cooking School for a special apple-inspired cooking class. The award-winning chef will introduce guests to recipes from her newest cookbook, including apple sausage fennel crepes and skillet apple ginger cobbler, while also sharing helpful baking tips. The class will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and costs $65 per person.

Burger Joint Venture with Bravado Spice

As part of its last Tuesday charity series, The Burger Joint, 2703 Montrose, is joining forces with hot sauce gurus Bravado Spice from 6 to 10 p.m. Bravado’s James Nelson and Jeremiah Tallerine will be cooking up something fiery to benefit The Monarch School, a therapeutic day school for children with neurological disorders.

Thursday, September 29

The "Great Apple Harvest" Stroll at Central Market

As part of its Great Apple Harvest, Central Market, 3815 Westheimer, will host an Apple Stroll from 5 to 7 p.m. Guests are invited to stroll through the store and nosh on delectable apple delights, including apple-stuffed pork loin, cheddar and apple grilled cheese and French apple tart. The event is free; however, guests are asked to register online at centralmarket.com.

Game of  Rhônes Wine Tasting at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse

Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, 1200 McKinney, will be pitting the wines from the Rhône Valley in a head-to-head wine tasting battle royale. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., guests will sip the rich and powerful wines, from House Côte-Rôtie from the North to House Châteauneuf-du-Pape from the South, and crown a winner. The tasting costs $75 per guest plus tax and gratuity. For reservations, call 713-658-1995.

Big Easy Fried Chicken Dinner at Brennan’s

Brennan’s, 3300 Smith, will be hosting the last of its summer Big Easy Fried Chicken Dinners, available at limited seatings from 5:45 to 9 p.m. The family-style feast features buttermilk fried Texas chicken along with sides like bacon-braised collards, summer corn maque choux, giblet gravy and molasses whipped sweet potatoes, plus Moorhead's Farm blueberry cobbler for dessert. Cost is $45 per person, plus tax and gratuity, with a four guest minimum and 12 guest maximum. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 713-522-9711.

The Wines of Revana with Dr. Madaiah Revana at Vallone’s

Beginning at 7 p.m., Vallone’s, 947 Gessner, will host Dr. Madaiah Revana and guests for a sumptuous four-course dinner. The prix-fixe menu will showcase six Revana wines from California, Oregon and South America, including the Revana Estate Cabernet Sauvignon – rated the number one California Cabernet Sauvignon by the editors of Wine Spectator magazine. Cost is $225 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. To Call 713-395-6100. 

Friday, September 30

High West Whiskey Tasting at Reserve 101

Join Reserve 101, 1201 Caroline, for a High West Whiskey Tasting hosted by David Perkins, founder of High West Distiller, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20 per person, with 100 percent of proceeds from the sale of going to Lucky Dog Rescue.  

Saturday, October 1

The Morning After, a Houston Press Brunch Event at Bayou City Event Center Pavilion

Held from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Bayou City Event Center, 9401 Knight, our inaugural Morning After brunch sampling event will feature bites from local eateries, plus drink samples and music. Guests can enjoy eats from hotspots like Holley’s Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar, Pena's Donuts & Diner and Snooze, An A.M. Eatery. Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 day of (if available), with VIP tickets also available for purchase.

Flying Saucer’s BeerFeast at Sugar Land Town Square

Flying Saucer’s 2016 BeerFeast invites hundreds of beer lovers to sip highly sought-after, quality craft beers from more than 60 breweries. The event will run from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at Sugar Land Town Square. Ticket purchases include admission to the festival; a BeerFeast tasting glass; and a tasting card good for 12 samples of any of the festival beers ($35). A limited number of VIP tickets are also available for purchase online only prior to the festival ($68).