Tavola Fresca dinner series: gourmet in the garden

Interested in eating a gourmet meal al fresco, but not interested in cooking it yourself? Then consider attending one of the new monthly backyard dinners called Tavola Fresca hosted by local chef/gardening guru Nick Schneider. The dinners will each focus on a different region of Italy, inspired by Schneider's first kitchen job at Giorgio's and his experience "wwoof-ing" (slang for working as part of the World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms program) for a summer on several Italian farms. Having spent seven years cooking at Cafe Brenda and being actively involved in several gardening and farmers' market groups, Schneider is emphasizing his love of fresh produce by serving the dinners surrounded by the fruit and vegetable plots in the yard of his Whittier home.

The 5 course meal costs $45 and dinners are limited to 10 guests. (Alcoholic beverages are BYO.) The first dinner, which takes place next Tuesday, features cuisine from Piedmont, including morel gnocchi and grilled lamb steaks with mint pesto. For more details and registration information, go to www.latavolafresca.com.