A food events quickie

Have two more fun-sounding food events that just can't wait for this week's Friday Quickie 'cause they're coming so soon. Here's something for you guys to look forward to for getting over the case of the Mondays.

First up is the Dining by Design series, benefiting DIFFA (Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS), taking place in the L.A. Design Mart downtown from Saturday Sept. 13 to Monday Sept. 15; for $45/person in the Table Hop & Taste event on Sunday, you can check out artsy design installations while sipping Beringer wines and tasting treats provided by Comme Ca/FoodArt Group, Paperfish, Wilshire Restaurant, Vanilla Bakeshop, Café Surfas and Crustacean. The New York event (first of the eight-city stretch) earlier this year looked like a pretty big hit, so check it out if you have the chance. I already got my ticket and camera ready!

Also coming up is Auntie Em's Kitchen Farmer's Market Dinner on Sept. 17 for $32/person, highlighting fresh, seasonal produce in a multi-course meal. The fall menu has a Moroccan-inspired theme, with dishes such as blue cheese stuffed medjool dates wrapped in pancetta, lamb tagine over basmati rice and summer vegetable curry with spiced yogurt and chutney. Nearby Colorado Wine Company will be providing affordable and delicious wine pairing suggestions, and I believe it's free corkage. But definitely a delicious deal if it's anything like the last Farmer's Market meal I had there.