The Big Night
You’ll want to dress the part (cocktail attire) for this amazing dinner at M. Judson Books, which recreates the Italian feast from the 1996 film Big Night. Starring Tony Shalhoub and Stanley Tucci, the movie tells the story of two Italian brothers—one a restaurateur, the other a chef—who struggle to open an authentic Italian restaurant on the Jersey Shore in the 1950s. To attract customers, they host a free dinner featuring course after course of traditional Italian dishes. Following the film’s lead, Chris Barest from Naked Pasta will prepare tortellini en brodo and the spectacular timpano (a drum-shaped baked pasta torte filled with meatballs, eggs, cheese, and salami), while Camilla Kitchen’s Chef Teryi Youngblood will craft a porchetta, contorni, and dolci—paired with Italian wines from Mission Grape. The limited-seating event celebrates the publication of Stanley Tucci’s new memoir, What I Ate In One Year, a copy of which is included in the ticket price.
M. Judson Booksellers, 130 S. Main St., Nov. 9, Sat., 5:30pm. Individual ticket, $165; couples ticket, $300. mjudsonbooks.com
Visions of Gingerbread
From fanciful carousels to Victorian cottages, you’d be surprised what people can craft out of gingerbread. But you don’t have to imagine; you can see the range of gingerbread creations for yourself at the 32nd Annual National Gingerbread Competition at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville.
During the last half of November and through December, all the entries of this year’s competition will be on view in the hotel’s public areas. The competition, which started in 1992 with a handful of gingerbread houses constructed by Asheville residents and showcased at the Inn, has grown into the nation’s largest gingerbread competition.
Entrants compete for more than $40,000 in cash and prizes, including awards for Pop Culture Star, Most Innovative Structure, and Best Use of Sprinkles. Come ogle all the jaw-dropping entries and cast your vote for the People’s Choice: Best in Show Award. You might even be inspired to craft your own entry for next year’s contest.
The 32nd National Gingerbread House Competition, Omni Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave., Asheville, NC. Nov. 19, 2024–Jan. 5, 2025, anytime Mon.–Thurs. and after 6pm Sun. Free. omnihotels.com/hotels/ashevillegrove- park
