What: Pittsburgh chef and restaurateur Toni Pais of Café Zao and Café Zinho, in partnership with The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, will host a three-day extravaganza celebrating the culture of Portugal with a special wine tasting and food demonstration, plus a traditional Portuguese dinner and concert by Cape Verdean artist Cesaria Evora on April 10 through 12, 2006

Chef Pais has invited restaurateur Jose Mireilles, Portuguese celebrity chef from New York City's acclaimed Tintol Restaurant, specializing in scrumptious tapas and Portuguese fare. He will be assisting Chef Pais, who is also a native of Portugual, with the preparation of the PortFest events.

PITTSBURGH PORTFEST WINE SAMPLING EVENT

PortFest will commence on Monday, April 10, at 7 p.m. with the Pittsburgh PortFest Wine Sampling Event in the Cabaret at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue). The esteemed wine-tasting panel will include: wine aficionado Amy Ashton; Manuel Cardoso, Portuguese wine expert; David DeSimone, wine writer for the Pittsburgh Tribune Review; Greg Godels, Gateway Wines; Jose Mireilles, Tintol of New York City; and Pedro Veloso, Aidil Wines of Newark, NJ.

The following wines will be served:
o Luis Pato Maria Gomes, Sparkling
o Alvarinho Solheiro Minho, 2004
o Arinto Prova Regia Lisboa, 2004
o Dona Ermelinda Periquita Palmela, 2003
o Quatro Castas Esporao Reguengo, 2004
o Doirinha Portuguese Almond Liqueur

There will be some light fare available at the event prepared by Chef Jose Mireilles who will present the Chanfana, a traditional lamb dish from Bairrada, and Chef Toni Pais who will present the Clams Cataplana, a typical dish of the Algarve region. For dessert, a flourless almond cake, characteristic of the seaside town of Cascais, will be served.

This event is $59 per person, including parking, wine sampling, cooking demonstration, light fare and District fee. For reservations, call (412) 456-6666.

A TRADITIONAL PORTUGUESE DINNER

PortFest will continue on Tuesday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. with a traditional Portuguese dinner at Café Zao prepared by Chefs Pais and Mireilles. The menu and wines include:

1. Sopa de Grao com Espinafre [Chicken Pea Soup with Spinach]
Vinho Verde Fuzelo ~ 2004
2. Pataniscas de Bacalhau [Cod Pancakes with Light Mustard Sauce]
Arinto Prova Regia ~ 2004
3. Arroz de Mariscos [Shellfish Rice]
Esporao Reserva ~ White
4. Portuguese Salad [Cucumbers, Roasted Peppers, Tomato, and Cilantro]
5. Codorniz com Piri Piri e Licor Beirao [Pan Roasted Quail with Beirao Sauce and Piri Piri]
Quinta do Cabriz Vergilio Loureiro ~ 2002
6. Tarte de Amendoa Hotel Ritz Lisboa [Lisbon Hotel Ritz Almond Tart]
Quinta do Noval Porto LBV

The cost of the dinner and wine service is $60 per person and includes parking in Theater Square (plus tax and gratuity). For reservations, please call Café Zao at (412) 325-7007.

CESARIA EVORA

PortFest will conclude on Wednesday, April 12, with a special food and wine sampling provided by Café Zao in the Byham Theater lobby beginning at 7 p.m. This event will occur before the 8 p.m. performance of Cesaria Evora. Tickets ($37.25-$50.25) to the performance and PortFest event at the Byham Theater are available by calling (412) 456-6666, visiting the Box Office at Theater Square or online at www.pgharts.org.

In the tradition of the world's great vocalists, including Edith Piaf, Celia Cruz and Billie Holiday, this internationally acclaimed "barefoot diva" intoxicates with the balmy melodies and breezy rhythms of morna, the slow, plaintive song-form of Cape Verde. Vanity Fair defines her as "the world's Earth Mother," and Entertainment Weekly hails, "Evora's gift for conveying vulnerability across language and culture is astonishing."