Tre Wilcox, a favorite among viewers of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef,” is coming to Oakland on Nov. 15 to put his top cooking skills to work, teaching a “Healthy Holiday Cooking Class.”

The 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. class will be at Beebe Memorial Cathedral, 3900 Telegraph Ave. in Oakland. A $5 donation is requested to attend. Reserve in advance by sending a check or money order to: Vicki Williams, American Heart Association, 426 17th St., Oakland, CA 94612.

The class is being presented by Power to End Stroke, a project of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, and made possible by a community grant by Kaiser Permanente.

Preventing strokes is a top concern of Wilcox’s, as it should be for all of us. African-Americans have twice the risk of a first stroke as whites. Indeed, stroke is the number three killer of all Americans. Most strokes are preventable, if you watch your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Wilcox will demonstrate that a big holiday needn’t be an artery clogger, too. He will talk about ways to serve more healthful dishes that still pack a punch of flavor.

His recipe below shows just how tasty that can be.

Stuffed Chicken Thighs

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In this struggling economy, who wouldn’t want to eat out for less?

During “Restaurant Week” (Nov. 2-9), participating restaurants in the Tri-Valley and East Bay will offer a special three-course, prix fixe lunch for $20 per person, and dinner for $30 per person.

Restuarants include: Amber Bistro in Danville, Bridges Restaurant & Bar in Danville, Esin Restaurant & Bar in Danville, the Peasant & the Pear in Danville, and the Restaurant at Wente Vineyards in Livermore.

The promotion is being presented by Diablo Magazine. Tonight, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m, the promotion kicks off at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek with food and wine from more than 40 East Bay restaurants and local wineries, as well as a silent auction and live music.

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Mark your calendars for Nov. 28 when Yountville’s 20th Annual Festival of Lights gets underway in the small town with the big-city palate (it boasts six Michelin stars and more than 20 wineries).

From Nov. 28 through the end of the year, the city will be a winter wonderland lit with twinkling lights. On Nov. 28, look for carolers, elves horse-drawn carriages, ice carving, and a visit from Santa.

The fun gets going at 2 p.m. with a block party. Local restaurants, including Redd, Bistro Jeanty, and Bouchon Bistro, will serve up tastes of their specialities. Tasting tickets for food and wine are $1 each. For more information closer to the date, click here.

For more star wattage, trek to Santana Row, 5 p.m. Nov. 8, when Food Network darling, Tyler Florence, stops by to do a holiday-themed cooking demo at Sur La Table. He’ll also sign copies of his new cookbooks, “Dinner At My Place” (Meredith) and “Stirring the Pot” (Meredith).

To purchase copies of the books, visit the store or call (408) 244-4749.

For a fix of Indian food, New Delhi Restaurant in San Francisco celebrates its 20th anniversary, 5 p.m. to midnight Nov. 16, with a gourmet buffet, libations, and dance performances.

Attendees are asked to make a donation of $40 per person for the event. Proceeds will go to the Tenderloin After-School Program and the Ghandi Ashram in New Delhi, both of which help underprivileged children.

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At last week’s fun-filled Pear Festival at Santana Row, yours truly was a featured guest on the James Beard Award-winning radio show, “A Matter of Taste” (960 AM), which airs regularly 11 a.m. to noon on Sundays.

Hosts David and Rachel Cane peppered me with questions about the South Bay dining scene, especially at Santana Row, where they were broadcasting live from last weekend. Take a listen.

Sundays were made for burgers and red Burgundy.

Spruce in San Francisco sure thinks so. The glam restaurant is offering a “Burgers and Burgundy” menu every Sunday through November in the lounge or dining room.

Chow down on the classic burger snuggled inside a house-made English muffin with pickled onions, zucchini, and remoulade, while sipping one, two or three rotating selections of Burgundy. The burger is $14; the Burgundies are available at $12, $25, and $50. A flight of all three wines also is available for $40.

Big spenders can add foie gras to their burgers for an extra $13.

Cheese more your thing? Then, you’ll be glad that the postponed sixth annual “Cheese & Wine Dinner” at Parcel 104 in Santa Clara is back on for Nov. 8.

Parcel 104 Executive Chef Robert Sapirman will be joined by chefs Chris Schloss of Cin-Cin Wine Bar in Los Gatos, Mark Dommen of One Market in San Francisco, and Arthur Wall of The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards in Livermore. They will prepare a five-course dinner, each showcasing a different artisan cheese, and paired with an appropriate wine.

Local cheese authority and cookbook author Laura Werlin will be on hand to answer questions about cheese. The night’s appetizers will be made from recipes from her cheese books. The dinner is $145.

For those watching their pennies, Togo’s has a deal for you. Wednesdays through Nov. 26, participating Togo’s shops will roll back the price of a different select sandwich every week to the original 1970 price of $1.99. For Northern Californians, you’re in luck, because every Togo’s in Northern California is participating in the promotion.

During “Flashback Wednesdays,” with every $1.99 sandwich purchase, Togo’s will make a donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Togo’s, though, has not yet stated how large a donation that will be.

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