Dine out, do good

Bonterra hosts winemaker Todd Anderson May 17 in its vintner dinner series, and each ticket purchased (they're $150) pays for one patient's care for one year at the Free Cardiac Resource Center, according to the HeartBright Foundation. 1829 Cleveland Ave.; tickets here.

Wolfgang Puck Pizza | Bar will donate 10% of its proceeds from Memorial Day (May 26) to the Wounded Warrior Project, a veterans service organization that offers aid and resources to injured service members. 6706-C Phillips Place Court; 704-295-0101.

Free ribs for first 100 -- in three spots

Shane’s Rib Shacks do their annual Rib Giveaway this year May 17, with the first 100 diners at each location on that day getting a free half-rack of babyback ribs, a drink and a T-shirt. Addresses: 9330 Center Lake Drive; 440 E. McCullough Drive and 10092 Charlotte Hwy in Indian Land.

5Church turns 2

5Church will celebrate two years in business with complimentary wine and beer during dinner hours May 15, and will offer a five-course tasting menu by chef Jamie Lynch that night, too. Among the fare: Prime steak tartare; pan-seared tuna, ribeye done sous-vide, and more. (The regular menu will be available also.)

Live music and "celebratory surprises" (!) will be on hand as well, and a portion of the proceeds from the night will go to the Levine Children's Hospital.

704-919-1322; 127 N. Tryon St. (but the entrance is at 5th and Church streets).

Dine out, do good: A classic!

Six top area chefs collaborate May 31 on a six-course "Local Food Spring Feast" to benefit the Matthews Community Farmers' Market, with the dinner held at stalwart purveyor New Town Farms.

New Town owner/farmer Sammy Koenigsberg explains in the invitation that these chefs, "longtime supporters of a local food system" wanted to help rebuild and upgrade the market site, after damage done by winter weather.

The chefs: Luca Annunziata of Passion8; Joe Bonaparte of the Myrtle Beach Culinary Institute; Tim Groody of Fork!; Joe Kindred
 of Rooster's; Bruce Moffett of Barrington's/Good Food on Montford/Stagioni; and Paul Verica of Heritage Food and Drink.

One hundred seats will be available, and there'll be a silent auction and live music. Tickets are $150 per person, and available at www.matthewsfarmersmarket.com.

4512 New Town Road, Waxhaw.

More for Mom's Day (updated), and a freebie

Mother's Day plans? (It's May 11):

Brioche French toast topped with farmer’s market berries and lobster Cobb salad are two options on the BLT Steak brunch menu, plus a signature cocktail called the Campi Di Fragole. Breakfast 7-11 a.m. and brunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; reservations: 704-972-4380; 110 N. College St. in the Ritz-Carlton.

Bonterra offers a brunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m. with entrees from $9 to $28. 1829 Cleveland Ave.; 704-333-9463.

The Conte Restaurant Group's Trattoria Antica (with three courses for $30, a $12 menu for those younger than 12) plus Toscana and Luce (each offering three courses for $35 and a $15 menu for younger than 12) will all be open.

Del Frisco will be open 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. for lunch and 4:30-9 for dinner, with a full menu, plus three courses for $39 at lunch (brunch entrees) and three for $49 at dinner. A kids' menu for $12 will also be offered. 4725 Piedmont Row Drive; 704-552-5502.

Dilworth Grille offers a buffet for $17.95 ($6.95 for 8 and younger), with an egg station, prime rib carving station, shrimp cocktail and more. 911 E. Morehead St.; 704-377-3808.

It's not usually open Sundays, but e2 emeril’s eatery will serve Mother's Day brunch 10 a.m.-3 p.m. with a menu ranging from stuffed French toast (above) to blueberry crepes to Vegas strip steak with fried oysters. 135 Levine Avenue of the Arts; reservations: 704-414-4787.

Fahrenheit will be open 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., serving a buffet with carving stations and sides from biscuits and gravy to Szechuan green beans, for $42.95 for adults, $24.95 for 5-18 and free for those 4 and younger. The full dinner menu will be offered 5–9 p.m. 222 S. Caldwell St.; reservations: 980-237-6718.

Gallery offers brunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m., with seasonal entrees, seafood, salads, accompaniments and desserts, and live entertainment. $65 ($32 for 5-12, free for 4 and younger). Reservations required, at 704-248-4100; Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge, 10000 Ballantyne Commons Parkway.

Harper's Carolina Place will open at 10 a.m., and plans specials in addition to the regular menu -- and you'll get a certificate worth $20 off the next visit (as long as you spend at least $50 on food). 11059 Carolina Place Parkway, 704-541-5255.

Kabuto's Lake Norman will have a combination hibachi special with a glass of Kendall Jackson wine (when time of day permits) for $29.95 (plus a $10 gift certificate for moms) 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Reservations: 704-655-0077.

Siblings The Liberty and Lumiere will be open: The first offers a special three-course brunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for $29.95 ($9.95 kids 10 and younger), and the second will have its regular dinner menu that night. 1812 South Blvd.; 704-332-8830; and 1039 Providence Road; 704-372-3335.

Mama Ricotta's will serve a buffet 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. with a carving station and a fresh mozzarella bar, for $29.95 ($12 for kids 7-12, free for younger)

Passion8 will serve brunch 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., three courses for $38, and dinner, a la carte, 4-7 p.m. 803-802-7455; 3415 Highway 51 N, Fort Mill.

And the freebie: A free dish of frozen yogurt for moms at Samuel Batt's 16 Charlotte-area locations of TCBY. Those are at Colony Place, Blakeney, Birkdale, Wesley Chapel, Ballantyne Village, Baxter Village, Quail Corners, the University area and the Arboretum, as well as on Abbey Place and Piedmont Row Drive in Charlotte, and in Matthews, Rock Hill, Davidson, Huntersville and Waxhaw. Details at tcby.com.

Chocolate Evenings coming up

The Secret Chocolatier hosts "An Evening of Chocolate: Spring Twilight" on May 17, June 7 and June 21, with what it calls "elements of spring and summer." That means diners will get three chocolate-inspired dessert courses made with locally grown strawberries from chef Bill Dietz. The events will be held at the Ballantyne location: 11318 N. Community House Road. Tickets are $50 for a table of two; reservations: 704-323-8178, ext. 0.

'Allure of Flowers After Hours' at Charlotte Mint

Tickets just went on sale for the Mint Museum's "Allure of Flowers After Hours," a five-course, food-and-art-themed dinner riffing on the Mint's "Allure of Flowers" exhibit and coordinated by Jill Marcus of Halcyon (at the Mint) and Something Classic. The Mint hopes to be able to serve it on the outdoor terrace -- that would be a first for the place. Also worth noting: Marcus is bringing in Maggie Ruppert to create the cocktails. Last year's food-and-art dinner sold out. Tickets ($120; $105 for Mint members) and info: here.