There is no shortage of area dining events in the month of May.
On Saturday, the Westfield Business Improvement District, working in conjunction with Westfield On Weekends, Inc., will be putting on their annual Kentucky Derby Restaurant and Pub Tour.
The event will feature a scavenger hunt, races and raffles, and, at many of the stops on the tour, live music.
Billed this year as an opportunity to explore the Whip City's recently upgraded downtown corridor, the tour runs from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. and features nine stops, including the City Hotel, the Maple Leaf, Mina's Wine and Spirits, the Nook, Paddy's, Santiago Family Restaurant, the Tavern Restaurant, and Tommy D's. All the stops on the tour are within easy walking distance of each other.
A $14 registration fee entitles enters participants in the evening's games and raffles. More information on the Restaurant and Pub Tour can be obtained by calling the Westfield Business Improvement District at (413) 572-1260.
Max's Tavern at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield will be hosting Chris Lalli, co-founder of Berkshire Brewing Company of South Deerfield, at a Berkshire Brewing Company Beer Dinner.
Planned for Monday, the evening, which begins at 6:30 p.m., will feature five BBC beers paired with a menu created by Max's Tavern Executive Chef Paul Roberge. Tickets are $50, not including tax or gratuity.
On May 20 Max's Tavern will present its annual Bourbon & Port tasting as part of "Cigars Under the Stars."
Colin Cowherd, ESPN Radio personality, will be the evening's emcee. A four-course dinner featuring maple-bourbon cured salmon, butter-poached monkfish, a twenty-ounce Ribeye steak, and a chocolate bourbon torte will be served.
Tickets for the dinner, which begins at 6 p.m., are $125 per person Seating is limited. Reservations for and information about either evening are available at (413) 746-6299.
Last week McDonald's locations in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts made a further foray into good-for-you offerings by introducing the Egg White Delight McMuffin, an updated, yolk-free version of the original Egg McMuffin.
Made with grilled egg whites, Canadian bacon, and white cheddar cheese, the Egg White Delight comes on a new whole-wheat muffin. Designed to be a wholesome day-starter, the sandwich incorporates 8 grams of whole grain and comes in at under 300 calories.
The freshly griddled egg whites used to assemble the new sandwich can also be ordered as a substitution in any of McDonald's other breakfast sandwiches or breakfast platters.
Area diners can follow @McD_CTWMA on Twitter to get details on coupon giveaways and an upcoming Egg White Delight McMuffin Twitter Party. The latter is scheduled for May 14 at 9 p.m.
On Mother's Day, May 12, Chez Josef in Agawam will be hosting vocalist Jimmy "Mazz" Mazzaferro as he presents his "Las Vegas Tribute to Moms," a medley of classic tunes made famous by an array of Vegas headliners.
The event begins at 4 p.m. with a "meet and greet" at which Mazzaferro will interact with his fans; a buffet dinner will follow at 4:45 p.m. The show itself is slated to start at 5:30 p.m.
Held in Chez Josef's newly renovated Tivoli Ballroom, the dinner will feature a salad station, a sirloin carving station, and chafing dish selections that will include stuffed filet of sole and chicken francaise. A separate dessert and coffee service will also be part of the experience. Tickets, which are $39.95 including tax and tip, can be ordered by calling Chez Josef at (413) 786-0257.
Tucker's Restaurant in Southwick will be presenting a Comedy Night on Friday, May 10 featuring Bobby Darling and Dr. Divine. The show, which will begin at 7 p.m., will be preceded by a buffet dinner.
Tickets, which are $32 per person, can be ordered by calling (413) 569-0120.
On May 14, the Munich Haus in Chicopee will be putting on their first Lobster Fest of the year. Scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m., the "feed" include clam chowder, Caesar salad, oven-roasted potatoes, vegetable, and a six-to-nine pound lobster. A strawberry sundae tops off the evening.
Cost per person is $90; two can split a lobster for $55 each. Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, can be ordered by calling (413) 594-8788.
Steaming Tender Restaurant in Palmer will be ushering in month of May with two events.
The first, a daylong Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 5, will feature margaritas and a selection of tasty quesadillas.
On Tuesday, Steaming Tender co-owners Robin and Blake Lamothe will be giving a presentation on the history of Palmer's railroad station, one of the Valley's architectural treasures.
The session is free but advance reservations are required. A cash bar and complimentary hors d'oeuvres will be available. Call Steaming Tender at (413) 283?2744 for more details.