Dinner with Wolfgang The Puckster teams up with Dario Cecchini (“the famed singing butcher of Panzano”) for a carnivore’s dream dinner, Tuscan-style. December 5, 7 p.m., $250. Cut at Palazzo.
The Grand Banquet Mario Batali cooks and hosts a ridiculously ornate, over-the-top dinner for 200 in the beautifully cavernous hall leading to the Venetian lobby. Vintage Italian wines and Cecchini’s “porchetta to end all porchettas” await. December 6, 7 p.m., $500. Grand Colonnade at Venetian.
How to Italian The best buy of the festival, according to Silvestri, an afternoon of authentic Italian food and drink from celebrity chefs and old world winemakers, everything from pizza to mixology to fresh Sicilian cannoli. December 7, 11 a.m., $50. Waterfall Atrium at Palazzo.
Bella Notte Saturday night’s gala will honor influential Italian-Americans who have impacted the culture, with some proceeds benefiting the Lou Ruvo Center. December 7, 7 p.m., $150. Doges Palace (Strip-front façade) at Venetian.
Truffle Hunt Start with breakfast, bellinis and Italian coffee, then scour resort restaurants to find your own truffle. Finish with truffle-shaving and lunch at Batali’s joints. December 8, 11 a.m., $150. B&B Ristorante and Otto Enoteca at Venetian; Carnevino at Palazzo.
For more information, visit venetian.com/winterinvenice.