There's always something new to learn, and this week the tony Portobello Yacht Club at Downtown Disney (407-934-8888) teaches what it knows best: Italian cuisine.
Introducing the Festivale d' Italia, Portobello will offer special events through September to further spread the taste of the country from a rootsy, cultural point of view. Up first is the "Tour Italia," noon-3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10 (tickets $25, all inclusive), an interactive exploration of foods and wines from the Piemonte, Sicilia, Campania and Toscano regions.
On Sept. 16 and 17, there's a free street festival, with jugglers, musicians, competitive grape-crushing and, of course, food. The Sept. 28 finale is Chef Tony Periquito's "A Taste of Italy Wine Dinner," a knockout epicurean affair ($49.95).
To help assuage the guilt of gluttony, Festivale d' Italia benefits Second Harvest Food Bank's Kids Cafe. Call 407-828-8996 for tickets and info.