• David Collier is the new pastry chef at Spoon Bar & Kitchen in Preston Center. His revamped dessert menu will launch on Feb. 8.
• The TJ’s Fresh Seafood Market on Oak Lawn will host a Merriman wine dinner at 7 p.m. on Jan. 23. Cost is $85 per person for food and wine; reservations required.
• Wine of the week: Alaya 2009 ($10), a Spanish red blend. has many of the qualities of a great cheap wine, including lots and lots of black fruit that is neither sweet nor extracted – just intense. Available at Spec’s.
