A series of eight one-hour seminars address trends and traditions in wine and food. Here are three especially promising ones:At the Royal Street Stroll in the French Quarter, a Barefoot Wine representative pours a glass of wine for a guest Thursday, May 21, 2009. "Think Outside the Bento Box" (Hotel Monteleone, 10:45 a.m.) Try champagne instead of sake with your sushi.

"Charmed by Charcuterie" (Royal Sonesta, 12:30 p.m.) Donald Link (Herbsaint, Cochon), Tory McPhail (Commander's Palace) and Alon Shaya (Domenica) explain why cured meats, rillettes and pates are all the rage. Top Chef Q&A Panel (Harrah's Theatre, 4:15 p.m.) Find out from Top Chef "chef-testants" Jamie Lauren, Hosea Rosenberg, Jeff McInnis and Ron Duprat what it's like to feel the wrath of Tom Colicchio.