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It's that time of year again folks: This Saturday, May 10, marks the 15th Annual KFOG KaBoom! Get ready to wait in long lines, drink tons of beer out of plastic cups, listen to music, and (if you're still cognizant by the time the sun goes down) watch a huge fireworks display synchronized to loud rock 'n' roll. What could possibly be better on a Saturday?

Well, if you prefer your booze in a glass and your munchies a little more upscale (no offense hot dogs, I still love you), then you'll want to check out Waterbar Restaurant's KaBoom party. For $65 a pop, you can chow down on a ton of hors d' oeuvres and partake from a full cash bar while watching the festivities from the chic comfort of Waterbar's digs. Billed as the best spot in town for the fireworks, the party runs from 7 to 10 p.m. and the menu includes oysters on the half shell, prawn cocktail, pizza, gougere sandwiches, artichoke crab crostini (told you it was upscale), risotto fritters, salt cod fritters, gravlax, ceviches, tartare, and mini-meatballs. For tickets visit www.waterbarsf.com.

-- Brian Bernbaum

Monday getting you down already? Not to worry. Tomorrow night's Argyle Wine Dinner at Silks Restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel (222 Sansome at Pine) should help you loosen the workweek bolts a little. Hosted by Chris Cullina of Oregon's Argyle Winery with a special five-course menu prepared by Silk's Chef de Cuisine Joel Huff, this promises to be a highly refined, vino-fueled evening of merrymaking. And who couldn't use something like that to help get the week off to a good start? 7:00 p.m.; $150 per person. For reservations call 276-9787.

-- Brian Bernbaum

While I'm not much of a wine drinker myself, I do know one thing for sure: I like white wine, and among all the whites that I've flirted with, I like Sauvignon Blanc the best. Why, exactly, I couldn't tell you. Something about the crispness and the flavor of muscat -- to gauge just how much of a wine idiot I am, every time I drink a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, I can't help but crave those awesome Kasugai Muscat Gummy candies. If you like those, you'll probably like the wine. And, in turn, you'll probably like South Food + Wine Bar's upcoming ABC (anything but chardonnay) blanc party, this Sunday May 4 from 3:00 -- 6:00 p.m. It will be an afternoon chock full of white wines, including Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewuztraminer and of course Sauvignon Blanc -- all of them hailing from South's home turf in Australia. Tickets run $35 a piece and include nibbles. RSVP to events@southfwb.com and don't forget to leave a contact number and drop "ABC" in the subject line.

-- Brian Bernbaum

I wrote about chilis and bones at Incanto at few days ago and as fortune would have it, Chef Chris Cosentino's annual Head to Tail and Sicilian Mattanza dinners are both quickly approaching. Head to Tail consists of five courses of expertly prepared offal -- the parts of an animal you've never eaten, and probably never even considered eating. As Cosentino himself explains in the clip above: "If you're willing to kill it you should shut the fuck up and eat it all." Fair enough, but only if it's coming out of Cosentino's own kitchen. The Fifth Annual Head to Tail (check a sample menu) will be held Monday June 9 and Wednesday June 11. $75 per person. Then on Monday, June 14, Incanto is hosting its tribute to the ancient art of Sicilian bluefin tuna hunting, the Mattanza Dinner: four courses, tons of tuna, Sicilian, enough said. It's going to be awesome. $65 per person. For reservations call 641-4500.

-- Brian Bernbaum

If you can secure passage across the Golden Gate, do your soul a favor (though not necessarily your arteries) and get out to Poggio's Trattoria (777 Bridgeway) in Sausalito for the first annual Allo Spiedo Festa. Through Saturday, May 3, Chef Peter McNee will be rolling out the spit and the carrello -- a heated tableside cart -- where all manner of unfortunate but delicious four-legged friends will be roasted up over an oak fire for your carnivorous pleasure. The spectacle includes coniglio (rabbit), maialina (baby pig), capretto (goat), pernice (partridge), faraona (guinea hen), and fagiano (pheasant). The meats will be served alongside contorni of polenta and Tuscan-style fagioli all'uccelletto (white beans with tomato, olive oil and sage), which is cooked underneath the roasting meats to catch all the hot, dripping goodness -- and that's your Italian lesson for the day. $19 per person. Make reservations by calling 332-7771 or visit www.poggiotrattoria.com

-- Brian Bernbaum

Click here for more photos. All snaps by Janine Kahn.

Chocoholics stormed Fort Mason Sunday for a slice of the San Francisco International Chocolate Salon. Smart parents bought their wee ones (kids under 6 got in free), but everyone who paid the $20 entrance fee -well, at least those who arrived before 2 p.m. when we headed out- got their money's worth.

Chocolatiers from the Bay Area and beyond were generous with their samples, and those with the foresight to bring freezer-sized ziplocs took full advantage - stuffing their bags and faces with the rich treats as they went along.

We got there too late for the chocolate-inspired hairdos, but did make it to the body painting exhibition. Check out a short video of that demo as well as a list of our favorites from the Salon beneath the cut. . .

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