Tuesday Foodie Forecast: Art Smith knows how to party

• Art Smith really knows how to party. On Monday, March 1, Oprah's former personal chef (and current chef/owner of Table Fifty-Two) is celebrating his 50th birthday by bringing together some of Chicago's most prominent chefs for the Common Threads' Fifth Annual World Festival. Chefs including Rick Bayless, Gale Gand, Curtis Duffy and Graham Elliot Bowles will be providing sample cuisine and cocktails from their restaurants to festival attendees. There will also be a silent and live auction to benefit Common Threads, an organization Smith founded that educates low-income children on the importance of nutrition and physical health by fostering an appreciation of cultural diversity through cooking. The festival will be held at Soldier Field on March 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. General Admission tickets cost $250 and can be purchased here.

• Enhance your knowledge of wine this upcoming spring with classes at ENO at the InterContenintal Chicago. These "ENO-Versity classes" are offered once a month and range from interactive classes to outings on the ENO patio. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 312 -- 321 -- 8738. The class schedule is as follows:

March 1, 2010 - Fortified Wines, 7 p.m., $25.

Learn about ‚ the history and different styles of port, sherry and dessert wine with ENO Wine Manager Israel Morales. Each wine will be paired with cheese. To RSVP, please call (312) 321-8738 or email Wine Director Shara Bauer at‚ shara.bauer@ihg.com.

April 5, 2010 - Pinot Noir From Around the World, 7 p.m., $40.

Tastings include sparkling pinot noir, a rose pinot noir and several pinot noirs from around the world. To RSVP, please call (312) 321-8738.

May 3, 2010 - Sugar, Spice and everything"¦Chocolate! 7 p.m., $25.

This class will pair wines with chocolates including the ENO signature three-pepper chocolate, a curry saffron truffle from Madison's Gail Ambrosius and a caramel apple cinnamon truffle from Schaumburg's Chocolatines. To RSVP, please call (312) 321-8738.

June 21 - Chardonnay on the Patio, 7 p.m., $25.

Learn about a selection of Chardonnays paired with cheese and chocolate. Toast to the first day of summer in Chicago. To RSVP, please call (312) 321-8738.