Hamptonites looking for serious tasting events have two dates to mark on their calendars. First there's the Great Chefs Dinner to benefit Bridgehampton's The Hayground School on Sunday, July 13th. Living up to its name, it will feature such notable toques as Tom Colicchio, Claudia Fleming, Alfred Portale, Eric Ripert, Laurent Tourondel and Jonathan Waxman. Those who purchase VIP tickets are entitled to a three-course dinner inside East Hampton's Nick & Toni's cooked by Colicchio, Ripert and Fleming; VIPs are also welcome at the tent outside the restaurant, where regular ticket-holders will be enjoying a walk-around tasting. Beyond the delicious food, there will also be fine wines for all, a "wine genius bar," two specialty drink bars and more (6–10 PM; $350 per person; $1,500 for VIP tickets; to reserve, call 631-537-7058 or visit www.greatchefsdinner.com).

Two weeks later, on Saturday, July 26th, over 35 top toques will be converging at the James Beard Foundation's annual Chefs and Champagne Gala at Sagaponack's Wölffer Estate Vineyard to celebrate the career of the inimitable Wolfgang Puck. Chefs participating in the summer soiree include Govind Armstrong (LA's Table 8), Anne Burrell (Centro Vinoteca) Harold Dieterle (Perilla), Benjamin Ford (LA's Ford’s Filling Station), Alexandra Guarnaschelli (Butter), Kerry Heffernan (South Gate), Tony Liu (Morandi), Olivier Muller (DB Bistro Moderne), pastry chef Nancy Olson (Gramercy Tavern), Rafael Palomino (Greenwich's Palomino), Joseph Realmuto (Nick & Toni’s), Bill Telepan (Telepan) and Fabio Trabocchi (Fiamma). And if that list of boldface names isn't enough to tempt you, there will also be copious amounts of bubbly pouring from four different champagne houses (5:30–8 PM; $195 for JBF members; $275 for the general public; 139 Sagg Rd., Sagaponack; call 212-627-2308 or visit www.jamesbeard.org to purchase tickets).