It's been 95 years since the unsinkable luxury liner Titanic went to the bottom of the ocean.

	Bill Wade/Post-Gazette David McMunn's North Side home features posters of the Titanic. Mr. McMunn and chef Douglas Ferraro will recreate the meal served in the ship's first class section on the night the ship sank. The dinner will benefit the Mexican War Street Society's Street Tree plan. Click photo for larger image.

To commemorate the occasion, Titanic historian Dave McMunn and chef Douglas Ferraro at the Acanthus Restaurant, North Side, will make it a "A Night to Remember" by recreating the sumptuous dinner served to first-class passengers that night.

The elegant seven-course menu features Consomme Olga, Roasted Salmon with Mousseline Sauce, Filet Mignon Lili with Foie Gras, Chateau Potatoes, Punch Romaine (palate cleanser), Watercress Salad with Asparagus Vinaigrette, Waldorf Pudding, Peaches in Chartreuse Jelly and Chef Ferraro's specialty, Oysters Acanthus.

To add authenticity, Mr. McMunn includes tables of historic documents, photos, posters and other memorabilia, plus, piped in period music and a retelling of the fateful night's events. Period dress is encouraged; Mr. McMunn will be in tie and tails.

Dates are April 13 and 14, with a March 30 deadline for reservations. Cocktails are at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $105; proceeds benefit the Mexican War Street Society's Street Tree plan.

The restaurant is located at the Inn on the Mexican War Streets, 604 W. North Ave. Dinner details: 412-231-1316. Directions/reservations:412-231-6544 or www.mexicanwarstreets.org. The Titanic menu will be offered every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in April.

Cupcake tasting

From noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dozen Cupcakes in Squirrel Hill is hosting a private tasting event featuring free samples of its "vanilla vanilla" and "decadent milk chocolate" cupcakes.

Planning a wedding and want to be original? Check out the wedding tier holding 100 individually decorated cupcakes. To reserve a spot, call 412-420-5135.

This 'n' that

Downtown coffee lovers have a new place to grab a jolt of java. Legal Grounds Coffee and Tea, at the corner of Grant Street and Court Place, has strong coffees, flavored lattes and caramel apple cider. Soup and sandwiches at lunchtime are catered by the Common Plea, while desserts hail from Pastries A La Carte.

North Hills food lovers are sorry to hear that the North Star Market, Route 8 in Hampton, has closed. Operated by Mike Novak, owner of the Pines Tavern, the specialty deli/catering/cooking school was a popular fixture for a decade. "Our lease expired," Novak said. "Time to take a break and regroup."

T.G.I. Friday's will be trans-fat free by July, in compliance with New York City's guidelines -- except for dressings and desserts, which are given a year's reprieve.

Cooking classes

Unusual seafood recipes, taught by an instructor from Foley Fish of New Bedford, Mass., will be presented from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at McGinnis Sisters, Monroeville. Cost is $40; call 412-858-7000, ext. 7.

Upcoming cooking sessions at Giant Eagle's Market District stores in Village Square (11 a.m.) and Shadyside (3 p.m.) include:

Tomorrow -- chef Scott Ferris, who runs a catering company in Lake County, Fla., making fruit and veggie recipes and

Sunday -- Jewish cookbook author Joan Nathan.

An hour of ethnic foods

Feel the need to relax before hitting rush-hour traffic? Stop in at the Westin Convention Center Hotel for "unwind hour," a new concept at Westin hotels nationwide.

From 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday in its Harvest Bar, the hotel highlights specific foods and beverages found in Pittsburgh's ethnic neighborhoods. For instance, Bloomfield week featured wines from Italy and an Italian appetizer.

Upcoming neighborhoods include South Side, Strip, Squirrel Hill, Polish Hill, North Side and Lawrenceville.

The last word

"All food is the gift of the gods and has something of the miraculous, the egg no less than the truffle." Sybille Bedford, American biographer.