FOOD NEWS BY DENISE I. O'NEAL STAFF REPORTER

Chicagoans love their chocolate, and Valen-tine's Day makes the alliance all the sweeter, especially with a fund-raising event to help 15-month-old Abigail Wodrich, who is battling kidney disease and needs a kidney transplant.

Several top local chefs have committed to the evening, For the Love of Chocolate, which is being hosted by the French Pastry School at the City Colleges of Chicago; it takes places from 7-10 p.m. Saturday at the South Shore Cultural Center.

Participating chefs include Bob Hartwig, chef and instructor at the French Pastry School, Anthony Chavez, Ritz-Carlton; Dominique Tougne, Bistro 110; Dimitri Fayard, Vanille Patisserie, and Sarah Levy, owner of Sarah's Pastries and Candies. Joining them will be master pastry artist Nicholas Lodge, owner of the International School of Sugar and Confectionery Art in Atlanta and Tokyo.

Guests will be encouraged to create their own chocolate items, wear chocolate as artists treat guests to body art, and admire models draped in chocolate body coverings.

Guests also will be feted to an evening of live entertainment and silent auction. Tickets are $45; call (219) 921-0088 to order.

The event also will benefit the Children's Memorial Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Children's Organ Transplant Association.

The center is at 7059 S. Shore Drive; for more: www.fortheloveofchocolate.org.

HOT CHOCOLATE

Bin 36 hosts the Art of Chocolate III from 6 to 9 tonight.

Chicago pastry chefs will have their chocolate desserts paired with wines selected by Bin 36. Among the chefs participating are Elizabeth Cedeno of Carlos; Kate Milhous of Dine, and Brian Garcia of Cuatro.

The event, co-hosted by Chicago magazine, will benefit Youth Outreach Services, a social services agency that provides assistance to children and families in need.

The cost is $36, with $10 from each ticket going to Youth Outreach Services.

Bin 36 is at 339 N. Dearborn. Call (312) 755-9463.

HISTORY REPEATED

Culinary Historians of Chicago hosts a Valentine's Day special from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Roosevelt University.

Cookbook author and food critic Daniel Young will be the guest speaker during Bistro History, French Chocolate and Romance. Young's latest book is the Bistros, Brasseries and Wine Bars of Paris (Morrow Cookbooks, $24.95).

The cost is $10; $5 for students.

Roosevelt is at 430 S. Michigan. Call (708) 788-0338.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Corner Cooks' February class schedule includes: Latin and South American Fare, couples hands-on session, 6 p.m. Friday, $65, includes candlelight dinner; A Romantic Couples Cook Together in Italy, hands-on session and seated dinner, 6 p.m. Saturday, $65; Valentine's Day special: romantic candlelight dinner, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, $65; How to Sip Wine and Get a Family Dinner Together in 30 Minutes, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 15, $55; Pizza and Book Signing Party, 6-9 p.m. Feb, 17, $25; Beautiful Vegetarian Dishes for Chilly Winter Evenings, hands-on class, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22, $60; Night of Tapas and Spanish Specialties, couples session, 6 p.m. Feb. 24, $65, and Asian Noodles and Wraps, hands-on class, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 28, $60.

Call (847) 441-0134 or visit www.cornercooks.com for details.

SWEET DEAL

The National Honey Board and Cereality Cereal Bar & Cafe have teamed for the I'm Nuts About You promotion that introduces a new limited edition hot oatmeal blend and Apple iPod Nano giveaway.

The oatmeal variety contains a mix of almonds, honey and peaches.

During the event the cafe will host a sweepstakes for customers to win a Nano, Cereality gift cards and T-shirts. The hot oatmeal blend, along with the contest, will be around through Tuesday.

Cereality is at 100 S. Wacker. Call (312) 506-0010.

ROMANTIC INTERLUDE

Meztiso Latin Bistro & Wine Bar brings the spirit of Don Quixote to life with its A Night of Intoxicating Love dinner.

Chef Jona Silva's six-course Don Quixote de La Mancha menu features sunny side up quail egg; salted cod in dry sherry marinade; seafood salpicon salad with grilled octopus, wine and saffron steamed clams and butter poached lobster; roasted vine ripe tomato soup with goat cheese and brandy marinated figs; a choice of lamb and pheasant sausage over hot gazpacho, or a mix grill of saffron and rosemary marinated Cornish hen, langoustines and wine marinated Spanish chorizo in a potato net, and saffron sponge cake with three milk sauce, white and dark chocolate windmills and dusted saffron. The cost is $75 or $100 paired with wine. The menu will be available Friday through Tuesday.

Meztiso is at 710 N. Wells. Call (312) 274-9500.

If puttin' on the ritz for Valentine's Day isn't your schtick, you can keep it simple with Vienna Beef's novelty Valentine's Day gift kit. Admittedly, the food in Vienna Beef's Chicago Style Hot Dog Lovers Kit -- 16 all-beef hot dogs, 16 poppy seed buns, mustard, relish, sport peppers and celery salt -- doesn't scream romance. Well that is unless you're a hot dog lover.

Other goodies include his-and-her boxers adorned with the Vienna Beef logo, two red candles and fudge brownies. The fun kit is $69.95 and can be ordered at www. viennabeef.com. The gift packages also can be purchased at the Vienna Beef factory and store at 2501 N. Damen.

If you know of classes or events open to the public, send information to: Food News, Chicago Sun-Times. Food Section. 350 N. Orleans, Chicago, 60654.