Massimo Bottura is kind of a big deal, both in his native Italy and beyond. His Osteria Francescana currently rates third on the list of the 50 best restaurants in the world and sports three Michelin stars for its balance of Italian culinary traditions and modern (some say modernist) technique. His upcoming cookbook, Never Trust a Skinny Italian Chef, is rating significant buzz of its own.

Bottura's US book tour consists of a mere six cities. And Seattle is one of them, thanks to some instigating by Book Larder. He's coming to Cuoco on October 8; T-Doug is closing the joint down for the occasion and throwing an Italophile cocktail party, complete with wine and aperitivi. He and Ethan Stowell will be making food, and rumor has it Nathan Myhrvold will be in the house as well.

Being in the room isn't cheap, but your $150 ticket includes drinks, plenty of foodstuffs circulating on trays, and a signed copy of Never Trust a Skinny Italian Chef, which retails for $60. Plus Bottura will hold forth on his career and his approach to food. This sounds all shades of delightful.

I'm recalling a few other high-profile visiting chef events with similar price tags (Rene Redzepi, a few Modernist Cuisine dinners) that sold out quickly. I doubt this will be any different; here's the link to buy tickets for this soiree.