On Sunday, treat your mother to a meal she doesn't have to prepare. Several local restaurants are offering Mother's Day specials.

The Beef Barn — The special Mother's Day Sunday brunch will include rosemary roasted turkey, stuffed flounder supreme, honey-glazed ham, carved roast beef and carraway-crusted pork loin, along with omelets, waffles and salad bar. Cost is $13.95, half-price for children age 12 and younger. Hours are 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday. The Beef Barn also will be open for dinner from 5-8 p.m. Sunday for Mother's Day. Reservations are recommended by calling 756-1161. The Beef Barn is at 400 St. Andrews Drive.

Christinne's at the Hilton Greenville, 207 S.W. Greenville Blvd., will have a special Mother's Day Brunch from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Cost is $25.95 for adults, $23.95 for seniors, $14.95 for kids age 6 and older and free for children under age 6. Reservations are required by calling 355-9500.

Riverside Steak Bar — The Mother's Day buffet will include turkey and dressing, chicken and pastry, fried chicken, grilled pork chops, fried shrimp and fish, baked ham and roast beef along with country-style vegetables and a variety of desserts. Hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Cost is $10.95 for adults and $5 for children under age 5. Reservations are recommended; call 752-5001. Riverside Steak Bar is at 2301 Stantonsburg Road.

Rucker Johns — Mother's Day specials will include Filet Oscar, Salad Trio, RJ's Almost Famous Pasta, Chicken Cordon Bleu and Surf-n-Turf. Mothers will receive a special strawberry shortcake dessert. Rucker John's is at 4001 S. Memorial Drive, Winterville. Call 215-0011.

Saeng Thai House — Thai Mother's Day specials will include holiday strawberry curry with a choice of chicken, beef, pork, tofu, shrimp, duck or crispy chicken; whole Ginger Scallion Fish; and Lod Nah, a Thai-style stew with noodles on the bottom surrounded by a mock beef gravy topped with snow peas, carrots, onions and broccoli with choice of chicken, beef, pork, tofu, shrimp, duck or seafood. Saeng Thai House is at 3400 S. Memorial Drive. Call 754-2244.

Ledo Pizza

Ledo Pizza, the home of the square pizza, has a number of new items on its menu.

New appetizers include South Street Philly Steak & Cheese Fries, Buffalo Chicken Baked Cheese Fries and Ledo Mini Burgers; all are $5.99. New sandwiches include Zesty Barbecue Chicken Calzone ($6.99) Old-Fashioned Tuna Sub ($5.99), Hot Italian Cold Cut ($5.99) and Hot Tuna Melt ($5.99).

New salads are the Old-Fashioned Tuna Salad and the Chicken and Tuna Combo Salad; each one is $6.99.

Entree additions include Ledo Lasagna ($7.99), Traditional Cheese Tortellini ($7.99), Zesty BBQ Chicken Pizza ($11.74 for a medium) and Italian White Pizza ($9.24 for a medium).

Greenville's Ledo Pizza is at 3150-P S. Evans St. in the Lynncroft Shopping Center. Call 830-LEDO.

CPWs benefit

CPWs is having a raffle fundraiser for the Humane Society of Eastern Carolina called "CPWs and Friends" until May 29. Prizes have been donated by local merchants and customers. Raffle tickets are $3 each and are available at CPWs, 2422 Stantonsburg Road, and its sister restaurant, A Tavola Market Cafe, 620 Red Banks Road.

The fundraiser will end with a free party May 29 at CPWs featuring the Beatles tribute band The Backbeat and the raffle drawing.

The theme of the party, "The Groovin' '60s," is echoed in the current food theme at CPWs. The menu features Lunch "TV Dinner" Specials, Oysters Rockefeller, Monte Cristos, The Chef Boyardee Pizza, Beef Stroganoff, Chop Suey, Salmon Cakes, and burgers, crinkle fries and root beer floats.

Call 756-7756.

Wine news

A wine and food tasting to benefit the Drew Steele/Skip Holtz Mission to build the Dream fund to build a Drew Steele Center will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at The Beef Barn, 400 St. Andrews Drive. The event will feature more than 80 wines from around the world and heavy hors d'oeuvres. Tickets are $25 per person. Call 756-1161.

Fourth Street Wine Shop will offer an eight-week wine course for the beginner and the more experienced wine lover from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays beginning June 4. The course will be taught by shop owners Inez and Stephen Ribustello. Participants will taste more than 60 wines, covering the world's major grapes and regions. Makeup classes will be offered for missed classes. All classes will be held at Fourth Street Wine Bar, 330 Evans St. The cost of the course is $350 and will include all tastings, course materials, a Fourth Street Wine Course diploma and accessories. Space is limited, and a $100 deposit is required to reserve your spot in the class. Call 758-6900.

Hot Dish is a weekly column of restaurant and food news. To submit items for consideration, call Jane Hudson at 329-9577, fax 754-8140 or e-mail jhudson@coxnc.com.