A la carte: Top chefs, winery events, farmers markets and more

‘Top Chef Masters’ kicks off on Bravo

Fans of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef” will want to tune in at 10 p.m. today for the kickoff of “Top Chef Masters,” which pits 24 nationally known chefs against each other.

Wine Country is well represented in this eclectic array of top toques. The line-up includes farm-to-table pioneers Cindy Pawlcyn of Mustards Grill in Yountville (plus Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen and Go Fish in St. Helena) and Michael Chiarello of the new Bottega restaurant in Yountville. Pawlcyn’s episode is scheduled to air June 24 and Chiarello’s episode will air July 15.

Other Bay Area chefs in the competition include grizzled veteran Hubert Keller of Fleur de Lys in San Francisco and the hip, cutting-edge Elizabeth Falkner of Citizen Cake and Orson in San Francisco.

In each episode, each chef will meet a Quickfire Challenge, which tests their basic abilities; and a more involved elimination challenge, which tests versatility and invention. Each of the first six episodes consists of four chefs competing against each other to name one winner. Then all six winners will meet up for four weeks until one is crowned Top Chef.

During the competition, the winners earn cash awards for the charities of their choice, with the top toque earning $100,000 for their charity.

Taj Mahal Trio plays at Silver Oak Cellars in Oakville

The Taj Mahal Trio will headline a benefit concert for the Rex Foundation at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Silver Oak Cellars. The evening begins with a wine reception at 6:30 p.m., featuring wines from Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars.

VIP Silver Package tickets are $200, which includes picnic with wine, poster and recording of the concerts. VIP Platinum Package tickets are $350, which includes all of the above, plus a private, after-show party. To order, go to ticketmaster.com. Silver Oak Cellars is located at 915 Oakville Crossroad, Oakville.

The Rex Foundation, founded by the Grateful Dead in 1983, supports community-based non-profit organizations.

Charity Car Classic event at B.R. Cohn in Glen Ellen

B.R. Cohn Winery is hosting a free Charity Car Classic benefit and exhibition on July 4 from noon to 5 p.m. For viewing, there will be all kinds of rare sports cars, drag racers and collectible cars. There also will be food offerings from Food Network star Guy Fieri’s Johnny Garlic’s Kitchen paired with B.R. Cohn wines. The event will benefit Memorial Hospice of Santa Rosa and Hospice of Petaluma. The winery is at 15000 Sonoma Highway 12. Details: (800) 330-4064 or at brcohn.com.

Cooking, shopping tips at Petaluma Farmers Market

Starting tonight at the Petaluma Farmers Market, chef Kay Baumhefner of the Come Home to Cooking school will offer a weekly Marketplace Chat Table and Cooks’ Club where members can pick up shopping strategies and cooking tips. The program will serve as a social club for would-be and practiced cooks and a brainstorming session to help people make the most of the produce they’ve bought.

For the list of membership options, dues and benefits, go to comehometocooking.com.

The Wednesday evening market runs through Aug. 26 in the Theatre District, on Second Street between B and D streets. petalumafarmersmarket.com.

Cotati Farmers Market now open

The Cotati Farmers Market is open for the season and runs every Thursday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in downtown Cotati.The market runs through Oct. 1 at La Plaza Park, Old Redwood Highway and West Sierra Avenue. It features more than 30 vendors and a variety of live entertaiment. This Thursday, the Redwood Chordsmen will perform and the Blood Bank of the Redwoods Bloodmobile will be accepting donations.

Farm-to-table class with chef Seamus Feeley

Chef Seamus Feeley will give a farm-to-table cooking class at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Long Meadow Ranch’s Rutherford Gardens, 1796 South St. Helena Highway.

Feeley, who has been named chef of the LMR’s new Farmstead restaurant opening this fall, will teach students how to entertain this summer with fresh herbs and garden greens.

The class costs $45, and includes a light lunch and take-home summer salad and herb entertaining kit. To reserve, call 963-4555, ext. 161.

Kids can learn their way around the kitchen

It’s nearly summertime, and the cooking is easy. It’s the perfect time to teach children some real-life lessons in the kitchen. If you’re not up to the task, sign them up for a cooking camp this summer. They’ll stay busy, and be well fed to boot. Here are a few options to choose from:

Santa Rosa Junior College’s College for Kids will offer a Culinary Arts for Middle School Students, June 22 to 25 at Petaluma Junior High School. Cost is $132. To register, go to the Community Education office, 1990 Armory Drive, Santa Rosa.

Sur La Table in Santa Rosa offers a series of five-day cooking camps for children from late June through July: Pastry and Baking for teens age 14 to 18 is June 6 to 10; Technique Camp for teens 13 to 17 runs July 13 to 17; Baking and Pastry Camp for kids 8 to 12 runs July 10 to 14; and Pastry and Baking for teens 13 and up runs July 27 to 31. Costs is $350 a camp. surlatable.com or 566-9820.

Viva — The Culinary Institute of Florence in Sebastopol offers a Culinary Camp for kids ages 9-11 from July 12 to 17. Costs is $140, which includes lunch each day. 824-9913 or studyabroaditaly.com/viva.

Relish Culinary Adventures in Healdsburg will give a Kids Cooking Camp for kids 8 to 12 on July 20 to 23 at Relish Culinary Center in Healdsburg. Cost is $250. 431-9999 or relishculinary.com.

Wine Country sojourn on tap

Relish Culinary Adventures and the Healdsburg Lodging Coalition are sponsoring a Wine Country sojourn this summer designed to satisfy the heartiest appetite for culinary adventure. The three-day Artisan Food & Wine Tour, July 6-8, includes exclusive visits with cheese-makers, winemakers, chefs and artisan purveyors. It also features gourmet meals, a cooking class and a wine-pairing dinner. Cost ranges from $1,130 to $1,577 per person, depending on lodging choice. For registration, call (877) 759-1004.

Compiled by Staff Writers Diane Peterson and Peg Melnik. Peterson can be worked at 521-5287 or diane.peterson@ pressdemocrat.com. Melnik can be reached at 521-5310 or peg.melnik@pressdemocrat.com.