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Kay Baumhefner teaches cooking in her Petaluma home classroom-kitchen.

SCOTT MANCHESTER/The Press Democrat 2008
Published: Monday, February 8, 2010 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 5:04 p.m.

PETALUMA: Cooking with Kay Baumfefner

Kay Baumhefner will usher in spring with eggs, lamb and baby vegetables during her winter/spring series of Come Home to Cooking classes. The intimate, hands-on classes are held at her home in Petaluma.

Here is the schedule, starting this month:

Feb. 24: Slow Cooking at home with the crockpot, including vegetable, bean and meaty dishes.

March 10: The Egg & You, featuring omelets, frittatas and bread puddings.

March 26: Spring Lamb & Baby Vegetables, to help you get ready for spring holiday dinners.

April 28: Spring Garden Salad Basket, featuring an heirloom seed and planting tutorial at Petaluma's Baker Creek Seed Bank, followed by a lettuce tasting and a lunch in the garden.

May 12: Essential Sauces, including Mother Sauces and secondary sauces.

May 26: Healthy Starts and Snacks, showcasing homemade cereal and biscottis.

Wednesday classes are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday classes are 5 to 9 p.m. For registration information, go to comehometocooking.com. Most classes are $85. 778-7143.

SANTA ROSA: Symphony of Food, Wine and Arts

Tune up your palate at 4 p.m. Feb. 21 when the Santa Rosa Symphony League presents the 35th annual Symphony of Food, Wine and Art at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts.

While enjoying sips of local wines and bites from local food purveyors, you'll be serenaded by members of the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra and Discovery Orchestra as well as winners of the Youth Orchestra's 2009-2010 concerto competition.

A silent auction, including birdhouses created by local artists, and a raffle round out the benefit for the Santa Rosa Symphony's youth programs.

Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door. To order, call 546-8742 or go to santarosasymphony.com/league. The Wells Fargo Center for the Arts is located at 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa.

YOUNTVILLE: Mustard Festival's Grand Dinner

The Napa Valley Mustard Festival presents its gourmet dining extravaganza, The Grand Dinner, at 6 p.m. Feb. 19 at Brix restaurant in Yountville with executive chef Anne Gingrass as the 2010 host chef.

The dinner includes seven courses from notable Napa Valley chefs, paired with wines presented by the winemaker or winery principal.

The evening concludes with a silent auction of luxury wines and adventures. Tickets are $225. To reserve, go to mustardfestival.com.

SONOMA COUNTY: Winter special at Mary's Pizza Shack

Mary's Pizza Shack has brought back its winter special, Mary's Meal for Two, offering a family-style entree, plus a soup or house salad, and a Pepsi for each guest.

For the main course, you can choose from a pizza or pasta dish: Spaghetti with Two Giant Meatballs, Spicy Sausage Pasta, Medium Pizza with two toppings or Spicy Sausage Pizza.

Mary's Meal for Two is available all day, for both lunch and dinner at any of Mary's Pizza Shack's 18 locations, through March 2. For a list of locations, go to maryspizzashack.com.

REDWOOD VALLEY: A day of wine, chocolate and spirits

The wineries of Redwood Valley will open their doors for a day of wine, spirits and chocolate tasting from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 13.

Professional chocolatiers will be on hand at nine wineries to provide chocolates, truffles and macaroons to pair with ports, cabs, petite sirahs, brandies and liqueurs.

The cost is $15, which includes a wine glass. For a list of participating wineries, go to atasteofredwoodvalley.com.

HEALDSBURG: Blend, keep a bottle of wine

Topel Tasting Room in Healdsburg will host a wine-blending party, “Love and Meritage,” at 2 p.m. Feb. 14 at 125 Matheson St.

Topel winemaker Mark Topel and Ziggy Eschliman, the Wine Gal on KRSH Radio, will lead participants through the nuances of blending. Each participant (or couple) will then create their own bottle of blended wine.

Cost for the class is $75 per person or $100 per couple and includes one bottle of specially blended wine plus appetizers. Reservations required: 433-4116. For more information, go to topelwines.com.

HEALDSBURG: De La Montanya winemaker dinner

The Dry Creek Kitchen's winemaker dinner series will feature the wines of De La Montanya Winery & Vineyards on Feb. 18, paired with a four-course tasting menu by Dry Creek Kitchen chef Dustin Valette.

The series continues with a winemaker dinner on April 8 with Benovia and on May 6 with Martinelli Winery. The winemaker dinners cost $105, not including tax and tip. 431-0330. Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen is located at 317 Healdsburg Ave.

WINDSOR: Bistro M opens in former Langley's spot

Bistro M, a new restaurant from Matthew and Bryan Bousquet of Restaurant Mirepoix in Windsor, is now open in the former Langley's on the Green space in Windsor.

As part of their expansion plan, the couple retooled Restaurant Mirepoix with a multi-course tasting menu and transferred the French bistro concept to Bistro M.

“We've taken the popular French bistro concept ... and have moved it to a larger space that can accommodate the growing demand for casual fine dining,” Bousquet said.

Bistro M's lunch, dinner and brunch menus offer a variety of appetizers, salads and entrees, plus oysters and charcuterie. The popular Croque Madame sandwich will be featured on all menus.

Menu items range from $1.75 for oysters to $18 for a la carte entrees. A daily prix-fixe, three-course meal is available for $26.

Executive chef Matthew Bousquet oversees both restaurant kitchens with help from chef Ben Davis, while Bryan Bousquet serves as general manager for both properties.

Bistro M is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday and for Sunday brunch. The restaurant boasts a full bar in addition to the main dining room and private dining room.

For more information, go to thebistrom.com or call 838-3118. Bistro M is located at 610 McClelland.

HEALDSBURG: Get all shook up at Bella Winery

Elvis will be on hand to officiate a faux wedding ceremony for you and your Valentine in the candle-lit Bella Winery's wine caves in Healdsburg on Saturday and Sunday. The festivities are from 11 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. and staffers will be in Vegas-themed regalia. There will also be pink confetti, mini-chocolate cupcakes from Velvet Crumb, top hats, rings and veils for the “weddings.” And yes, a line-up of 2008 new-release wines from Bella, including barrel samples of the 2009 Late Harvest Zinfandel.

What will a faux wedding set you back? Only $10, and the price includes all the festivities, as well as mini-chocolate cupcakes, barrel samples of the 2009 late harvest zinfandel, and a tasting of five wines with an emphasis on Bella's 2008 new-release zinfandels.

No reservations are needed, but if you want to book a wedding ceremony in the wine cave chapel contact the winery in advance at (866) 573-3552. For more information, visit www.bellawinery.com. Bella is at 711 W. Dry Creek Road.

HEALDSBURG: Valentines Dinner at Jimtown Store

Jimtown Store in Healdsburg is planning a Valentines Day Dinner — a six-course meal paired with Mercury Wine. The evening begins with a sparkling reception at 6:30 p.m., with dinner to follow at 7 p.m.in the Sweet and Romantic Antiques Room. The fee is $125 per person and it includes tax and gratuity. You'll need to reserve a spot today by calling 433-1212. The store is at 6706 Highway 128.

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

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