WINDSOR: Annual Derby Day benefit at Sonoma-Cutrer
The 15th annual Meals on Wheels Derby Day to benefit the Council on Aging's program will sound the trumpet fanfare at 11 a.m. May 3 at the Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards.
The event kicks off with an hors d'oeuvres and wine reception and continues with a four-course, Southern-style luncheon prepared by chefs from Backyard in Forestville, Sweet Tea's Restaurant + Bar in Santa Rosa, Zazu Kitchen + Farm in Sebastopol and John Ash -amp; Co. in Santa Rosa.
Guests will compete in Best Dressed and Most Fabulous Hat contests. The event culminates with a live and silent auction and a live screening of the 140th Kentucky Derby.
Tickets are $150. To reserve, call 525-0143, x 146, or go to councilonaging.com. Sonoma-Cutrer is located at 4401 Slusser Road.
SEBASTOPOL: Village Bakery reopens at Barlow Center
Village Bakery of Sebastopol, owned by Sebastopol native Patrick Lum, has moved and reopened in the Barlow Center.
"We're happy that construction is actually done and we're open for retail business," Lum said. "We are doing full breakfasts and lunches, and we may expand into a dinner menu."
The bakery offers 25 seats inside, with an additional 20 seats outside on the patio.
Like its sister bakery in Santa Rosa, the Sebastopol bakery offers award-winning hearth breads, English muffins, princess cakes and organic pastries, plus an array of hot drinks made with Taylor Maid Farms coffee and tea.
The breakfast menu includes savory entrees like corned beef hash and English muffin egg sandwiches. For lunch, there is an array of seasonal salads and soups, cold and hot sandwiches, pizzettas and quiches.
Eventually, Lum also plans to offer box lunches to go, for folks headed to the coast or the redwoods.
The bakery is located at 6760 McKinley Street No. 150. Hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 829-8101.
COTATI: Oliver's celebrates all things local on Saturday
Oliver's Markets has championed all kinds of local farms, food producers, wineries, breweries and musicians over the years.
To celebrate those local connections, the grocery store will host the fourth annual Taste of Sonoma from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of the Cotati store.
Activities include food and wine tasting, live music and livestock viewing as well as kids' activities.
Adults may purchase tasting tickets ($5 for three), good for one taste at a winery or brewery.
Musicians from Oliver's CD compilation series will perform, including Doug Jayne and Clusterfolk, Kevin Russell -amp; Friends and Solid Air.
The Redwood Empire Food Bank will collect donations of non-perishable foods. 546 E. Cotati Ave. oliversmarket.com.
SANTA ROSA: Earth Day Festival Saturday at Montgomery Village
Montgomery Village will celebrate the natural world at the fifth annual Day on the Green Earth Day Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at 911 Village Court.
Highlights include a juried art show and sale; live music by Sarah Baker, Nina Gerber and Jan Martinelli; a magic show and dance performances; and the sale of local beers, wines and beverages to benefit LandPaths, a conservation group that fosters a love of the land in Sonoma County.
The event is free.
HEALDSBURG: Scholarship benefit for Farmers Guild at Shed
Healdsburg Shed will host a farmer-to-table fundraiser for the new Farmers Guild Scholarship Fund at 6 p.m. Friday at the upstairs Grange.
The Farmers Guild is a growing, agricultural community that meets monthly to share resources and celebrate the local food community.
Chef Matthew Elias of Saltwater Oyster Depot in Inverness will cook the family-style dinner. There will be a post-dinner concert by barn-hopping rockers Whiskey -amp; Circumstance.
Tickets are $75, including dinner, drinks and music. brownpapertickets.com. 25 North St.
HEALDSBURG: 'Top Chef' duo to cook at Copain Winery
Chef Louis Maldonado of Spoonbar and Pizzando in Healdsburg will join forces with Jason Cichonski, his cast mate from "Top Chef: Season 11," to host an intimate, six-course dinner at 6 p.m. May 3 at Copain Winery.
Maldonado and Cichonski, who is co-owner of Ela Restaurant in Philadelphia, will incorporate such spring ingredients as ramps, fava beans, wild mushrooms and green garlic. Each course will be paired with Copain wines.
Tickets are $195. To reserve: spoonbar.com. The winery is located at 7800 Eastside Road.
FORESTVILLE: Beer maker dinner at Backyard
Chef/owners Daniel Kedan and Marianna Gardenhire of Backyard in Forestville will host a four-course beer maker dinner with Moonlight Brewery at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Forestville restaurant.
Brian Hunt, owner/brewer of Moonlight Brewery of Santa Rosa, will pair his artisan beers with each course.
Cost is $55, and reservations are required: 820-8334. 6566 Front St.
PETALUMA: Winemaker Shelton at Arts Center dinner
The Petaluma Arts Center will host a benefit winemaker dinner with Carol Shelton of Carol Shelton Wines at 6 p.m. Friday at the center, 230 Lakeville St.
During the dinner, Shelton will speak on "Mastering the Zen of Zin."
Tickets are $75. To reserve, go to petalumaartscenter.org/community or call 762-5600. The center is located at 230 Lakeville St.
HEALDSBURG: Bacigalupi Vineyards plans first releases
Come June, the owners of Healdsburg's Bacigalupi Vineyards will be bottling a handful of varietals under their name for the first time ever, to honor their roots and give recognition to the family name. The bottlings, to be released over the summer and fall, include a 2013 ros?of pinot noir, a 2012 chardonnay, a 2012 pinot noir, a 2012 zinfandel and 2012 petite sirah. Prices will range from $30 to $65. All future bottlings will be under the Bacigalupi label. The family's vision is to stay a small producer, completely estate produced. For more information, visit: www.bacigalupivineyards.com.
CARNEROS: Wineries open doors for April in Carneros
Nearly 20 wineries will be pouring new releases and bottles pulled from the cellar during the April in Carneros open house on Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the door and are valid both days, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Some of the wineries will be offering food, live music, lawn games and more. For more information about participating wineries, visit www.carneroswineries.org/events.
Compiled by Staff Writer Diane Peterson, who can be reached at 521-5287 or diane.peterson@pressdemocrat.com, and Peg Melnik, who can be reached at 521-5310 or peg.melnik@pressdemocrat.com.
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