Mouthful: Dia de los Muertos fun

Halloween and Los Muertos in Petaluma: Few local communities celebrate Halloween and El Dia de los Muertos with the scope and depth of Petaluma and that includes this weekend’s festivities.

First, downtown Petaluma welcomes trick-or-treaters on Halloween day from 3 to 5 p.m. Kids aged 12 and younger, in costume, will receive treats at dozens of downtown merchants.

It may rain, so keep that in mind but don’t worry too much. Last week’s Zombie Walk, also in downtown Petaluma, was rained on but we hear that only added to the fun.

On Saturday, more than a month of Los Muertos activities culminates with the Los Muertos Procession, featuring mariachis and the remarkable giant puppets. This is one of Ms. Mouthful’s favorite events of the entire year and she highly recommends putting this at the top of your to-do list.

The parade gets started at 6 p.m. in front of Water Street Bistro at the foot of Western Ave. and Water St. If you think of it, bring a candle and candle holder. The procession winds its way through town to the Petaluma Arts Center on Lakeville St.

If a quieter observation is more appealing to you, the Petaluma Women’s Club is hosting a special Saturday evening, November 1, of relaxation and restoration, featuring ancestor blessings, ancestral wisdom and spiritual allies. Things take place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Admission is $35 per person and advance reservations are required; for yours, call Deb Titus at 235-9934 or email sacredsonglines@gmail.com.

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Ram’s Gate Winery Movie Night: On Thursday night, October 30, Ram’s Gate Winery (28700 Arnold Dr., Sonoma) continues its fall film nights with a screening of one of the most adorable “horror” flicks ever made, “Edward Scissorhands.” It’s one of those movies we can watch over and over again; the scenes with Johnny Depp and Vincent Price alone are worth the price of admission, which in this case is $20 for the general public and $10 for wine club members; a glass of wine is included in the admission fee.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the movie gets started at 8 p.m. outside on the pavilion.

Wine and yummy nibbles will be available for purchase.

To snag your spot, call 721-8700. For more information, including upcoming films to be shown, visit ramsgatewinery.com.

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Slanted Shed: On Saturday, November 1, Shed (25 North St., Healdsburg) hosts a very special dinner with guest chef Charles Phan, who is promoting his book, “The Slanted Door: Modern Vietnamese Food” (Ten Speed Press, 2014).

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a specialty cocktail and appetizer reception. Next comes bhan bot loc (steamed shrimp and pork tapioca dumplings in banana leaves), live sea scallops with cilantro-lime sauce, Vietnamese fisherman’s stew, steamed pork ribs and steamed halibut with celery cucumber salad.

Dessert, a nightcap and coffee will wrap things up around 10 p.m.

During the main meal, Chef Phan will be interviewed by Lora Zarubin, Shed’s culinary consultant and a writer. Her book, “I Am Almost Always Hungry” (Stewart Tabori Change) was published in 2004.

Chef Phan received a James Beard Award for Best Chef, California, in 2004. His restaurant, The Slanted Door, is one of the most praised restaurants in the country.

Cost is $175 per person for the reception and dinner. Add a book and it’s $205. Dinner for two with one book is $380.

For tickets, stop by Shed or visit healdsburgshed.com. As of press time, there will still seats available.

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Farm To Fork Fall Feast: On Saturday, November 8, Chef Duskie Estes of Zazu Restaurant & Farm will head up a special FarmTrails dinner at the beautiful Atwood Ranch in Glen Ellen.

The event begins with a VIP reception from 4 to 5 p.m., with artisan cheeses and ciders and entertainment by acclaimed cellist Zoe Keating. From 5 to 6 p.m., there will be a crostini bar, with wine, cider and beer and an opportunity to hang out and chat with local farmers.

Dinner will be served at 6 and will include a live auction. At 8 p.m., there will be dancing to the Easy Leaves Duo.

Chef Estes’s menu features pumpkin-coconut soup; Lacinato kale salad with persimmons, black rice and sesame vinaigrette; roasted Brussels sprouts with Black Pig bacon; beef shanks braised in red wine; chicken with Asian pear Agrodolce; gourmet mushroom farrotto; garlic chip gremolata and little jars filled with apple crisp and cardamom ice cream.

Most food is provided by FarmTrails members; wine and beer comes from local vintners and brewers.

Dinner is $150 per person. Include the VIP reception and you’ll need to pony up $225, which also includes premium seating and valet parking.

All proceeds benefit Sonoma County Farm Trails and its scholarship fund for young farmers.

Tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com.

Atwood Ranch is located at 12099 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen.

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Best Winery Chefs Dinner: On Saturday, November 8, the Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club hosts a special dinner featuring the chefs of four wineries, along with their wines. The fete benefits local and regional nonprofit food and hunger-related projects. Each chef prepares on of the sit-down dinner courses.

First comes Lynmar Estates’s chef, David Frakes, with wild mushroom beggar’s purses paired with 2012 Quail Hill Pinot Noir, followed by Kolin Vazzoler of Simi Winery, with an appetizer of sea scallops, broccoli and Marcona almonds, paired with Simi Sauvignon Blanc.

Jeff Mosher of Robert Mondavi Winery will prepare an entree of seared beef ribeye with wild mushrooms, parsnip puree and baby carrots and Brussels sprouts salad Bordelaise, with 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon alongside.

Tim Bodell, executive chef at Francis Ford Coppola Winery, offers a sweet conclusion with an olive oil torta with autumn fruit and Coppola Reserve Port.

Things kick off at 6 p.m., with a wine reception and the evening concludes with a wine and travel auction.

The event is a collaboration between Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary Club and the four participating wineries. Among the beneficiaries of the evening are the Redwood Empire Food Bank and smaller nonprofits chosen by the wineries.

Costs is $145 per person and you can snag yours at bestwinerychefs.com. For more information, call 526-2922 during normal business hours.

Michele Anna Jordan has written 17 books to date, including “Vinaigrettes and Other Dressings.” You’ll find her blog, “Eat This Now,” at pantry.blogs.pressdemocrat.com. Email Jordan at michele@saladdresser.com.