Food news and events around Sonoma County

NORTH BAY: James Beard semifinalists set

The James Beard Foundation has announced the semifinalists for the 2015 restaurant and chef awards, with a handful of North Bay bakers, chefs, restaurants and wine professionals getting a nod.

This year, the pastry chef category was split into two, with a new category added for Outstanding Baker. Kathleen and Ed Weber of Della Fattoria in Petaluma were nominees among the 25 semifinalists in the nation.

Nancy Oakes of Boulevard in San Francisco is in the running for Best Chef. Oakes lives part-time in Healdsburg with her husband, Bruce Aidells.

Cindy Pawlcyn of Mustards Grill and Cindy’s Back Street Kitchen in the Napa Valley was nominated for Outstanding Restaurateur.

For Outstanding Wine Program, there were two nominees from the Napa Valley: Press in St. Helena and La Toque in Napa.

Ted Lemon of Littorai Wines in Sebastopol was nominated for Outstanding Wine Professional, along with Steve Matthiasson of Matthiasson Wines in Napa.

This year, the chef/restaurant awards will take place in Chicago on May 4. The Book, Broadcast and Journalism Awards will take place April 24 and will remain in New York. The final nominations for both will be announced on March 24.

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PETALUMA: Rancho Gordo founder at Seed Bank

Steve Sando, founder of Rancho Gordo in Napa, will speak about his cookbook, “Heirloom Beans: Great Recipes for Dips and Spreads, Soups and Stews, Salads and Salsas and Much More from Rancho Gordo” at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Petaluma Seed Bank.

The book, which reintroduces the best of the New World heirloom beans with 90 recipes, was published by Chronicle Books in 2008. There will be a sampling at the event.

The Petaluma Seed Bank is located at 199 Petaluma Boulevard North. Sando is also the author of “The Rancho Gordo Heirloom Bean Grower’s Guide.”

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SANTA ROSA: Varenna honored for 50+ dining/cafe

Varenna, an Oakmont Senior Living community in Santa Rosa, has been named a Best 50+ Dining/Cafe experience in the 2015 Best of 50+ Housing Awards by the National Association of Homebuilders.

The community, located at 1401 Fountaingrove Parkway in Santa Rosa, impressed the judges with the quality of the menu, meal plan and the biography of chef Adam Hrebiniak, culinary services director of Varenna.

Hrebiniak has worked alongside such renowned chefs as Wolfgang Puck and Nancy Oakes, at the legendary Chez Nous in San Francisco and the historic Presidio Golf Club. He continues to utilize his talents by leading the culinary program at Varenna and its adjoining community, Fountaingrove Lodge.

“I’m proud to have assembled a team of highly skilled restaurant chefs who have pioneered a new age of gourmet dining in the senior world,” he said. “Our residents get nothing but the best.”

To find out more about Varenna, go to oakmontseniorliving.com.

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SANTA ROSA: Tasting Tuesdays returns to Willi’s

Starting on March 17, Willi’s Wine Bar will bring back Tasting Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. every Tuesday through May 12,.

Each week, the restaurant will pour three special wines from a different local winemaker. On March 17, the winemaker will be Fabiano Ramaci of Mora Estate in Healdsburg.

Chef/owner Mark Stark and his culinary crew will create perfectly paired international small bites for each tasting.

Cost is $25. To reserve, go to starkrestaurants.com. Willi’s Wine Bar is located at 4404 Old Redwood Highway, Santa Rosa.

Compiled by Staff Writer Diane Peterson, who can be reached at 521-5287 or diane.peterson@pressdemocrat.com.