Mouthful: Tasty events around Sonoma County

Tenth Annual Taste of Petaluma: This Saturday, more than 60 chefs, winemakers, brewers and food purveyors will celebrate Taste of Petaluma, a delicious and entertaining culinary journey through downtown that supports Cinnabar Theater.

Here's how it works. Pick up your advance tickets at will-call in the Helen Putnam Plaza (129 Petaluma Blvd. North) any time after 10 a.m. Saturday. Your $40 purchase includes ten dine-around tickets, a map showing venues, a menu of dishes, a schedule of entertainment and a plastic glass, though you can bring your own glass if you prefer. Additional tickets are available throughout the day for $4. One ticket is required for each taste.

Highlights of the menu include a sticky morning bun with coffee or iced tea at Bovine Bakery; kabobs with hummus, tabbouleh and dolmas at Bohca Bazaar Imports; Niman Ranch meatball sliders at Wild Goat Bistro and Brazilian black bean cassoulet with a sweet potato bun biscuit at Twisted 2.

Raks Rosa Dance Company, a belly dancing group, will perform at 1:30; Jamison's Roaring Donkey, an old-time blues band, plays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Now & Zen offer their Americana, alternative and classic rock at 2 p.m.

For a complete menu and entertainment schedule, visit tasteofpetaluma.org.

For information about the theater and its programs, visit cinnabartheater.org.

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Yeast Feast: The Farm To Fermentation Festival takes place this Saturday, August 22, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Finley Center (2060 West College Ave., Santa Rosa). If you've always wanted to make your own sauerkraut, hot sauces and such, this is a celebration you don't want to miss.

The festival features an enormous array of fermented foods and beverages, speakers, workshops, demonstrations, classes, a raffle and, if you spring for a VIP ticket, a libation lounge.

Highlights include 'Turmeric Fermentation,' a presentation by Trish Carty at 1 p.m.; 'Crunchy Dill Pickles' by Todd Champagne at 1 p.m. and 'Experience Cacao' by Jonas Ketterle. Food vendors include the Bone Broth Company, Red Horse Pizza and the Farmer's Wife. The Vendor's Hall will have more than forty booths offering everything from fermented foods to the equipment you need to do it yourself at home.

Advance-purchase tickets are $25 for general admission, $45 for VIP admission. Admission includes observation in all classes; there is an additional charge if you want to participate and take home your project.

For a complete schedule and to purchase tickets, visit farmtofermentation.com.

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Death at Dinner: Who doesn't love a good murder, especially when it comes with dinner? After a ten-year hiatus, Get A Clue Productions is back with its Murder Mystery Dinner Theater.

Who-done-it dinners were extremely popular at Michele's in Railroad Square, where Stark's Steak and Seafood is now located, but the downturn in the economy made it impossible for the company to continue. Now Dennis Parlett, owner and director, is back, with performances at Charlie's Restaurant at the Windsor Golf Club (1320 19th Hole Dr., Windsor).

The premier performance of 'The Spy Who Killed Me,' a secret agent comedy, was on August 1. Upcoming performances are scheduled for Friday, Sept. 4; Saturday, Sept. 12; Saturday, Sept. 26; Saturday, Oct. 3; Saturday, Oct. 10, and Friday, Oct. 23.

Cost is $68 per person, plus tax and gratuity, and seating is at 7 p.m.

The play unfolds during a three-course dinner. The current menu includes green salad with candied walnuts, feta cheese, beets and Champagne vinaigrette; a choice of chicken in Champagne cream sauce, grilled salmon in beurre blanc or creamy polenta with ratatouille and dessert.

For reservations, call 837-0019.

For more information about Get a Clue Productions, including private parties and public shows, visit getaclueproductions.com.

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Aloha Alert: On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Rohnert Park hosts the Fifth Annual Pacific Islander Festival at the Rohnert Park City Center Plaza (475 City Center Dr.).

The festival features dancing and music, including a performance by Rohnert Park's premier Hawaiian songbird, Faith Ako.

Vendors will offer a wide array of Polynesian foods, clothing and more, including a Cultural Village, new this year. Kiki & Bob's Hawaiian Shave Ice, Hawaiian Donut, Mike Sarmento Hawaiian Food, Grandma's Kitchen, Mama Nita's Filipino Hut and Phin Bar Vietnamese Coffee are among the vendors you'll find at this little slice of island life.

Admission is free and children are welcome.

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Got Zucchini? On Sunday, August 23, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Windsor Farmers Market hosts its 13th Annual Zucchini Festival.

The celebration includes zucchini car races, a 'Zukeghetti' cooking class for kids, a vegetable art contest for both kids and adults and a cooking demonstration, featuring zucchini, of course, by Don Nolan--CQ--, executive chef of the Redwood Empire Food Bank.

Best of all, perhaps, is zucchini drive, where you can donate all your zucchini, no matter how big.

Live music will be provided by Memory Lane.

For a complete schedule, visit windsorfarmersmarket.com.

The market is located at 701 McClelland Dr. at Market St. on the east side of the Town Green.

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Fall Plant Sale: Yes, it's that time of year already. Occidental Arts and Ecology Center (15290 Coleman Valley Rd., Occidental) is hosting its Fall Plant Sale this Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a tour on Sunday at 1 p.m. This Sunday's tour will include an exploration of drought-tolerant landscaping around the center's new guest accommodations.

The sale focuses on brassicas such as kale, broccoli, collard greens and Romanesco cauliflower; Asian choys and cabbages; salad greens; chards; leeks; onions, scallions; edible flowers and cool-weather herbs, including chervil and cilantro.

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Benefit Dinner in the Vineyards: On Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m., Hoot Owl Creek Vineyards (8400 Highway 128, Healdsburg) hosts 'Dinner in the Vineyards,' a benefit for North Sonoma County Services.

The evening's menu features barbecued tri-tip, chicken sausage, grilled vegetables, summer salads and side dishes and home-made berry cobbler, with an array of Sonoma County wines alongside.

There will also be a silent auction, live auction and live music.

Cost is $60 per person and tickets are available at St. Paul's Church (209 Matheson St., Healdsburg), by calling 433-6161 and at northsonomacountyservices.org.

North Sonoma County Services provides temporary shelter and assistance to homeless individuals and those at risk of becoming homeless.

Michele Anna Jordan has written 24 books to date, including the new 'Good Cook's' series. Email Jordan at michele@saladdresser.com. You'll find her blog, 'Eat This Now,' at pantry.blogs.pressdemocrat.com.