A la carte: This week's food and wine events

HEALDSBURG: Sofia opens self-named Greek restaurant

Chef/owner Sofia Petridis-Lim plans to open Taverna Sofia, an authentic Greek restaurant, next week in the former Bovolo space behind Copperfield's Books at 244 Healdsburg Ave.

The restaurant will serve rustic Greek and Mediterranean cuisine for breakfast and lunch and take-home dinners for busy families.

"Taverna Sofia is my vision for being able to share authentic Greek and Mediterranean food with everyone who walks through the door," Petridis-Lim said. "I also want people to have a place to pick up a delicious, healthy meal."

The chef, who has studied administration management and international studies in the past, graduated from Santa Rosa Junior College's Culinary Arts program in July 2012.

At the restaurant, breakfast includes fresh baked goods such as Bougasta, a Greek pastry made of flaky phyllo dough, along with Greek coffee or local Taylor Maid Farms tea or coffee.

The lunch menu offers traditional dishes such as Spanakopita, Tiropita, Moussaka and Baba Ghanoush, plus daily specials. Desserts include the chef's own recipe for Baklava, made with pistachio and walnuts. All menu items are priced under $20.

Inside, the restaurant seats 20 people, with additional seating for 40 outdoors on the patio.

Taverna Sofia will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Tuesday, closed Wednesday. 431-1982. tavernasofia.com.

SANTA ROSA: Cheatham buys Cook House property

Evelyn Cheatham, executive director of Santa Rosa's Worth Our Weight culinary apprentice program, has purchased the property that houses The Cookhouse at 327 South A St. with the help of a silent partner.

Cheatham plans to turn the tiny diner into a graduate program for the young culinary apprentices who have already trained at the WOW Cafe on Hahman Drive, across from Montgomery High School.

"Hahman Drive is the training ground, and at the new location, they will be able to have a job and get paid," she said. "It will be the graduate program."

The Cookhouse, a beloved greasy spoon that dished up generous portions of country-style breakfast dishes for decades, is located across from the new Spinster Sisters restaurant in Santa Rosa's artsy A Street neighborhood.

"It's a little shack that I've wanted for a long time," Cheatham said. "Our cart can go over to Juilliard Park for the events there."

Cheatham purchased the property from the G. K. Hardt Foundation. Since 1989, the Cook House has been run by Larry and Rose Vivier. Larry died a year ago.

The current tenants have a two-year lease, Cheatham said.

HEALDSBURG: Skateboard demo before dinner

Hobo Winery of Healdsburg will celebrate its 10-year anniversary with a skateboard jam and Harvest Dinner Saturday to benefit Team Inspiration, a charity for people living with cancer.

Hobo winemaker/owner Kenny Likitprakong was inspired to hold the event after watching his cousin, Jessica Hensley, battle cancer.

The Pro Skate Demo will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Sebastopol Skate Garden Park, 6840 Laguna Park Way, Sebastopol.

Following the demo, there will be a dinner at the Healdsburg winery from 5 to 9 p.m. prepared by Tara Wechtel of Zazu restaurant and her husband, Les Goodman, formerly of the Dry Creek Kitchen.

Likitprakong and Chaylee Priete, wine director from The Slanted Door in San Francisco, will pour a retrospective wine list from the last 10 years, including wines from Hobo, Folk Machine, Banyan, Make-Work Wine Co. and Ghostwriter.

There will be live jazz by Doppler Trio and a silent auction. Tickets are $100. To reserve, go to hobowines.com. The winery is located at 1141 Grant Ave.

GLEN ELLEN: Menu changes with season at Star

The Glen Ellen Star is celebrating the change of seasons with a new fall menu that includes vegetables and fruits such as beets and sunchokes, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, pumpkins and persimmons.

Chef Ari Weiswasser has also created a special menu for parties of eight or more that includes feasts of Suckling Roast Pig, Salt-Baked Thanksgiving Turkey and Whole-Raosted Christmas Duck and Goose.

The family-style feasts are $75 per person, and include side dishes and homespun ice cream. The restaurant requires at least 72 hours notice for the special menus.

Glen Ellen Star is located at 13648 Arnold Drive. It is open 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. To reserve: 343-1384.

SONOMA COUNTY: Good Food Hour recipes contest

KSRO's Good Food Hour, hosted by chef John Ash and co-host Steve Garner, invites home cooks to enter their annual recipe contest, "Bacon Celebration!"

The deadline is Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. Four finalists will assemble at G&G Supermarket at 11 a.m. Nov. 3 for a taste-off during the Good Food Hour broadcast.