A la carte: It’s farmers market season around Sonoma County

SONOMA COUNTY

Spring open house

The Sonoma County Farm Trails invites families to its annual Blossoms, Bees and Barnyard Babies open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday to celebrate spring.

Sonoma County farms will welcome guests to enjoy the baby animals, farm tours, tastings, flower arranging workshops and crafts for kids, among other activities.

Guests must register to receive instructions on how to customize their own self-guided, family-friendly tour. Tickets are free. For more information and to register, go to farmtrails.org.

SANTA ROSA

Wednesday Night Market

Get ready to chomp on some turkey legs and fresh produce for sale at the 2018 Wednesday Night Market, which kicks off from 5 to 8:30 p.m. May 2 in and around Courthouse Square in downtown Santa Rosa.

The evening market, celebrating its 30th season, will bring back the Wine and Beer Garden, children’s activities, arts and crafts booths, a DJ and live entertainment.

For a complete listing of bands and special events, go to wednesdaynightmarket.org.

SONOMA

Tuesday Night Market

The Valley of the Moon Certified Farmers Market will kick off for the season at 5:30 p.m. until dusk Tuesday at the Sonoma Plaza.

There will be lots of produce from farmers, prepared foods, food trucks and live music as well as wine and beer for sale.

The market continues through September. sonomaplazamarket.org

HEALDSBURG

Farmers market opens

The 40th annual Healdsburg Farmers Market will open for the season at 8:30 a.m. to noon May 5 in the West Plaza lot in downtown Healdsburg.

There will be growers, local food and craft products, prepared food and fresh coffee along with live music. The market runs through Nov. 24.

For more information: healdsburgfarmersrmarket.org. North and Vine streets.

sonoma county

Kendall-Jackson dinners

Enjoy an open-air feast in the midst of the beautiful gardens at the Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate garden every second Saturday of the month from May through October.

Guests will sit in the center of the gardens during the al fresco feasts hosted by master gardener Tucker Taylor, the culinary staff and wine experts. Each family-style dinner highlights that season’s harvest from the garden along with a bounty of Sonoma County purveyors.

On May 12, the menu will revolve around lamb from Valera Brothers and Nicasio Valley Cheese. On June 9, the menu will feature salmon from Costarella Seafoods and Marin French Cheese. On July 14, guests will enjoy Kurobuta pork and American Wagyu Beef from Snake River Farms along with Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery products.

The dinners begin at 5:30 p.m. and cost $175 per person, including appetizer reception, dinner and wine. To register: 800-769-3649.

GUERNEVILLE

Spring Fling

The Russian River Chamber of Commerce will host its third annual Food & Wine Spring Fling from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday in the center of town next to Larks Drugs.

Food and wine tastings will include biscuits from Big Bottom Market, tacos from El Barrio bar and chardonnay and pinot from Paul Mathew Vineyards.

Tickets are $30 (food only) to $50 (food and wine.) For more information and to reserve: russianriver.com.

MARSHALL

Nick’s Cove market

Nick’s Cove will debut its new Bayside Market from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday - and the first Tuesday of the month throughout the fall - at the waterfront lounge.

The roadside market will feature produce and flowers harvested by farmer Brendan Thomas from the resort’s garden as well as other West Marin purveyors. Guests can also purchase $1 raw oysters, $2 beers and $6 clam chowder bowls.

Those who stick around may enjoy a $25 prix-fixed menu on Locals’ Night and live music. 23240 Highway 1. nickscove.com

SANTA ROSA

Art of Dessert winners

The Art of Dessert, held in early April to support the Luther Burbank Memorial Foundation, raised $400,000 to support the center’s arts and education programs.

The benefit featured confections from North Bay pastry artists. Winners of the dessert competition included Isabelle Mazeaud of IMA Cake Couture for Best Overall, Carolyn Besse of Your Sweet Expectations for Best in Taste, Mapi Castel of Mapi’s Cakes for Best Presentation, Casey Stone of John Ash & Co. for Best Creativity and Originality and Tina Zettel of Willow Tree Bakery for Most Sentimental.

The desserts were judged by a panel of celebrity chefs from Sonoma County, including Duskie Estes, Douglas Keane, Charlie Palmer, Lindsey Shere and Mark Stark.

You can reach Staff Writer Diane Peterson at 707-521-5287 or diane.peterson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @dianepete56.