With the arrival of spring comes longer days filled with sunshine, fresh asparagus and strawberries at the farmers market, and a bevy of culinary related events. If you want to sample artisan cheese or get to know the chefs of Yountville, there are plenty of ways to do so in the coming weeks.
Happening right now in Napa is Yountville Live, a luxury experience that mixes music with wine and food. There are a series of master cooking classes, intimate dinners, private performances by up-and-coming artists, a late night cocktail competition, and a bubbly brunch. Participants include Graham Elliot, Gale Gand, Thomas Keller, Chris Cosentino, Julien Fayard, Miner Family Winery, Far Niente Winery, Nickel & Nickel Winery, Five for Fighting, Rodrigo y Gabriela and Emerson Hart, among many others. If you’re heading to wine country this weekend, you should definitely partake in the festivities.
Next Thursday, March 23 is the 10th-annual Taste of the Nation, a benefit for No Kid Hungry. Chef Melissa Perello, of Frances and Octavia, is the evening’s host, and the event takes place at City View at Metreon. Over 40 restaurants—including some of our favorites like Flour + Water, The Slanted Door, and Tacolicious—will be serving dishes, and many local wineries, breweries, and bars are slinging cocktails. There will also be a silent auction that features unique fine dining and chef-related experiences.
Photo Credit: Derrick Story
At the 11th-annual California Artisan Cheese Fair in Petaluma, the state’s best cheesemakers will teach educational seminars, give farm tours, and cook up delicious eats. The weekend long celebration is March 24-26 and there are several not-to-be missed events featuring Cowgirl Creamery, Bellwether Farms, Cypress Grove, and many more cheese companies. Friday’s Ultimate Best Bite pairs cheesemakers with a cheesemonger and chef who will use the cheese to make an innovative dish. Event goers taste all the items and vote for their favorite. Saturday there are a series of cheese tastings and pairings where you can learn about different types of milk, how to pair cheese and charcuterie, and about the history of cheese in California. There is also a cheese and cocktail party, cheesemaker dinners, and an artisan cheese marketplace.
Also happening the weekend of March 24-26 is the Lexus Culinary Classic at Cavallo Point in Sausalito. The three-day culinary extravaganza is six different experiences including multi-course dinners, a sommelier lead wine tasting, a cooking class, and grand tasting. Participating chefs include Justin Everett, Nate Lindsay, and Elizabeth Murray. At the grand tasting all 15 chefs will cook up a scrumptious bite for guests to devour.
Fashion
March 17, 2017Fashion Designer Jenni Kayne's Balancing Act
