Looks like SFoodies will find lots to choose from in
Sonoma the weekend of March 20, between the
Artisanal Cheese Festival that we
wrote about in Petaluma, and Charlie Palmer's
Fourth Annual Celebration of Pigs and Pinot, a series of dining and educational events hosted by
Palmer at the
Hotel Healdsburg. (Proceeds will benefit
Share Our Strength and the
Healdsburg School.)
Friday night from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., at Taste of Pigs and Pinot, you can sample over 50 Pinot Noirs from Sonoma County, accompanied by a dazzling array of pork dishes from such international chefs as
Michael Mina of San Francisco,
Graham Brown of New Zealond, and
Philippe Rispoli of France.
The winner and runner-up of the Pinot Cup tasting judged by an illustrious panel will be announced at the event.
On Saturday, devoted to the "Swine and Wine" seminars, Palmer leads a "Piggy Back" workshop from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., demonstrating how adding a bit of bacon (or prosciutto, or pancetta) can "bump up" the flavor of lean meats.
From 1:00 to 3 p.m., there's a seminar entitled "Ultimate Pinot Smackdown: 16 Pinots, 4 Sommeliers, Only 1 Winner." Each of the four Master Sommeliers (
Drew Hendricks,
Keith Goldston,
William Sherer, and
Fred Dame) will present four of their favorite pinots from four different wine regions of the world. You get to taste, spit (or swallow! It's the weekend!) and choose your favorite.
The Saturday night Gala Dinner, alas, is sold out, so we won't tantalize you with the details (but check with the hotel to see if there are cancellations, or any Pigs and Pinot packages held back for Visa Signature cardholders).
Here's an event where you can do good while eating and drinking to your heart's content -- if not exactly good FOR your heart's content! (Well, the pig part, anyway. The jury's still
out on the red wine.)
