One could spend a lifetime enjoying Wine Country only by its events. The calendar year is jam-packed with themed events that were created to spotlight and celebrate the many and diverse aspects of Wine Country. All wine regions have them, and some are of course more alluring than others. Others still speak to certain people on an acute level. And those nice-market events are where you can find your personal Valhalla.

One such event for me in particular is Pigs & Pinot at the Hotel Healdsburg (800-889-7188; www.hotelhealdsburg.com). Now in its third year, this descriptively titled weekend-long event is the brainchild of chef Charlie Palmer, whose Dry Creek Kitchen is one of the great destination restaurants in California Wine Country. Pigs & Pinot, as you have by now likely surmised, is a celebration of the flavor combination of pork and pinot noirs--Palmer's professed favorite food and wine varietal pairing. The weekend is comprised of a gala dinner, wine and food pairings, and seminars and parties related to all things pork and pinot noir. It's at once decadent and educational--one of the most innovative culinary-themed events in the region. Attendees will be treated to samples of more than 50 pinot noirs from some of the top producers in Sonoma County and the world. The wines are paired with such pork delicacies as charcuterie, homemade sausages, pates, and one-off creations from chef Palmer as well as well-known chefs from San Francisco, New York, even France.

Guests are also invited to check out "swine and wine" seminars and a demonstration-style cooking class. Essentially, when the weekend is over, you'll know about all there is to know about the pairing. And, you might also need to hit the gym. Hotel Healdsburg conveniently has one, and they are also offering special weekend packages for the event. The extravaganza begins Friday, March 14^th, and lasts through the weekend. And to make it even more worthwhile, proceeds from the event benefit Share Our Strengths and Healdsburg's St. John's School.

Long the doyenne of the luxe food lexicon, foie gras appears to be on its way out.  This week's shuttering of a Michelin-starred restaurant in Cambridge following violent protests by anti-foie gras activists is just the latest in a string of retractions relating to sales of the delicacy.  To wit, top Chicago toque Charlie Trotter pulled the controversial item from his menus in 2005, and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has approved legislation that will phase out foie gras production in the Golden State by 2012.

Made from the fattened livers of force-fed geese and ducks - the inelegant process is known as gavage - foie gras is a source of conflict for many diners who applaud its singular savory-rich taste but shrink from tales of how it's made.  But, with outbursts like the Animal Liberation Front (ALF)'s recent vandalism in Cambridge - in response to which the restaurant pulled foie gras from its menu - it's a tale few are able to ignore at this point.  

Travelers who find themselves on the charming Central California coast are well advised to stop in to Corkscrew Café (corkscrewcafe.com), an almost unbelievably cute eatery tucked into the rolling hills outside Carmel.  With its early Monterey mission meets-Provençal farmhouse décor and vibrant gardens, this gem from the same folks behind Carmel's well-liked Casanova restaurant is almost worth a trip in and of itself.

Settle into a table on the popular terrace when the weather is nice, or dine in one of the spot's appealingly well-lit dining rooms, where colorful walls and cool tile floors act as antidotes to the sometimes scorching heat outside.  When it comes to food, the spot's a haven for diners who appreciate low-frills fare made with only the freshest ingredients (there's an on-site garden, natch).  Don't miss the signature pâté of duck and pistachio, the daily-changing selection of burgers and sandwiches made exclusively from hormone-free meats and the superbly simple desserts made in-house.  Wash it all down with a rich red from Georis Winery - located next door and owned by the same family - then linger to check out the café's impressive collection of antique corkscrews.

55 West Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley, CA 93921 * (831) 659-8888 * Open for lunch Mon-Sat & dinner Fri & Sat
 

• The Fatted Calf – Choice cuts abound at this Bay Area cult-popular artisanal charcuterie and butcher shop.
• Taylor’s Automatic Refresher – Yes, the St. Helena hamburger standout is present at Oxbow – and aren’t we glad it is.
• The Model Bakery – This outpost of the popular St. Helena bakery ensures the smell of freshly baked bread wafts throughout the market.  Thanks.
• The Oxbow Cheese Merchant – Just try to resist the goods at this shop run by Kate Arding, who helped start Cowgirl Creamery.

One of the best additions of any kind to San Francisco (where I reside) in recent years is definitely the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. The public market, open every day and hosting an open-air farmers market three days a week, has simply revitalized the city’s waterfront. Now, I eagerly anticipate the same result in Napa, where the long-awaited Oxbow Public Market will make its debut Dec. 15.

Situated in Napa’s emerging Oxbow District the 40,000-square-foot marketplace on the riverbank will be a testament to the bounty of Wine Country. Dozens of tenants are already aboard—with more in the works—all of which represent the best in local food, wine, and artisinal craftsmanship for which the region is known and loved. Among the first-open tenants at the market are: The Olive Press, Anette’s Chocolate Factory, Tillerman Tea, and farm stands from Bera Ranch and DeSantis. The first couple weeks will bring in Folio Enoteca and Winery, Three Twins Organic Ice Cream, The Fatted Calf, Oxbow Cheese Merchant, and Five Dot Ranch, among others.

I will write much more about the Market as I get to know it better, but for now you can rejoice in the litany of mouthwatering goodness of it all.

Travelers looking for a quick fix of the sugar or caffeine variety need look no further than El Dorado Kitchen’s adorable new mini-me, Kitchenette. Little sister to the El Dorado Hotel’s award-winning restaurant, the deli-style eatery and bakery occupies prime real estate at the northeast corner of the hotel, which sits on Sonoma’s historic town plaza.

Open since July, Kitchenette serves to-die-for baked goods (made fresh every morning, natch), soft-serve ice cream, and a small selection of salads and sandwiches.

Nosh inside the airy, well-lit space that overlooks the plaza or take your grub to go. Options in the libation category include a bevy of coffee drinks brewed from La Coppa beans and a delightful selection of domestic and imported wines, many in handy half-bottle sizes that are perfect for impromptu lunches in the plaza (where you can drink daily ‘til sundown).

eldoradosonoma.com * 707-996-3030 * 405 First Street West, Sonoma, CA 95476

Every now and then I have to be reminded just how great Mustard’s really is. We have so many wonderful dining establishments in Napa Valley and I somehow tend to think of Mustard’s Grill as a tourists’ place (probably because it was one of the first places I went to when I was a tourist), so we just don’t go to Mustard’s all that often. I’ve always enjoyed this place, but it took the suggestion of friends visiting here from Southern California to bring me back to my senses – and a really fun dining experience.

First, there’s the place itself. That funky, always bustling, energetic dining room, the “rainy day guy” sculpture in front of the restaurant, and the STOP sign that reads “Please STOP in Again” always have me smiling even before I reach my table. Then there’s the menu. It’s always a challenge to try something new instead of retreating to my old favorites, the Crispy Calamari with curried slaw and Fresno chilies ($10.25) and the Half Slab Barbequed Baby Back Ribs with creamy horseradish coleslaw and crispy sweet potatoes ($23.50). Last time I managed to leave my comfort zone and loved the “salad of the day” with garden greens, pears, candied pecans and a creamy vinaigrette ($8.95). I also adored the Hunan Grilled Chicken salad with ginger-soy noodles, Asian slaw and toasted Sesame seed ($13.50).

Another Mustard’s classic is the Famous Mongolian Pork Chop with organic Berkshire Pork and sweet & sour red cabbage ($26.95). One of our party had this and said it’s the best pork chop he’s ever had. The ½ pound Niman Ranch cheeseburger with fries ($10.50) was excellent, but my husband says he still prefers the burger at Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen (Mustard’s sister restaurant in St. Helena). A side order of the Onion Rings with tomato-apple ketchup ($6.95) is one of my husband’s perennial favorites, but on our last visit they were a little “clumpy” and not as crispy as we remembered. The side of Creamy Horseradish Coleslaw ($3.95) was good but could have used more horseradish. Next time I’ll ask for some extra on the side.

You cannot go wrong with Lemon and Garlic Chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and garden vegetables ($19.50) or the Tea Smoked Duck ($23.75). And the daily specials – fresh fish, seafood tostada, and the meat-lovers’ “Truckstop Deluxe” are usually fun and delicious.

I rarely have room for dessert at Mustard’s Grill but the Classis Crème Brulee with bourbon vanilla bean ($6.50) and the Banana Chocolate Chunk Bread Pudding with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce ($7.95) both drew rave reviews. As for me, I’d rather spend my daily allotment of calories on those Baby Back ribs.

As a travel writer my tactic for finding the best local flavor has always included accosting residents and prodding them for information—in a friendly way, of course. Living in Napa for six years and writing about wine country for the past decade, I no longer need to ask the staff in Sonoma's tasting rooms or regulars lingering around Sonoma or Healdsburg's squares for their favorite dining experiences. But sometimes I inquire anyway, especially since it can be hard to move on to new palate pastures when I know there's a spectacular meal to be had at downtowns Sonoma's Harvest Moon Café and El Dorado Kitchen, and Healdsburg's special-occasion favorite Cyrus. With this in mind I recently asked the chefs of these revered restaurants—and the living food and wine legend John Ash—where they like to eat when they step out of their kitchens. The following answers may inspire you to detour from the regular dining haunts—or at least tack on a few more destinations to your Wine Country itinerary.

Nick Demarest of Harvest Moon Café heads to Santa Rosa's Osake for what he considers the best sushi in the area. "Gary Chu is super creative and all the food is unique and very yummy, he divulges. Sticking with the Asian theme and northern locale, he also adores the classic noodle dishes at Simply Vietnam (966 N Dutton Ave.,
Santa Rosa, 707-566-8910). "It's the best place for the money in the area to eat." When he's closer to home he heads to Juanita Juanita (19114 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, 707-935-3981). A funky-fun Mexican shack on the side of Sonoma's north-south thoroughfare, it's his favorite place for a quick sandwich.

Mexican food also has a fan in El Dorado Kitchen's Chef Ryan Fancher. With a penchant for the pure and satisfying flavors from south of the border, he heads to Sonoma's Taqueria La Hacienda (17960 Sonoma Hwy., Sonoma,
707-939-8226). "They have really authentic, flavorful Mexican food. It's really artisanal and they have a lot of integrity in their ingredients. I always get pollo deshebrado. It's a shredded chicken burrito. They have the best tomatilla salsa, too," he promises.

Not surprisingly, Douglas Keane of impeccable and tres chic Cyrus in Healdsburg has no qualms with putting some effort into satisfying his off-work cravings. His regular stop is Napa's Angèle (540 Main St., Napa, 707-252-8115, www.angelerestaurant.com).

My dear friend and a brilliant food and wine talent John Ash stays closer to home. When he wants a casual fun meal and is not off teaching culinary classes around the world or accepting awards for his new Sauvignon Republic wines, he heads to Santa Rosa's Café Saint Rose (463 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-546-2459). Run by Mark Malicki who was the chef at Iron Horse Vineyards for years, it is very tiny with a handful of in- and sidewalk seats. But most importantly, "It's always good and takes advantage of Mark's world travels," says John.

When chef Hiro Sone and his wife pastry chef Lissa Doumani of Terra restaurant in St. Helena have a hankering for breakfast, they head to Miguel's Restaurant (1437 LincolnAve., Calistoga, 707-942-6868). The draw is their chilaquiles (a Mexican dish of scrambled eggs, fried tortilla strips, cheese, and other savory ingredients), which they say is good enough to counterbalance less-than-savory service.

Napa resident David Gingrass, who is also proprietor of San Francisco's Two Restaurant(previously of Hawthorne Lane), says his favorite back-road meal can be found at Calistoga's Vallarta Market (1009 Foothill Boulevard, Calistoga, 707-942-8664). "It's a real taqueria with a total lack of pretense. It's not gussied up, made for Hollywood, or made for tourists. I get a plate full of tacos and eat them in my car," he professes. Another of his favorites is Red Rock Cafe (1010 Lincoln Ave.,Napa, 707-252-9250, www.backdoorbbq.com), which he swears has the best cheeseburgers in the valley. I'll second the notion. The casual Napa diner that serves bottomless sodas, pulled pork, and big pieces of pie is where I regularly lunch when not downing the aforementioned tacos.

Robert Curry of Auberge du Soleil says he looks for places that are not fussy and have are plenty of choices. His prime pick is downtown Napa's relaxed-chic no-reservations Vietnamese restaurant Annalien (1142 MainSt., Napa, 707-224-8319). "I go there and get a bowl of pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) or green papaya salad, summer rolls, and the eggplant dish they make. It's easy, quick, and I like the food," he divulges.

Thomas Keller doesn't have to stray far to find his favorite food when he's not creating culinary masterpieces at The French Laundry. He heads straight down the road to his sister restaurant Bouchon (6534 Washington Street, Yountville, 707-944-8037,www.frenchlaundry.com) and orders roasted chicken, which also happens to be one of his—and my—very favorite foods.

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