Range to Plate: Saturday Nov. 6
Santa Rosa Junior College’s Shone Farm is 365 acres of agricultural and academic magic hidden away in the Russian River Valley. Here, culinary, viticulture, environmental, agriculture and animal-studies students get hands-on training in all the things that make Sonoma County so amazing. From meat to wine to produce, much of what’s harvested from the farm goes to local restaurants and grocery stores, along with Santa Rosa City Schools and the SRJC’s own Culinary Cafe. Culinary insiders know that the farm’s own CSA is an especially hot commodity, and frequently offers up meat (including rabbits, chickens, grass-fed beef and lamb) are available through the school.
This weekend, celebrate the farm’s ongoing commitment to the community at Range to Plate, an “Agstravaganza” of food and wine. The event features a sit-down dinner with chefs Roger Praplan (La Gare), Tom Schmidt (John Ash & Co.) and Christine Piccin (SRJC) and auction. Up for bid: 21 magnums of local wine; A Roadhouse Dinner; A monthly feast at some of SoCo’s best restaurants; 5,000 vines from 3 premier local nurseries; a sports package including Giants, A’s, 49ers, Sharks and Warriors tickets. Tickets are $75 per person. More details http://www.agstravaganza.com/index.shtml
Chris Cosentino @ Slow Food RR’s Heritage Turkey Dinner at Quivira Winery, Nov. 7
There are two drop-what-you’re doing reasons to check out this event — Chris Cosentino and locally-raised heritage turkeys. The meat-riffic, nose-to-tail chef of Incanto will cook up a four-course meal at Quivira Winery showcasing their biodynamic produce (coveted by many local restaurants) and Slow Food Russian River’s heritage birds including the Narragansett, Bourbon Red and Standard Bronze.
Each year, there’s a rush to grab up the limited number of SFRR’s 4-H-raised heritage turkeys — poultry more akin to the birds of our forefathers than the ubiquitous giant-breasted white turkeys of our modern Thanksgiving tables. The Slow Food movement has made a concerted effort to rehabilitate these heritage breeds, with special success in Sonoma County.
During Cosentino’s the Nov. 7 dinner, there will also be a live auction of the turkeys. $85 for Slow Foods and Quivira Wine Club members, $95 for all others. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/126642
