Chef Joanne Weir takes PBS show ‘Wine Country Cooking’ to Sonoma International Film Festival

The Sonoma International Film Festival has been rolling out its chef lineup for this year’s culinary events, and their latest includes the famous TV cooking personality, Joanne Weir.

Weir is an American chef, cookbook author and international cooking instructor. She is also a writer and producer, known for TV shows such as “Joanne Weir's Cooking Confidence” and “Joanne Weir's Plates & Places.”

Weir is back at the festival for a second time to showcase her new PBS show “Joanne Weir’s Wine Country Cooking” with a special lunch event during the festival on Saturday, March 25.

She began her career working at Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse in Berkeley before moving to food travel tours and opening Sausalito’s Copita Tequileria y Comida restaurant. She has written 20 cookbooks and is a James Beard Award-winning cookbook author.

When she’s not taping her new television show, she spends several months of the year traveling around the globe on her award-winning culinary travel tours. She has guest- starred on numerous television shows, including “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America” and Fox Television shows. She also writes for many national magazines, including Cooking Light, Bon Appetit, Fine Cooking, Better Homes & Gardens, Food & Wine, AARP The Magazine and Sunset Magazine.

"I'm so excited to be part of the Sonoma International Film Festival,” said Weir. “This event oozes creativity, artistry and fun; the energy is contagious!"

During the event, Weir will introduce select segments from her new PBS TV series, paired with a three-course meal she has curated to represent various Sonoma County people, places and purveyors.

“We’re are thrilled to welcome chef Weir back to the festival,” said Ginny Krieger, executive director of SIFF. “Her energy, enthusiasm and engagement with our audience, along with her delicious lunch, was a highlight last year. We’re so glad she’s returning to make this year even more memorable.”

Limited capacity tickets are now on sale at SIFF Joanne Weir’s Wine Country Cooking Lunch. A ticket is included as a benefit to 2023 SIFF Patron Passholders. The event is sponsored, in part, by Northern California Public Media.

The Weir news follows last Friday’s announcement that chef Martin Yan, a famously accomplished chef, respected culinary educator, commentator and food and hospitality consultant, would participate in the festival. The rest of the culinary lineup will be released in the coming weeks.

Other events recently announced by the festival include its party lineup, with the new edition of a Thursday night Gay-La that will feature films with LGBTQ+ themes and connections. There will also be an Opening Night Party on Wednesday, March 22, and after parties on the nights of Friday, March 24, and Saturday, March 25.

SIFF is also expanding its screening venues to include four screens at Prime Cinema, historic Sebastiani Theatre, Veterans Hall and Andrews Hall at Sonoma Community Center.

The 26th annual festival will run from March 22 to 26. The complete film schedule and special events will be announced in the coming weeks. Discount festival passes are on sale through Tuesday, Jan. 31 at sonomafilmfest.org.