Jen Demarest to open bakery – eventually
Have you had fabulous pastries or desserts at Harvest Moon Café? Or breakfast pastries, frittatas or strata at the Friday farmers market?
If you have, you can rest assured they came from the hands of pastry chef Jen Demarest, co-owner with husband Nick Demarest of Sonoma's Harvest Moon Café on First Street West and a volunteer firefighter with the Kenwood Fire Department.
Like her husband, Jen is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, where she and Nick met. They ventured off and worked on a biodynamic farm in upstate New York and then followed their culinary instincts to a private lodge in the Texas Hill Country, and then to private chef duties on the Island of Cyprus. Jen moved on to the now defunct Bay Wolf restaurant in Oakland and Le Toque in Rutherford.
After a few trips to Sonoma Jen and Nick decided to move to Sonoma and set up Harvest Moon Café in the previous location of Steiners and Sonoma Saveurs.
Now Jen is taking over the onetime Rocket and Sushinoma location to offer a full bakery and café with coffees and teas, breakfast and lunch.
But not so fast, kids. Jen Demarest said she has been waiting three months for a county building permit to remodel the interior of the space.
Let's just hope that eventually she also carries their daughter Annabelle's popsicles that we got to try a year ago at the Larson Park farmers market.
'Sourdough' at Readers' Books rescheduled to Nov. 9
Yes, there will be sourdough bread tastes, but this is about his novel called 'Sourdough' by Robin Sloan, who will read from and discuss his book 'Sourdough' on Friday, Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m., rescheduled from tonight. This is a fun novel that brings together the San Francisco foodie scene with the tech industry. The protagonist is Lois, whose fellow techies need to leave the country because of visa problems and suffer from leaving her and their sourdough startup behind.
Sloan's first novel, 'Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore,' was a New York Times best seller and was translated to 20 languages. He and partner Kathryn Tomajian make extra virgin olive oil called Fat Gold. 5:30 p.m. for tastes, followed by Sloan reading. Free. 130 E. Napa St., Sonoma. 939-1779.
Pumpkin contest at Farmers Market
The Friday morning farmers market will hold a pumpkin decorating contest during the market on the last Friday before Halloween, Oct. 26. This is not a race like the zucchini races. This is a contest just for decorating, carved or not. Check out this morning's farmers market for any new instructions. Arnold Field/Depot Park parking lot. 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Beer and Brewing class at CVM store
Cook Vineyard Management will host John Arends and his class, 'Intro to Beer and Brewing,' on Saturday, Oct. 27. The free class will cover the history of beer, the rise of craft brewers, brewing processes, beer ingredients, an overview of beer styles and beer tasting as a reward.
According to CVM store manager Marta Springer, John Arends has been an avid homebrewer in Sonoma County for 25 years, mastering the art of home brewing after a few failed attempts, which led him to actually learn about the intricacies of brewing. Arends has won several regional and national competitions and enjoys sharing his knowledge with the others. Free. 1 to 3 p.m. 19626 Eighth St. E., Sonoma. Call 938-7917.
Larson Winery hosts Canine Costume Contest
Always welcoming dogs to their winery, the Larson family will hold a Canine Costume Contest on Sunday, Oct. 28.
Becky and Tom Larson have named wines for their dogs, such as their Three Lab Cab, and Becky always brings their dogs to Adele Harrison Middle School when her vineyard crew teaches science students how to prune and harvest grape vines at the front of the school. Plus, Larson Family Winery planted the Adele vineyard as well as the one at Valley of the Moon Children's Center, all for free.
Registration for contest entry begins at 10 a.m. (if you haven't registered, be sure to allow enough time to fill out paperwork) and the Paw Parade starts at 11 a.m. Local guest judges will crown Canine Costume Contest winners in three categories: Best Canine Costume (individual); Best Canine Group Costume (two or more dogs); Best Matching Pair (human and dog).
Two complimentary wine tastings per entry and prizes for the costume contest winners!
Check in at 10 a.m., parade at 11 a.m. Contact Kayla Berthoud at kayla@larsonfamilywinery.com for rules and entry forms.
Dress up your dog, or yourself, or neither and go. Ten percent of all wine sales will go to Pets Lifeline. 23355 Millerick Road, Sonoma. 938-3031.
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