A la carte: Baking, beans and brunch with Santa

HEALDSBURG

Dine Around

Healdsburg is once again hosting its annual Dine Around, three-restaurant progressive dinner starting at 6:15 p.m. on Dec. 5 and 6 and Dec. 12 and 13 at more than a dozen restaurants and inns.

Participating eateries serving appetizers include Barrels, Brews & Bites, Bravas Bar de Tapas, Barndiva Gallery Bar & Bistro, Healdsburg SHED, Valette and Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar.

For entrees, choose from Baci Cafe & Wine Bar, Mateo’s, Oakville Grocery and Spoonbar. (The Taste of Tea available Dec. 6 and 13.)

Desserts will be served at Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen and Guiso Latin Fusion. Camellia Inn and The River Belle Inn will serve a selection of bakery treats by Costeaux Bakery’s pastry chef.

Cost is $89, not including beverages or tip. hbgdinearound.com.

SONOMA

Pairings for the Senses

Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (SVMA) will host its third annual Pairings for the Senses from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday featuring winemakers, chefs and artists along with a “flight of poets.”

Chefs John McReynolds of EDGE at Stone Edge Farm, Sondra Bernstein and John Toulze of girl & the fig and Ari Weiswasser of the Glen Ellen Star will be cooking, and wineries include Gloria Ferrer, Stone Edge Farm, Eco Terreno Wines and Belden Barns.

Tickets are $35. To reserve: svma.org/calendar/events/pairings-senses or 707-939-7862, ext. 13. ?551 Broadway.

SANTA ROSA

Chanukah Festival

The Sonoma County Chabad Jewish Center will host a Chanukah Festival at 4 p.m. Sunday at Montgomery Village’s Village.

In addition to lighting the menorah, there will be dreidels, hot latkes and kosher concessions.

For more information: jewishsonoma.com or 707-577-0277.

SONOMA

Italian confections

Chef Maria Capdevielle will help you get ready for the cookie exchange party during a class on baking Italian sweets for the holidays at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sonoma Community Center.

Traditional cookies and confections on the menu include Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti, Panforte, Croccante (almond nougat with rosemary) and Baci di Dama (hazelnut butter sandwich cookie with chocolate ganache.)

Cost is $90. To register, call 707-938-4626, ext. 1. ?276 E. Napa St.

NAPA

Full of beans

Georgeanne Brennan, author of “French Beans: Exploring the Regional Bean Cooking of France” (2018, Rancho Gordo Press, $22.99) will give a cooking demonstration from her book at 11 a.m. Saturday at Rancho Gordo in Napa.

Brennan will sign copies of the cookbook, and all participants will go home with a bag of Mogette beans, the latest imported new crop of heirloom beans from France. Tickets are $5. Reserve at eventbite.com.

Rancho Gordo is located at 1924 Yajome Street.

SANTA ROSA

Mercantile di Natale

Join other Italophiles from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at teh Mercantino di Natale at St. Rose Parish Hall.

The market features artisan vendors, an Italian cafe, wine and beer bar, live entertainment and an historic exhibit of Italians in Wine Country.

Tickets are $5, available at nbicf.org or at the door, with proceeds benefiting the North Bay Italian Cultural Foundation. Free for children. 320 10th St.

SONOMA

Brunch with Santa

Celebrate the season with family and friends during Santa’s Brunch Dec. 9 at Ramekins Culinary School.

There will be two seatings, at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The menu includes omelets, roasted meats, waffles, fruit and granola, soup and salad, frittatas, sweet and savory pastries, holiday desserts, coffee, hot cocoa and mimosas.

Tickets are $65 adults, $25 kids, including cookie decorating and photos with Santa.

For a full menu or to register, go to ramekins.com. 450 West Spain St.

Staff Writer Diane Peterson can be reached at 707-521-5287 or diane.peterson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @dianepete56.