HIKE AND EAT AT SALMON CREEK RANCH

Saturday in Seclusion: If you hurry, you might be able to join in a hike and lunch at Salmon Creek Ranch outside the hamlet of Bodega and home to a thousand ducks, a hundred goats, including lots of babies, and and cattle that graze on grass. Salmon Creek Ranch sells its duck and goat meat at the Santa Rosa Original Farmers Market and every now and then they open the ranch, described as a secluded paradise, to visitors.

The hike begins at 10:30 a.m. and passes through forested trails, redwood groves, open pastures, waterside paths and past the Tree House, said to be spectacular. There are a few fairly strenuous hills but your reward is lunch in a secluded creekside meadow.

If you'd like to play croquet, that's an option and the Mercantile will be open if you'd like to purchase any of the farm's products. Things wrap up around 1 p.m.

Cost is $35 per person and $50 per couple. If you want to join in for the hike only, the cost is $25 per car. There are also opportunities to trade for a bit of work. Your well-behaved dog on a lead is welcome, as is your well-behaved baby or toddler who fits in a carry pack. To attend, call 876-1808 right away, as they need to know how many people to expect for lunch. Technically, reservations closed on Thursday, but hosts Lesley and John Brabyn offered to accept reservations from readers of this column through Friday.

The hike starts promptly at 10:30 a.m. at 1400 Bay Hill Road, Bodega.

To learn more about the ranch, including the luxury dog boarding accommodations, visit salmoncreekranch.com.

Applewood Restaurant and Moshin Vineyards: Next Thursday, May 19, chef Bruce Frieseke will present a five-course winemaker dinner featuring wines of Moshin Vineyards.

The evening begins with a reception from 6:30 to 7 p.m., when Moshin 2010 Sonoma Coast Morris Vineyard Pinot Gris will be served.

Dinner starts at 7 p.m., with Moshin 2010 Russian River Valley Ros?? of Pinot Noir paired with favas, fennel and pickled ramps. Next comes sablefish marinated in miso and served with lobster-glazed lentils, parsnip puree and the winery's 2008 Russian River Valley Chardonnay.

It's the next course that really caught our eye: Muscovy duck sausage, foie gras potato puree and an egg yolk poached in red wine, accompanied beautifully by Moshin's 2007 Molinari Vineyard Pinot Noir. That alone is worth the price of admission.

But there's a lot more, including Moshin's 2007 Russian River Valley Foppiano Vineyard Petite Sirah paired with cacao-nib-encrusted rack of lamb, chorizo, chick peas and mint chimichurri.

And be sure to save room for dessert, honey semifreddo, vanilla tuille, spring berries and Moshin's 2009 Potion No. 9, a white dessert wine.

Cost is $95 per person, plus tax and gratuity. For reservations, call 869-9093. Apple Inn is located at 13555 Highway 116 in Guerneville. To learn more about it, visit applewoodinn.com.

Garlic Kisses and More at DaVero Tasting Room: The DaVero Tasting Room (766 Westside Rd., Healdsburg), home of what is arguably the best olive oil in the country and an ever-expanding selection of DaVero wines, is now open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and occasionally later for special occasions.

Next Wednesday, Doralice Handal, the proprietor of The Cheese Shop in Healdsburg and a highly respected and knowledgeable cheesemonger, will lead guests in an exploration of cheese and wine, a topic with endless possibilities. If you've wanted to know more on the subject, this is a great opportunity. Cost is $45 per person and $35 if you are a member of DaVero's wine club. Make reservations soon, as attendance is limited to just 24 people. This event begins at 5:30 p.m.

Chester Aaron, beloved author of "Garlic Kisses," "Garlic Life" and many other books, appears on June 18. Stay tuned for details.

For reservations, call 431-8000 or email events@davero.com.

George Taber at Soda Rock Winery: The Sonoma County Wine Library Associates are hosting another interesting event next Friday evening, May 20, at Soda Rock Winery (8015 Highway 128, Healdsburg), with guest George Taber.

Taber, the only reporter present at the famous Paris tasting of California and French wines in 1976, is the author of "Judgment of Paris," which explores that landmark tasting and its profound effect on the world of wine.

The secret grapes of Sonoma County will be the focus of Taber's presentation. Cost is $35 for members of the wine library and $45 for the general public; the price includes wines from the Wilson Family wineries, delicious foods from Park Avenue Catering and an opportunity to purchase Taber's books.

For reservations, call 433-1660 soon so you don't miss out.

Filling Empty Bowls for the Redwood Empire Food Bank:

Next Saturday, May 21, there's a benefit for the Redwood Empire Food Bank at the Friedman Center (4676 Mayette Ave., Santa Rosa).

The event, Empty Bowls Dinner & Auction, will feature Sonoma County's diverse abundance, with an emphasis on both visual and culinary artistic expression. A three-course dinner will be a joint effort by Worth Our Weight, the Ceres Community Project and The Living Room, with Chef Ron Skaar at the helm. Ten unique handcrafted bowls by local artists -- Kate Black, Tom Collins, Gerald and Kelly Hong, Kenyon Lewis, Chuck Quibell, Libby Kirck, Julie Warner, Roy Kajac, Judy McNeil, Evan Shivelyl and Aletha Soule -- are at the heart of a live auction, which also includes getaways, special dinners, wine, spa packages, sports opportunities and more. To preview the bowls and some of the other auction items, including a Weber Summit gas barbecue and stainless steel patio heater, visit refb.org.

Marcy Smothers serves as the evening's mistress of ceremonies and Press Democrat columnist Chris Smith serves as auctioneer.

Tickets are $100 each.

All proceeds benefit the food bank, which feeds nearly 80,000 Sonoma County residents each month. For tickets, call Hillary Howard at 523-7900 or email her at hhoward@refb.org.

Thursday Lecture Series at The Seed Bank: Next Thursday, May 19, Anne Fisher Silva, head of the local chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation and a clinical nutritionist, will speak at the Seed Bank about the toll stress takes on our bodies. Anne's refreshing and informative talks always feature a local food vendor of some sort and tastings of delicious foods that enhance health. On May 26, chef Jeremy Fox and chef/farmer Peter Jacobson of Jacobson Orchards will explore economically and environmentally just agricultural and culinary practices. Lectures begin at 7 p.m. and wrap up around 8:30 p.m. Admission is free. The Seed Bank is located at 199 Petaluma Blvd. North, at the corner of Washington St., in Petaluma.

Ceres Project Book Launch: On Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m., Copperfield's in downtown Sebastopol hosts a launch party for the second edition of "Nourishing Connections Cookbook," written by JoEllen DeNicola, nutrition director, and Cathryn Couch, founder of this remarkable nonprofit organization. The second edition of the book features about a dozen new recipes, an expanded index and new nutritional information, including how to work with grains, beans, nuts and seeds to best release their nutrients.

The event, which is free, includes tastings, a reading and a signing.

To read more about the Ceres Community Project, which provides meals made by high school students using local and organic foods to individuals battling serious illness and their families, visit ceresproject.org.

Michele Anna Jordan hosts "Mouthful" each Sunday at 7 p.m. on KRCB 90.9 & 91.1 FM. E-mail Jordan at michele@micheleannajordan.com. You'll find her blog, "Eat This Now," at pantry.blogs.pressdemocrat.com