Spring has sprung and there's a bounty of food and wine events coming up. First, though, I want to plug one that I'll be taking part in: the Festa di Vino on April 25 at the Aerospace Museum of California. Presented by the Point West Rotary, the ticket sales and silent auction will benefit charitable and nonprofit causes, including Women's Empowerment, an organization dedicated to helping homeless women by helping them find work, homes, and even work on their health through nutrition and cooking classes.

A slew of local winemakers and chefs will provide food and drinks, including Rail Bridge Cellars of Sacramento, Carvalho Family Wines in Clarksburg, Gonul's, Lucca, and My Barbecue Spot. The American River Culinary students and I will provide cooking demos every half hour. I will be on at 7:30, 8:30, and 9:30, demonstrating some soups and appetizers from my cookbook (Hands-Off Cooking).

There will be a silent auction, featuring a 3-day Bodega Bay getaway, tickets to the Rivercats Solon Club, and some beautiful African quilts made by a Zulu quilting guild. You can also order a cookbook with recipes from the participating vintners and chefs, which should be a nice collection of local flavors.

To get tickets and more information, visit the Festa di Vino Web site. The event should be delicious and it's a really good cause. Divino!