What's Cooking: A calendar of food & wine events

Food events

Saturday: Heirloom Tomato Festival, featuring tastings of 175 varieties, plus food, wine, live music and art show; 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Kendall-Jackson Wine Center, 5007 Fulton Road, Santa Rosa; $60; (800) 769-3649 or www.kj.com.

Saturday-Sunday: Ghirardelli Square's Chocolate Festival, featuring chef demonstrations and contests; noon-5 p.m.; 900 Northpoint St., San Francisco; $10 for six samplings, $20 for 15 samplings, cash only; (415) 775-5500 or www.ghirardellisq.com.

Saturday: NatureSweet Homegrown Tomato Challenge is offering a $5,000 prize to the gardener of the best home-grown tomato; bring tomatoes in between 9 and 11 a.m.; Raley's Supermarket, 25025 Blue Ravine Road, Folsom; no entry fee; winners will be announced at noon; (800) 315-8209 or www.naturesweettomatoes.com.

Saturday: Dina Guillen and friends will sign copies of "The Plank Grilling Cookbook"; 2 p.m.; Borders Books & Music, 2765 E. Bidwell St., Folsom; (916) 984-5900.

Classes

Thursday: Cooks Club features Cris Mckone making south of France recipes; 6-8:30 p.m.; Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op, 1914 Alhambra Blvd.; $35 members, $45 general; (916) 455-2667.

Thursday: Rick Mahan of Waterboy Restaurant shares his recipes; 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Library Galleria, 828 I St.; $67; register through Learning Exchange, (916) 929-9200 or www.learningexchange.com.

Saturday: "Teens in the Kitchen: Desserts From Around the World"; 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op, 1914 Alhambra Blvd.; $35 members, $45 general; (916) 455-2667.

Saturday: William Rolle on French cooking; 6:30-9:30 p.m.; Rolle French Gourmet Foods, 5257 H St.; $47 plus $20 materials fee; register through Learning Exchange: (916) 929-9200 or www.learningexchange.com.

Monday: Thai salads and starters; 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Elk Grove Co-op, 8517 Bond Road, Elk Grove; $25 members, $35 general; (916) 714-7100.

Tuesday: Gluten-free breakfast baked goods; 6-8 p.m.; Davis Food Co-op, 620 G St., Davis; $15 members, $20 general; (530) 758-2667 or http://davisfood.coop.

Tuesday: Ragin' Cajun with Kelly Fong; 6:30-9 p.m.; Williams- Sonoma, 525 Pavilions Lane; $49; (916) 646-0189.

Beverage events

Friday: Wines from New Zealand and Australia will be tasted; 6-8 p.m.; Davis Food Co-op, 620 G St., Davis; $1 per taste; profits to benefit the Howard Bowers Fund of the Cooperative Development Foundations; (530) 758-2667.

Friday: Christian Brothers Alumni Association's Wine Tasting Extravaganza, featuring more than 100 wineries, breweries and restaurants; 7-11 p.m.; Christian Brothers High School, 4315 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; $55 in advance, $65 at the door; (916) 733-3647 or www.cbhs-sacramento.org.