Wine Country Benefits/Events

the tablehopper | 2:27 pm | September 25, 2009 | Events, Foodie 411, Wine Country

Starlight Wine Bar & Restaurant in Sebastopol is hosting an emergency benefit for chef Thaddeus Palmese, who is fighting a second round with cancer and needs to raise funds for treatment (Thaddeus is the cousin of Starlight’s chef Ted Van Doon). A casual and lively benefit is planned: for $25, the fun and true-to-Starlight-fashion Creole menu will include red beans and rice and cornbread. A no-host bar will also be offered as well as live entertainment. All proceeds will go to support Thaddeus’ medical costs. The event is being held at Sassafras rather than Starlight to accommodate a larger crowd. A silent auction for which donations are still being accepted is also being organized. It’s on Monday September 28th, from 5pm to 8pm.

• Sassafras Restaurant, 1229 N. Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-578-7600.

Domaine Chandon is hosting its fourth annual Pink Party on Thursday, October 1st, a bubbly benefit for breast cancer research. Domaine Chandon’s beautiful landscaped gardens will be bubbling with 600 pink-attired revelers celebrating with pink sparkling wine and dancing under the stars to the sounds of DJ Dukes from 7pm to midnight. étoile, the fine dining restaurant located on-site, will feature pink-hued appetizers and small bites (beet panna cotta, salmon and beef tartare, house-made charcuterie and black mission figs) paired with the sparkling rosé for the event. Complimentary shuttle service is available from select stops to the event. Pick-up and drop off points include the Napa River Inn, Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa, Embassy Suites Hotel Napa Valley, Yountville Inn, and Villagio. Discounted private transportation is also available through Pure Luxury Transportation. étoile will be open for dinner from 6pm–9:30pm for those wishing a sit-down meal before the event. Throughout the entire month of October, the restaurant will offer a special three-course menu paired with rosé wines ($75 lunch/$95 dinner).

Tickets are $50 per person and proceeds from sales and a silent auction featuring fine wines and luxury items will go to benefit breast cancer research at the Queen of the Valley Hospital Foundation. Buy tickets soon since this event sells out; tickets are available at www.chandon.com. Additionally, for the entire month of October, $1.00 from every bottle of rosé (of which the winery sells four varieties) sold at the winery will go to Queen of the Valley. Last year, Domaine Chandon raised $10,000 with the combined proceeds from the Pink Party and rosé sales.

Marcia Gagliardi writes a popular weekly e-column about the SF dining scene, “the tablehopper.” Subscribe for free at www.tablehopper.com and get it in your inbox every Tuesday. Got news? Email Marcia at taste@sanfrancisco.travel.