Mendocino Crab & Wine Days January 23 - February 1, 2009  Mendocino Crab & Wine Days January 23 - February 1, 2009. Call: 866-GoMendo. goMendo.com   2009 Crab & Wine Days offers succulent Dungeness crab, the first choice of many crab lovers. Ranked as one of America’s Top 10 Seafood & Wine Festivals by Coastal Living Magazine, crab feeds, winemakers dinners, cooking classes, wine competitions and numerous food and wine events fill the calendar of this annual crowd pleaser.   From crabbing demonstrations to crab cruises, cooking classes to cioppino feeds, visitors to this northern California coastal region are pleasantly surprised by the  gourmet restaurants, unique inns, picturesque villages, friendly wineries, wild and scenic rivers, majestic redwoods and rugged seaside in America’s Greenest Wine Region, Mendocino County. Newspaper “tablecloths” and bibs greet guests in a tradition that allows you to dig in and enjoy your crab with a mug of Mendocino County ale. Among the many attractions and activities surrounding this event here are some highlights: Crab Cruises aboard the Sea Hawk for Crab & Whale Watching, plus crab demonstrations includes tackle and cooking of crabs. Catch up to 10 crabs per person. Full crabbing trip is 4-5 hours. Now this is a fun, full-filling event. Location: 32400 No. Harbor Drive Call: (707) 964-1881.  allaboardadventures.com FRIDAY, JANUARY 23 Mendocino Coast Clinics' Cioppino Dinner - 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Mendocino Coast Clinics' FUN fundraising weekend begins with a family-style Cioppino Dinner. Two seating’s are offered to accommodate everyone: Steaming bowls of fresh Cioppino are served with salad, French bread and lots of extra napkins! Music and Auction Prizes add to the festivities. Pentecost Hall - 822 Stewart Street, Fort Bragg. 707.961. 3463 -  mendocinocoastclinics.org Knights of Columbus - 6:00 p.m. Attend the Meanest 2 Nite Crab Feed. All you can eat with salad, bread & wine including a full evening of entertainment. $40.00 per person. Get your tickets early - this event sells out every year. Crown Hall, Mendocino. Tickets – 707.937.2406 - KCCRABFEED@MCN.ORG SATURDAY, JANUARY 24 Barra of Mendocino – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Get your Passport stamped, sample crab appetizers while you taste our 100% estate grown, hand-picked, certified organic wines. 7051 North State Street, Redwood Valley, CA. 707.485.0322 – www.barraofmendocino.com Handley Cellars – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Special Crab Appetizers paired with Handley wine in the Tasting Room 3151 Hwy 128, Philo CA. 800.733.3151 - www.handleycellars.com McNab Ridge Tasting Room - 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Come get your Passport stamped, try some outstanding wine, barrel taste our new 2007 Pinotage, futures available. We’ll also be serving a special crab appetizer of the day. 13441 South Highway 101, Hopland, CA. 707.744.1986 – www.mcnabridge.com Claudia Springs – 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Come celebrate our Twentieth Anniversary and sample our award winning wines along with a spicy crab delight. 1810 Highway 128, Mile Marker 16 (next to the Floodgate Café). 707.895.3993 – www.claudiasprings.com Pacific Star Winery Annual Crab & Wine Gala – Noon - 2:00. Featuring local Dungeness crab with a variety of side dishes paired with Pacific Star wines. The event is held at our ocean-side winery 12 miles north of Fort Bragg. Pacific Star Wine Club members $60; Guests $70. 3300 North Highway 1, Fort Bragg. 707.962.9463 or e-mail pacstar@mcn.org for reservations. Mendocino Coast Clinics' Crab Cake Cook-off and Wine Tasting Competition Noon - 3:00 p.m. Mendocino County Chefs and Wineries serve up their very best to compete for votes from Celebrity Judges (media professionals arrive from around the Nation to judge!), and the popular Peoples' Choice Award! Live & Silent Auctions for Mendocino County Wines, Mendocino Coast Get- Aways, Fine Dining, Shopping Sprees and more. Pentecost Hall - 822 Stewart Street, Fort Bragg. 707.961. 3463 www.mendocinocoastclinics.org Knights of Columbus – 6:00 p.m. Attend the Meanest 2 Nite Crab Feed. All you can eat with salad, bread & wine including a full evening of entertainment. $40.00 per person. Get your tickets early - this event sells out every year. Crown Hall, Mendocino. Tickets – 707.937.2406 - KCCRABFEED@MCN.ORG Willits Rotary Club Annual Crab Feed - 6:00 p.m. Benefitting Willits High School Scholarship Fund. Willits Senior Center, 1501 Baechtel Road, Willits, CA. Contact Jim Harden 459-5649. Hill House Inn Please join us for Celtic Night -- a fundraiser for the Mendocino Presbyterian Church. 10701 Palette Drive, Mendocino 707-937-0554 - www.hillhouseinn.com Living Light International Special! One weekend only! Try Cherie Soria’s fabulous Vegan Bay "Crab" Cakes with Creamy Dill Sauce January 23, 24 & 25 at Living Light Café and Cuisine to Go in The Company Store, corner Main and Redwood in Fort Bragg! Fantastic Vegan Alternative! www.rawfoodchef.com - 707.964.4755. SUNDAY, JANUARY 25 Barra of Mendocino – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Get your Passport stamped, sample scrumptious crab appetizers while you taste our 100% estate grown, hand-picked, certified organic wines. 7051 North State Street, Redwood Valley, CA. 707.485.0322 – www.barraofmendocino.com Handley Cellars – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Special Crab Appetizers paired with Handley wine in the Tasting Room 3151 Hwy 128, Philo CA. 800.733.3151 or www.handleycellars.com Husch Vineyards - 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Complimentary wine tasting paired with a special crab dish. Stop in and get your Passport stamped! 4400 Highway 128, Philo, CA 800-55-HUSCH Claudia Springs – 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Come celebrate our Twentieth Anniversary and sample our award winning wines along with a spicy crab delight. 1810 Highway 128, Mile Marker 16 (next to the Floodgate Café), Philo, CA. 707.895.3993 – www.claudiasprings.com Little River Inn FREE Film Festival - 3:00 p.m. Bring your sense of humor and fake screams for showings of “Attack of the Crab Monsters” and other kitschy horror flicks. 7901 North Highway 1, Little River, CA. See movie schedule at www.littleriverinn.com or call 888-INN-LOVE. MONDAY, JANUARY 26 Mendo Bistro – 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. 10th Anniversary gigantic party. Free food and drink, along with recognition of special customers and recognition of staff past and present. Upstairs at the Country Store - 301 North Main Street, Fort Bragg. 707.964.4974 – www.mendobistro.com Little River Inn – 6:30 p.m. OLD-FASHIONED CRAB FEED “There is a saying in Baltimore that crabs may be prepared in fifty ways and that all of them are good.” We can’t help but agree with Mr. Mencken. Join us for a traditional crab feed, complete with bib, crackers and newspaper-covered tables. The star of the menu is, of course, fresh crab brought in the same morning from Noyo Harbor and served cold and cracked. Seating is limited. 7901 North Highway 1, Little River, CA. 707.937.5942 - www.littleriverinn.com TUESDAY, JANUARY 27 Silver’s at the Wharf Restaurant & Lodge – 2007 Winner “First Place Crab Cake Award. Relax and enjoy a special Winemaker’s Dinner featuring Dungeness Crab and Crab specialties or stop in for a relaxing lunch or dinner anytime and watch the crabbers return with their bounty. Come early to get a window table and watch the world of Noyo Harbor unfold. 32260 North Harbor Drive, Fort Bragg, CA 95437. Restaurant – 707.964.4283; Lodge 707.964.0569 – www.silversatthewharf.com; thewharf@mcn.org THURSDAY, JANUARY 29 Albion River Inn Crab & Wine Days Premium Wine Dinner - 6:30 pm. “Our most ambitious and memorable wine event ever” featuring a savory, crab inspired 6-course menu paired with premium wines from our award winning wine cellar, a mellow, jazz ensemble to entertain our guests. Price is $170, including tax and gratuity. 3790 North Highway 1, Albion, CA. 1.800.479.7944 - www.albionriverinn.com The Restaurant at Stevenswood – 5:00 p.m. Special Wine Pour – Free wine tasting. Poured by local Winery TBD. 8211 North Highway 1, Little River, CA. 1.800.421.2810 – http://www.stevenswood.com/crabwine08.html FRIDAY, JANUARY 30 Handley Cellars – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Special crab appetizers paired with Handley wine in the Tasting Room 3151 Hwy 128, Philo CA. 800.733.3151 or www.handleycellars.com The Restaurant at Stevenswood – 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Chinese New Year Celebration. 8211 North Highway 1, Little River, CA. 800.421.2810 – http://www.stevenswood.com/crabwine08.html Little River Inn CRAB & Winemakers Dinner. Featuring Esterlina Vineyards 6:30 p.m. Please join us for an outstanding evening. Esterlina is a family owned boutique winery nestled in the highlands above Philo. They produce a variety of exceptional fine wines in limited quantities. Esterlina wines are handcrafted--there is no assembly line manufacturing case after case. The Sterling family grows the grapes, makes the wine, and bottles each varietal themselves, preferring the "small quantity, high quality" style of winemaking. $90.00 per person. 7901 North Highway 1, Little River (2 miles south of Mendocino. 888.466.5683 - www.littleriverinn.com SATURDAY, JANUARY 31 Barra of Mendocino – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Get your Passport stamped, sample crab appetizers while you taste our 100% estate grown, hand-picked, certified organic wines. 7051 North State Street, Redwood Valley, CA. 707.485.0322 – www.barraofmendocino.com Handley Cellars – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Special crab appetizers paired with Handley wine in the Tasting Room 3151 Hwy 128, Philo CA. 800.733.3151 or www.handleycellars.com McNab Ridge Tasting Room – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Come get your Passport stamped, try some outstanding wine, barrel taste our new 2007 Pinotage, futures available. We’ll also be serving a special Crab appetizer of the day. 13441 South Highway 101, Hopland, CA. 707.744.1986 – www.mcnabridge.com Fort Bragg Rotary Annual Crab Feed / Mendocino Coast Sports Foundation 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Tickets are now available for $40 through a Rotary member or by calling 707.964.0676 or 707.964.3749. Fort Bragg Fire Department, 141 North Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA. Mendocino Hotel – 6:00 p.m. Crab & Wine Festival Winemaker Dinner featuring Maple Creek Winery. Menu and Price TBA. 45080 Main St., Mendocino. 707.937.0511 - www.mendocinohotel.com SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Barra of Mendocino – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Get your Passport stamped, sample crab appetizers while you taste our 100% estate grown, hand-picked, certified organic wines. 7051 North State Street, Redwood Valley, CA. 707.485.0322 – www.barraofmendocino.com Handley Cellars – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Special Crab Appetizers paired with Handley wine in the Tasting Room 3151 Hwy 128, Philo CA. 800.733.3151 or www.handleycellars.com Extended Festival Opportunities SATURDAY, JANUARY 10 McNab Ridge Tasting Room – Food & Wine Series – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Come join us for the latest in our popular “McNab’s Second Saturday” series of complimentary Food & Wine pairings. Help us get a jump start on Mendocino Crab & Wine Days. We’ll be serving up Denise’s Famous Crab Tomato Bisque and Crab-Pineapple Dip perfectly paired with our DELICIOUS 2007 Chardonnay. We’ll also have other selected food & wine pairings for the day. Taste our brand new 2007 Pinotage straight from the barrel, futures available. 13441 South Highway 101, Hopland, CA. 707.744.1986 – www.mcnabridge.com SATURDAY, JANUARY 17 & SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 Claudia Springs – 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Help us celebrate our Twentieth Anniversary and sample our award winning wines along with a spicy crab delight. 1810 Highway 128, Mile Marker 16 (next to the Floodgate Café), Philo. 707.895.3993 – www.claudiasprings.com Yorkville Cellars Semillon & Crab Hors d'oeuvres In Our Tasting Room Noon - 3:00 p.m. Taste some of our 14 vintages of Semillon out of our cellar along with a wide selection of delicious crab appetizers. No reservation necessary; $15 public tasting fee waived for our “Hi-Rollrs” Wine Club members. 25701 Highway 128, Yorkville, CA. 707.894-9177 – www.yorkvillecellars.com MONDAY, JANUARY 19 Little River Inn Old-Fashioned Crab Feed - 6:30 p.m. “There is a saying in Baltimore that crabs may be prepared in fifty ways and that all of them are good.” We can’t help but agree with Mr. Mencken. Join us for a traditional crab feed, complete with bib, crackers and newspaper-covered tables. The star of the menu is, of course, fresh crab brought in the same morning from Noyo Harbor and served cold and cracked. $55 per person. Seating is limited, so be sure to call for reservations. 7901 North Highway 1, Little River, CA. 888-INN-LOVE - www.littleriverinn.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 22 Mermaid Ball Handley Cellars and the Ledford House Restaurant are pleased to bring you the Ninth Annual Mermaid Ball. This whimsical evening will brighten your mid-winter with music, dancing, a crab-focused menu, and Handley wine with every course! Costumes are de rigueur. Ledford House Restaurant, 3000 North Hwy 1Albion, CA. 707.937.0282 - ledford@mcn.org SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7 A Sea-to-Table Ultimate Experience Assaggiare Mendocino, All Aboard Adventures and the Mendocino Hotel team up to bring you this extraordinary day of food and fun for the adventurous cook! Includes a Crab Cruise on the Sea Hawk, leaving Noyo Harbor at 7:00 a.m. (weather permitting), returning at noon where Captain Tim and his expert crew will instruct participants on the art of boiling, cleaning and cracking crab. Each participant can get up to ten crabs to take away. Cooking class begins at 1:00 p.m., with a light lunch of freshly cracked crab and Mendocino sourdough bread; and continues with practice in preparing a range of crab dishes using some of our freshly-caught crab. Class is followed by a delectable supper, prepared during the class, paired with Mendocino County wines. Accommodations available at the Hill House Inn or the Mendocino Hotel. Limited to twenty participants, $125.00 each or a special couples rate of $200.00. Call Assaggiare Mendocino at 707.961.9687 for reservations.