For a delicious time, head to one of these upcoming fun events:

* 22nd Annual Star Chefs & Vintners Gala: Chef Nancy Oakes of Boulevard in San Francisco once again is spearheading this gala that benefits Meals on Wheels of San Francisco, which provides meals to homebound seniors. The May 17 benefit at Fort Mason in San Francisco features more than 70 of the Bay Area’s best chefs, including Charles Phan of the Slanted Door in San Francisco, Mourad Lahlou of Aziza in San Francisco, and Christopher Kostow of the Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena.

Participating vintners include Pride Mountain Vineyards, Duckhorn Vineyards, and Vineyard 29. Mixologists from the Alembic and Absinthe will be concocting one-of-a-kind cocktails.

Silent and live auction items will include the rarest of wines, and dinner at a private estate in Pebble Beach.

Individual tickets start at $400. For more information, call (415) 920-1111 ext. 281.

* Panini tasting with Tom Colicchio: The head honcho “Top Chef” judge will be at Williams-Sonoma’s Union Square store, 340 Post St. in San Francisco, 5 p.m. April 15. Nosh on sandwiches as Colicchio signs his new book, “wichcraft.” For more information, call (415) 362-9450.

* Farm to Table at Nick’s Cove: Executive Chef Adam Mali will create a five-course dinner April 16 at the Tomales Bay restaurant, featuring ingredients from its on-site garden, Drake’s Bay oysters, and Drake’s Bay Family Farms.

Price is $65 per person. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Marin Organic, an association of organic producers. Those who want to spend the night in the cottages can take advantage of a special rate of $100 off luxury waterfront ones or $50 off water view ones.

* ”Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day” Deal: To support that national day on April 23, parents who dine at McCormick & Kuleto’s Seafood Restaurant in San Francisco and Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto in Berkeley will receive a free lunch entree and beverage for their children.

* Taste of Tamales by the Bay: Enjoy a variety of tamales, both sweet and savory, at the third annual event, noon to 4:30 p.m. April 26 at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. See tamale-making demonstrations, and enjoy margaritas, as well as heirloom beans from Rancho Gordo.

Tickets are $35 for adults; $15 for children ages 6-12. The event benefits the Benchmark Institute a non-profit that teaches advocates how to use the law to help low-income communities.

* Taste of the Nation: April 23, join more than 20 of San Francisco’s big-name chefs and best mixologists at the  annual event to benefit organizations working to end childhood hunger. The event at Acme Chophouse in San Francisco will include both a $250 gala dinner, and a $75 general admission taste event.

Event co-chairs are Traci des Jardins (of Acme Chophouse, Jardiniere, and Mijita), and Jamie Lauren (of Absinthe restaurant and “Top Chef” fame). Taste nibbles from restaurants such as A16 and Poleng Lounge during the taste event. The gala dinner is a four-course extravaganza that will be prepared by Michael Symon of Cleveland’s Lola and Lolita (and star of “Iron Chef America”); Chris Cosentino of Incanto in San Francisco; Gavin Kaysen of Cafe Boulud in New York; and Koren Grieveson of Chicago’s Avec. Elizabeth Falkner of Orson and Citizen Cake, both in San Francisco, will provide the desserts.

Among the organizations that will benefit will be Food Runners, Children of Shelters, and Sports 4 Kids.

* Reception with Ruth Reichl of Gourmet Magazine: Join Gourmet’s editor in chief on May 9 at the Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville, where she will be doing a benefit reading, book-signing and reception.

The event, organized by the Land Trust of Napa County and Book Passage (Northern California’s largest independent bookseller), will benefit the Land Trust, an organization that is dedicated to protecting Napa County’s open spaces.

Tickets are $50 for Land Trust members; $65 for non-members. Admission includes a copy of Reichl’s new book, “Not Becoming My Mother” (Penguin Press).

* 5th Annual Ultimate Blind Date Tasting Event: Sip some of Napa Valley’s best wines, and if you can guess their varietals, vintages, and producers, you can win prizes. This wine-lover’s event will be held at Flora Springs Winery on May 30.

Guests will be able to sample more than 60 of St. Helena’s best wines, along with gourmet creations by Chef Cindy Pawlycn of Mustards Grill, Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen, and Go Fish.

Tickets are $60. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to St. Helena’s Work Connection, a non-profit that provides assistance to vineyard and migrant workers.