Chefs Star at the 2012 San Francisco Flower & Garden Show

It’s time for the largest garden festival around, the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show, March 21-25, where you’ll not only get to gawk at gorgeous garden exhibits, but enjoy a host of cooking demos, too.

Some of the Bay Area’s finest will be showcasing garden-to-table cooking. Among those taking the stage are: Executive Chef Brandon Jew of Bar Agricole in San Francisco (March 21); Melanie Eisemann and David Budworth of Avedano’s Meats in San Francisco; Chef Greg Dunmore of Nojo in San Francisco (March 22); Pastry Chef James Ormsby of Bluestem Brasserie (March 22); Chef Annie Somerville of Greens in San Francisco (March 23); the creative team behind Bi-Rite Market and Creamery (March 24); and TV cooking personality Martin Yan.

And for those in the South Bay and Peninsula loathe to drive to San Francisco, remember the garden show actually is held in San Mateo at the San Mateo County Event Center. So, there’s no excuse not to go now.

Tickets to the garden show are $20 for a single day, $25 for the all-show pass good on all days of the event, and $65 for the gala, which includes food, wine and music.

Fifth Annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine

Join more than 75 of the world’s best chefs and 250 acclaimed vintners at the Pebble Beach Resorts, April 12-15, for a slew of gala dinners, cooking demos and one-of-a-kind wine tastings.

Among the highlights at this year’s Pebble Beach Food & Wine will be a celebrity chef golf tournament, a special father-daughter presentation by Jacques Pepin and Claudine Pepin, a cooking demo by Michael Chiarello of Bottega in Yountville, and a dinner in tribute to Thomas Keller of the French Laundry.

Tickets range from $100 to $1,000, depending upon the event.

Chef Dominique Crenn Hosts Chefs From Around the World

At Atelier Crenn in San Francisco, Chef-Proprietor Dominique Crenn is inviting some of the top chefs around the globe to cook with her in her kitchen.

These special “Dialogue Dinners” kicks off March 28-29 with Miles Watson of Pure Berlin in Berlin. He and Crenn will serve 11 courses (five from each chef plus one collaborative dish).

Tickets are $300 per person and include paired wines. For those abstaining from alcohol, the price is $200.

Winner of the Sante Nuts Contest

In last week’s Food Gal contest, I asked you to tell me something that drives you nutso. The winner will receive a sampler pack of all nine varieties of Santé nuts.

Congrats to:

Edwin Chua, who wrote, “What drives me nutty is when people ask me something and then turn around and ask someone the exact same question after I just told them! Another thing that drives me nutty is when people don’t signal! Oooo and while we’re at it, drivers who sees the left lane ends and stay on that lane until the very last second to try and get in front of everyone (don’t even get me started on the people who actually let them over for that matter!) I’m done now! haha”

More: My Q&A with Michael Chiarello

And: My Q&A with Dominique Crenn

And: My Q&A with Annie Somerville

And: Dinner at Bar Agricole

And: Dinner at Bluestem Brasserie

And: Dinner at Bottega