If you’re already drooling over those Whoopie Pies, you’ll have to wait until January 2010 to try them.

That’s when Susiecakes will open its first Northern California location in Marin at the Bon Air Shopping Center in Greenbrae.

Owner Susan Sarich opened the first Susiecakes in Brentwood in Southern California three years ago. Three others followed suit in other SoCal cities.

The home-style desserts include everything from a best-selling apple pie to Susie’s Famous Southern Red Velvet cake to homemade banana pudding to assorted cupcakes.

If you’re starting your holiday shopping bright and early tomorrow, San Jose’s Santana Row will be offering a bevy of discounts and deals. Puripan Tea Garden will offer 20 percent off all teaware and accessories. Rosie McCann’s Irish Pub and Restaurant will start Happy Hour at 11:30 a.m. with half-off appetizers, and $2 off pints, well drinks and select wines. Roux Louisiana Kitchen joins in with house wine, champagne, mimosas and draft beer for $3 from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Yankee Pier will extend its Happy Hour from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and feature $1 Skokum oysters.

Thea Mediterranean will discount your tab 15 percent if you show a receipt from any Santana Row shop or restaurant that day. Vintage Wine Merchants will serve up $3 mimosas. And the Santana Row location of Starbucks will open at a crazy 3 a.m. for caffeine-desperate early shoppers.

If you’re missing out on turkey this Thanksgiving, no worries. The Naked Lunch, the fun, fast-casual eatery in San Francisco’s North Beach has a sammie that is sure to satisfy.

Available Nov. 27-28, the “Plymouth Superbird Sandwich” ($9) features Fra’ Mani’s new turkey galantine, made of both white and dark oven-roasted meat. The sandwich comes complete with cranberry mostarda, sweet potato aioli, Hen of the Woods mushrooms and shaved celery — all on an Acme green onion slab.

Chef Doug Keane and his staff at Cyrus in Healdsburg typically have the day off on Thanksgiving.

But this holiday, they’ll be working in a different capacity. Keane, his wife, and his crew will prepare and serve a traditional Thanksgiving feast today for 120 residents of Catholic Charities Homeless Service Center, a local organization that helps homeless families.

Guests of the shelter will enjoy a sit-down meal at Healdsburg Bar & Grill with all the trimmings, including cornbread, and apple and pumpkin pies.

“Thanksgiving is about giving thanks and giving back,” Keane says. “Rather than simply volunteering our time or donating our food to the shelter, we want to welcome these families as guests of what is, essentially, our home. We hope to provide a memorable and special dinner out- one where we can all give thanks together. ”

Meet some of the Bay Area’s top pastry chefs at “The State of Pastry in SF,” a 6 p.m. Dec. 1 program hosted by the San Francisco Commonwealth Club. They’ll be giving baking tips and talking about the latest dessert trends.

Panelists are: Luis Villavelazquez, executive pastry chef of Absinthe Brasserie & Bar; William Werner, executive pastry chef of Quince; Elizabeth Falkner, executive pastry chef and owner of Orson and Citizen Cake; and Bill Corbett, executive pastry chef of Michael Mina restaurant.

Tickets are $12 for members; $20 for non-members.

Indulge in Dungeness crab and more at the third annual “Slow Crab and Oyster Festival” at San Francisco’s Portrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St., 6 p.m. Dec. 5.

Students of the California Culinary Academy will be manning an oyster bar and cooking crab. Mighty Mississippi, an acoustic blues band, will entertain. Senator Mark Leno; Zeke Grader, executive director of Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman’s Associations; and Paul Johnson of Monterey Fish will be the speakers.

The event benefits the Slow Food San Francisco Urban School Garden Project Fund.

Tickets are $65; $60 for Slow Food members; or $100 for VIPs (includes culinary gift bag and seating at the VIP table).

Dec. 4-6, Calistoga wineries invite you to tour their facilities during “Winter in the Wineries Passport Weekend.’‘

Meet the winemakers and sample their wares. Many Calistoga restaurants and hotels will be offering discounts for the event. Join in even more fun on Dec. 5 for Calistoga’s 14th annual lighted tractor parade with modern and vintage farm vehicles.

Weekend passports are $40 and available at the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, and participating wineries. Among them are Bennett Lane Winery, Clos Pegase Winery, and Twomey Cellars.

Gourmands with deep pockets will want to get a seat at the “Twelve Days of Christmas at Meadowood” in St. Helena, Dec. 4-19.

Each of those nights, a different renowned chef from across the country will team with a stellar vintner for an unforgettable meal. One night’s lodging and dinner seating for two start at $950 per couple. For reservations, call (707) 968-3153.  The event benefits Share Our Strength, a leading anti-hunger organization.

The lineup is as follows:

Dec. 4: Mark Sullivan of Spruce in San Francisco with Vineyard 29 in St. Helena

Dec. 5: Marcus Samuelsson of Aquavit in New York with Philip and Carol Norfleet of the Napa Valley Reserve

Dec. 8: Josiah Citrin of Melisse in Santa Monica with Darioush winery

Dec. 9: Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook of Animal in Los Angeles with Hugh Davies of Schramsberg Vineyard and J. Davies Vineyard

Dec. 10: Jason Barwikowski of  Olympic Provisions and Clyde Common; Naomi Pomeroy of Beast; and Gabriel Rucker of Le Pigeon Restaurant — all of Portland, Ore. They will be teamed with Chateau Boswell in St. Helena and Jacquelynn Wines.

Dec. 11: Michael Cimarusti of Providence in Los Angeles with Blackbird Vineyards in Napa

Dec. 12: Nancy Oakes and Ravi Kapur of Boulevard in San Francisco with Kelly Fleming Wines

Dec. 15: Paul Liebrandt of Corton in New York with John Conover of PlumpJack and Cade wineries

Dec. 16: Laurent Gras of L2O in Chicago with Bressler Vineyards in the Napa Valley

Dec. 17: Cat Cora of “Iron Chef America” with Hunnicutt and D.R. Stephens Estate wineries

Dec. 18: Nancy Silverton and Matt Molina of Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles with Spottswoode winery

Dec. 19: Christopher Kostow of the Restaurant at Meadowood with Harlan Estate

More: Don’t know what to do with the leftover turkey carcass? Make my version of the comforting rice porridge known as jook.