After reading Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma this past year, I decided to dig a little deeper to find a local market for as many of our weekly groceries as possible. Luckily, living here in Pasadena makes it easy.

My first quest was to find very-locally-sourced produce. Urban “farming” is becoming very popular in Altadena, and I was surprised – and excited – to learn of the Altadena Urban Farmers’ Market. Hosted at the historical Zane Grey Estate once a month, the UFM is a collection of backyard green-thumbs selling the fruits of their labor – from squash to bread – working together to promote our own local food chain. The next UFM is on Sunday, April 17 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Attendees must fill out a membership application to attend – a small exchange for such a unique way to get your veggies!

Altadena Urban Farmers’ Market at the Zane Grey Estate

For the Old Town in all of us, The Market on Holly lands next to Maude Woods at the Raymond Theater Condo building in May. Boasting a market-driven daily menu created by co-owner (and successful Pasadena-based caterer) Mary Pat Brandmeyer, in addition to on-the-go goodies, the Market will also serve beer and wine to pair with such selections as salmon with Chinese black bean sauce or chutney and chicken salad.

What’s totally cool about the Market will be a weekly Market Days, which will feature locally-grown and sourced fare including vegetables, fruit and eggs. When in Old Town, I always opt to park at the Raymond garage next to Heritage Wine Company. It’s 90 minutes free and allows a nice little stroll down Raymond Avenue to Old Town, to help burn off all of those delicious calories.

The Market on Holly; 57 E. Holly St. (next to Maude Woods)

South Pas: Lucia Vineyards Wine Tasting with Gary Pisoni

Thursday, March 10, 2011; 5 – 8 p.m. @ Mission

Those familiar with our enormous Central Coast wine region, and the beautiful AVAs therein know that the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA is a perfect spot for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. One of the more legendary winemakers and mover-shakers in the area is Gary Pisoni, who planted family ranch land to pinot noir in the early 1980s. Nearly twenty years later, Pisoni Estate Winery was born after selling grapes to fine pinot noir producers all over California. Lucia Winery is a Pisoni-owned project focusing on SLH Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and “Lucy” Rose. Mission Wines in South Pasadena hosts so-called “wild man” winemaker Gary Pisoni and will feature four new releases for only $10. Click here for more information.

Pasadena: Hitching Post Wine Tasting with Gray Hartley

Saturday, March 12, 2011; 3 p.m. @ Noir

The Hitching Post is pretty much synonymous with Santa Barbara County pinot noir, thanks to that one wine movie about that guy and his friend and…we’re so over it. How about this – Santa Barbara County pinot noir is great because it just is. Noir Food & Wine welcomes winemaker and co-owner Gray Hartley as he pours through nine selections, including four vineyard-designated pinot noirs (Fiddlestix, Cargasacchi among them.) Meet Mr. Hartley and nosh on Chef Claud Beltran’s wine bar snacks, available for purchase. $15 tasting fee. More information and reservations here.

For the beer hounds – stop by Lucky Baldwin’s in Old Town this Sunday, March 6 at 1 p.m. and grab a limited-release draft. Lucky’s will tap Pliny the Younger – Russian River Brewing‘s limited-release nephew of the Elder – for your beer geeky pleasure. The Younger is a seasonal release every February, and according to Lucky’s the brew is tapped out pretty quickly – they have but ONE keg. Be on time! They open at 8 a.m. A selection Russian River’s delicious brews will also be on tap.

The Younger is a triple IPA, which is hopped three times more than their standard IPA and dry-hopped four different times. Whew! Take a cab.

Lucky Baldwin’s, 17 S. Raymond Ave., Old Town. Add This Event on Facebook

EAST-SIDERS: Lucky’s just opened an East Pasadena location in the old Brit’s spot! Check it out.

Vertical Wine Bar announces Sunday Fried Chicken – all you can eat! Eater L.A. has the scoop – on Sundays as of March 6, you can indulge to your heart’s desire for only $29, and that includes potatoes, collard greens, corn bread and apple pie.

Happy Hour Week comes to Old Pasadena from March 1 – 8, 2011! For those of us whose happiest hours never quite match up to that of our favorite watering holes, now is your chance to give a few places a try. Extended Happy Hours and special menus abound at several Old Pasadena favorites including La Grande Orange, Vertical Wine Bar and Point08 Bar. PasAngeles Recommends: Pop Champagne and Dessert Bar, Vertical Wine Bistro, and Sushi Roku. Complete list and menus here.

Stuffed? Oh, come on! Squid Ink’s series “30 Burgers in 30 Days” visits our beloved Pie ‘n Burger! Read on.

Taste the wines and learn a thing or two from these exciting wineries. 6 – 9 p.m. Added bonus: 10% off all of these featured wines the night of the tasting.

21 S. El Molino Ave. (626) 577-9463

I’ve long been a fan of Carmela Ice Cream, but sadly due to my day job I’ve had few chances to catch them at the South Pasadena Farmers’ Market. As luck would have it, Carmela opened a brick ‘n mortar mere blocks from my humble abode. The warmer weather, coupled with a few new delicious recipes in this month’s Bon Appetit inspired me to end our Sunday dinner with a treat. I chose to make Butternut Squash Risotto with Sage and Pine Nuts (February 2011, page 48. For the recipe and reviews, jump over here.)

Any homemade dinner is best ended on a sweet note, and I decided to try a little dessert wine with our Carmela – cue Monopole Wine.

Hiro and Peter always have great suggestions, and in the short time the store has been open I’ve purchased many a great bottle for a competitive price. This visit was no exception – I picked one of the very unique dessert wines from Quady winery, a 2008 orange muscat called Essensia. Retailing at $12.99 (375ml), the price was right and I anticipated it would pair nicely with my Carmela Lavender Honey ice cream ($5, about two-scoops in a to-go package.)

So, the dinner…

The risotto recipe allowed a bit of freedom in preparation, including the option of fresh parmesan and crispy pancetta as toppings. Proudly an omnivore, and always looking for a reason to eat any form of bacon, I cooked some pancetta into lovely ribbons and grated parmesan for our pasta. Ultimately, the recipe yielded a rather bland meal, in desperate need of salt – but I recommend it for a cook who may be more experienced with butternut squash than I. It kept a sort of stringy texture, for which the pancetta and parmesan were hardly a remedy. *Note: The recipe suggests adding chopped fresh sage to the butternut squash several minutes before it’s officially done, so in hindsight I would have added the sage just before the squash was done so as to keep the sage flavor nice and bright. Prepared as instructed, I hardly noticed the sage. Shame.

Dessert was a true treat for the senses – the wine only enhanced the experience. I guess, with lovely afterthoughts to a meal such as these, it would have made sense to eat dessert first!

Carmela Ice Cream: 2495 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 797-1405

Monopole Wine: 21 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. (626) 577-9463

Dragonette Cellars, a Santa Ynez-based winery founded by John and Steve Dragonette and their friend, Brandon Sparks-Gillis (assistant winemaker at Demetria Estate and formerly of Wally’s in L.A. along with John Dragonette) will be at Bistro 45 on Monday, December 20 for “Dreams of Dragonette,” a very special winemaker dinner. The event will feature five courses paired with five Dragonette wines. Tickets are $80/person (tax/gratuity additional.)

Dragonette focuses on the finest vineyard sites throughout Santa Barbara County and the Central Coast, its founders boasting experience at renowned wineries including Sine Qua Non, Fiddlehead Cellars and Demetria Estate locally; Brandon’s resume includes Torbreck Winery in Australia’s Barossa Valley. Featured wines for the event include:

• 2009 Rose of Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills
• 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Ynez Valley
• 2008 Pinot Noir, Fiddlestix Vineyard, Santa Rita Hills
• 2007 Syrah, Santa Ynez
• 2007 “MJM” Blend

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit Bistro 45 online.

Bistro 45, 45 S. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. (626) 795-2478