Milestones… Just got back from my son’s graduation from the University of Florida. Had a great time hanging around with him and my daughter, who just finished her sophomore year at the University of South Florida, in the Tampa area. It’s really cool to hang out with smart, friendly, well-adjusted young people…makes you feel hopeful.

Was sorry to miss this year’s Monterey Wine Festival , always one of my favorite weekends of the year. Gonna have to stop by Terranova Fine Wines in Monterey to say hi to my man Bob Massaro and get the lowdown on how the event went. He ran the thing for about 10 years, then sold it to the National Restaurant Association Education Endowment. There was a transitional period that is now finished, as far as I can remember (which ain’t too far). Stop in to say hi and find out the latest…pick up a few bottles of wine too.

Chappellet, one of the Monterey Wine Festival’s long time attendees, as well as one of the noble families in the wine game, suffered the loss of Sybil “Pat” Chappellet this past year. Mrs. Chappellet was the mother of Donn Chappellet, who along with his wife Molly founded the winery in 1967 on Pritchard Hill in Napa. Along with their six children, the Chappellets have built one of the most important wineries in California.

I got to know Carissa Chappellet a little bit over the years and I have come to love her and what she stands for. The Chappellets have always referenced their family as the primary source of their success and I am sure that Grandmother Sybil oversaw her brood with loving spirit and wisdom.

I apologize for not having been aware of the Chappellet’s loss until recently and offer my belated condolences to all of them. As with each season’s harvest and regeneration of the vines and fruit, we too re-circulate our life force forward into the continuum of existence and live on through our offspring and loved ones.

Family Affairs, Pt. II… Auguste Escoffier was a French chef who lived from 1846 to 1935 and is universally considered the father of modern cooking technique. On Sunday, May 23, in the Fireside Room at Highlands Inn , the American Institute of Wine&Food, Monterey Bay Chapter, has scheduled an authentic Escoffier dinner.

The dinner, in honor of Chef Escoffier, will begin with a Champagne reception at 6pm hosted by Michele Escoffier , grandson to the famous Auguste. An authority on French cuisine, Michele will also conduct a book signing of Auguste Escoffier—Memories of My Life .

A five-course dinner prepared by award-winning chefs of the Monterey Peninsula will follow at 7pm and will feature Monterey County wines. A post-dinner discussion about the world of gastronomy will be conducted by Mr. Escoffier. It all benefits the A.I.W.F. Monterey Bay Chapter Scholarship Fund. Call Mary Chamberlin at 624-0830 or email mchamberlin1@earthlink.net right away for info and a chance to attend…hurry.

Sounds like a great weekend. The Aquarium is having its annual Cooking For Solutions activities; all sorts of great stuff about sustainable fishing, agriculture and how to help the Earth maintain its resources. Hit a few of those events, come to the Monterey Beer Festival: ”Back To The Boatyard” (co-produced by yours truly) on Saturday, May 22 from noon to 5pm at the Monterey Bay Boatworks on the Coast Guard Pier (373-2843)…hit the Escoffier dinner at Highlands on Sunday. Call in sick on Monday (I’m bad; I know).

Eating Political, Pt. II… I got an email about a boutique deli that carries organic, vegan, kosher parve, raw food, bakery products, gourmet food, frozen food, non-alcoholic wines and beer, juices, rain forest products, gifts, books, magazines, fair trade products and vegetarian pet food. It’s called Vege2U Boutique Deli . It’s at 1126 Del Monte Ave. in Monterey and can be reached at 375-VEGE (8343) and info@vege2u.com. It’s open Tuesday through Sunday from 11am to 6pm and should be explored…well, what are you waiting for…go exploring.

My pals Linda Strohl and Viveca Lohr from Meals On Wheels told me about the great Golf Classique 2004 event at Quail Lodge on Friday, May 21. Add this to the weekend’s activities (see above). It’s a shotgun start golf tournament to benefit three Meals On Wheels programs: Home Delivered Meals, Group Meals and Sally Griffin Center Active Living Programs .

Get off the couch, get the checkbook and go play golf. It’s $250 per person. Get a foursome and go. Call Linda Strohl at 375-4454 or email her at lstrohl@mowmp.org… do this, it feels good.

Happy fifth anniversary to Wild Plum Café&Bakery (across from the entrance to Casa Munras Hotel as you come into Monterey). It’s a great little spot for breakfast or lunch (rustic American cuisine) and a real good catering operation. Stop in to say hi and check it out…646-3109.