A virtual who's who of the Tri-Valley culinary scene will be on hand for Taste of the Valley, the Volunteer Center's annual event celebrating the area's food and wines. This year, the event will take place in three tastings on March 8 at the Pleasanton Hilton.

The 13th annual event will feature foods from over 20 of the Tri-Valley's finest restaurants, including Hacienda's Faz America.

"We will be serving two dishes," says Anna Maria Carter, Faz America's director of catering. "They are among our most popular: our Mediterranean Platter, which features tabouleh, hummus, and eggplant puree, and our smoked salmon with dill on sourdough."

The food will be complemented with vintage treats from more than a dozen local wineries. An elegant fashion show, silent auction, and an "Art in Action" demonstration round out the event.

Three Tastings Available

The event will take place in three separate sessions.

The Preview Tasting, which includes both the fashion show and an opportunity to mix and mingle with presenters, runs from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Those attending the Preview Tasting are also welcome to stay for the First Tasting, which runs from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Those wishing to kick off an evening out will want to attend the Second Tasting, which takes place from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

A Hacienda Discount

A special discount has been extended to Hacienda businesses. For tickets ordered through February 27, Hacienda businesses can receive one free ticket for every five purchased.

Tickets for the Preview Tasting are available at $75 each, with tickets for the First and Second tastings available at $45.

To order tickets, call the Volunteer Center at (510) 462-3570. Visa and MasterCard are accepted.

To enhance the tasting experience and assure a comfortable atmosphere, the number of tickets sold for each session is limited.

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