Parties for the Parkway lines up tasty events

The mere mention of Parties for the Parkway brings up some delicious images: clam bakes, farm tours, seasonal meals, and pairings of local food and wine. Now in its 18th year, the event has turned into a culinary tradition and a long-standing source of support for the San Joaquin River.

This year, 71 parties will help pay for recreational programs and restoration of habitat along the San Joaquin River. All include some form of food and drink, so check them out at riverparkway.org.

As always, the kickoff fete is the first chance to sign up for the parties. With hors d’oeuvres and drinks from local companies such as Bella Pasta, Parma Ristorante, Engelmann Cellars and Sequoia Brewing Co., it’s a hint of what’s to come for the rest of the year.

The kickoff starts 5:30 p.m. March 18 in the Clovis Veterans Memorial District Building at 808 4th St., Clovis. Tickets at the door are $40, or $35 for members of the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust. For more information, call (559) 248-8476 or go to reservations.riverparkway.org.

Get to the kickoff early for the best selection of parties, since some of them fill up quickly. (If you can’t make it to the kickoff, you can make online reservations starting March 5.)

Here are some parties to consider:

Armenian Dinner with a View, 6:30 p.m. April 24: Twenty guests will be treated to a traditional Armenian dinner at Hal and Cathy Coulston’s home, which sits on the bluff overlooking the Milburn Pond on the San Joaquin River. The cost is $110, or $100 for members.

Taste of Old Italy in Old Town Clovis, 6:30 p.m. April 29: Twenty guests will gather at Giovanni’s Caffe Italiano in Old Town Clovis for a multi-course Italian dinner. The cost is $70, or $65 for members.

La Pollada Night, 6:30 p.m. May 1: Sixteen guests will gather at the home of Sue and Newton Seiden for a Peruvian dinner. Expect to taste dishes and drinks such as papas rellenas (stuffed mashed potatoes), empanadas and chicha morada (a drink made with purple corn). The cost is $110, or $100 for members.

Out Standing in the Field, 5:30 p.m. May 2: K.M.K. Farms in Kingsburg will host 30 guests for a multi-course meal based on its organic produce. Farmers Kyle and Michele Reynolds also will lead the group on a tour of their farm. The cost is $70, or $65 for members.

Cooking Class and Tour with Wendy Carroll, 10:30 a.m. May 8: Carroll, the private chef of Seasoned to Taste in Fresno, will cook a lunch for 30 guests at the Lyons Magnus plant.

The food manufacturer has a state-of-the-art kitchen where Carroll will demonstrate and serve seasonal recipes. She envisions dishes such as handmade pasta with spring vegetables and mascarpone ice cream with strawberries sauteed in cabernet sauvignon. The cost is $110, or $100 for members.

Secrets of Mexican Cooking, 5:30 p.m. May 15: Twelve guests at Julia O’Kane’s home will taste tequilas while learning how to make tortillas, enchiladas and soup. The cost is $90, or $80 for members.

Cooking with Sunshine, 5:30 p.m. May 22: If you’d like more hands-on experience with solar energy, sign up to be one of 24 guests at Walt and Diane Parrish’s home. Partygoers will make solar cookers, eat a solar-cooked meal and take home solar cookbooks. The cost is $80, or $75 for members.

Private Wine Tasting and Dinner, 6 p.m. June 5: Milla Vineyards in Fresno will serve 10 guests a multi-course dinner paired with its wines. The cost is $70, or $65 for members.

Bash on the Bayou, 11:30 a.m. June 26: Trelio restaurant in Old Town Clovis will serve a Southern lunch for 20 guests. Expect to taste dishes such as fried green tomatoes, gumbo and bread pudding. The cost is $55, or $50 for members.

Power and Produce, 5 p.m. July 10: Fifty guests will see the large-scale solar-power system on the roof of OK Produce. A gourmet dinner will follow. Guests will take home OK’s fruit and vegetables. The cost is $100, or $90 for members.

Chill in the Cellar, 2 p.m. July 11: Westbrook Wine Farm in O’Neals will host a wine-and-food pairing for 16 guests that highlights its wines and sustainable farming practices. Food will be provided by Trelio restaurant. The cost is $55, or $50 for members.

A Peach of a Party, 4 p.m. July 29: Twenty guests will see lots of peaches, plums and nectarines at Gerawan Farming’s packing plant in Sanger. Then they’ll dine at Uncle Harry’s in Reedley. The cost is $70, or $65 for members.

Clam and Lobster Bake a la Madeline Davidson, 5 p.m. Oct. 2: The family of the late Madeline Davidson, much-missed food editor of The Bee, is hosting this meal for 65 guests at the Willow Lodge, north of the Coke Hallowell Center for River Studies. The cost is $75, or $70 for members.

Elegant French Dinner and Wine, 5 p.m. Oct. 17: Sierra Nut House at the Villaggio shopping center (across from River Park) will serve a six-course French dinner with wine pairings for 12 guests. The evening also offers lessons in pairing food and wine. The cost is $85, or $75 for members.

By Joan Obra / The Fresno Bee