UC Davis is preparing to introduce its Good Life Garden, a showcase for the celebration of good food and good health.

The garden links the culinary arts, nutrition, and wine and food sciences-- situated as it is amid the buildings of the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science.

The institute's grand opening is set for Oct. 10.

But the Good Life Garden will sprout first, at 5 p.m. Sept. 27, with a gala event titled "Growing Our Food," featuring a sampling of locally-produced food and beverages, and talks by three kitchen garden experts:

-- David Howard, the recently retired British royal gardener who is described as one of the world's foremost experts on organic and sustainable horticulture. "Growing Our Food" organizers said Howard's talk will focus on his work at Prince Charles' Highgrove estate, with its 16 acres of organic and sustainably-managed gardens.

-- Ethne Clark, author of The Art of the Kitchen Garden and editor of Traditional Home magazine, discussing the evolution of the kitchen garden from the late medieval period to the 19th century, and how these early gardens serve as models for contemporary vegetable gardens that can also be part of decorative home landscaping.

-- Georgeanne Brennan, local author, cooking school owner and "slow food" leader, discussing ways to create and maintain kitchen gardens that are aesthetically pleasing and bountiful year-round.

The "Taste of the Region" menu includes handcrafted cheeses, heirloom tomatoes, breads, caviar and smoked fish, and chocolates, as well as a selection of wine and beer from Yolo and Sacramento counties. Organizers said many of the featured products will be available for sale.

The list of participants so far: Alta Mesa Winery, Babycakes Bakery, Dewey Farms, Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates, Good Humus Produce, Grateful Bread Co., Laszlo's Gourmet Smoked Fish, Leinert's Quality Honey, Morant's Old Fashioned Sausage, Rail Bridge Cellars, Sterling Caviar, Sudwerk Brewery, UC Davis olive oil and wine grapes, and Yolo Bulb Farm.

Tickets for "Growing Our Food" are $75 per person, and are available online.

For more information, contact Kira O'Donnell, event coordinator, at (916) 705-9621 or kiraodonnell@yahoo.com.

On the Net

Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science