Country lovin’

Get out of the city, widen your culinary horizons and connect to agriculture—your options are much greater than a farm or Napa Valley vineyard. Over in Yolo County, there’s an olive oil class with Nancy Ash, one of the most respected olive oil tasting experts in the country and the owner of Strictly Olive Oil. The lesson begins at the Séka Hills Olive Mill & Tasting Room (196326 County Road 78 in Brooks) with a guided tasting of California and international extra virgin olive oils, plus food pairings and a mill tour. It goes from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, January 23, and tickets cost $75. Call (530) 796-2810 for more info. If wine country is more your thing, there’s an intriguing wine pairing lunch at Taste Restaurant (9402 Main Street in Plymouth) surrounded by Amador County wineries. Four courses—including guinea hen confit with caramelized onion risotto—match pours from Lodi’s Jeremy Wine Co. for $54 on Sunday, January 24. More at http://restauranttaste.com.