Opening today, the Bleaux Magnolia in Napa brings a welcome new taste to the downtown food scene: Cajun.

It’s only a few hours before dozens of guests, dressed in best bib and tucker, are scheduled to sit down to an epicurean feast.

Three popular events associated with the annual Napa Valley Mustard Festival are scheduled in March.

While Pierce Carson was toiling away behind the scenes watching chefs at work, I was on a different assignment, tasting the special mustard menu that the Restaurant at Meadowood is serving in honor of the flowers in bloom all over the valley.

If opening day seems far away, it’s possible to get a taste for Major League Baseball even without a game to watch.

Pat Kuleto’s having fun. Happiest when he’s got more than one iron in the fire, the 61-year-old wine country resident is busy getting three new Bay Area restaurants up and running as well as finally seeing black ink on the books in the Napa Valley wine operation that bears his name.

Nonprofit organizations around the state are holding their breath. When legislation passes and is signed by the governor allowing vintners to pour wine at charitable events regardless of the type of licenses they hold, those same organizations will breathe a sigh of relief.

Copia’s singing wine guy Burke Owens has announced he’s taken a new job with Bonny Doone Vineyard in the Santa Cruz mountains. Owens, who has shared his vocal talent as well as his wine expertise at many a Copia event, will be leaving the Copia staff at the end of March but will be back for special events at Copia.

NEW DELHI — Pressure mounted on India Wednesday to cut high import duties on wine and spirits after the United States said it had joined the European Union asking the World Trade Organization to intervene in the matter.