Editor’s note: Mukta Tripathi, a Napa resident, is writing a series of articles on cooking vegetarian Indian food for the Register, based on her memories of growing up in India.

I once spent a winter living on Plum Island Sound in Ipswich, Mass., and there made the acquaintance of the regional specialty, the clam. It’s the local fast food; cut into strips and deep fried, it’s quite tasty. My children were always persuaded they were eating caterpillars, but this only added to the appeal for the pre-school set.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, Sgt. 1st Class Cheryl Dupris, a member of the U.S. Army’s Individual Ready Reserve, has completed three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Cuvaison hosts a vertical tasting of cabernet sauvignon from the historic Brandlin Vineyard on Mt. Veeder on Saturday.

To celebrate Judd’s Hill Winery’s new facility in Napa, Art, Bunnie, Judd and Holly Finkelstein will host an island party — the Judd’s Hill Musical Bonanza — Saturday.

Many wineries in Napa Valley are owned by families, but few have family members more involved than Judd’s Hill Winery.

ZARE’S ANNIVERSARY — Zare’s Restaurant celebrates its second anniversary with live music and bellydancing, 6 to 10 p.m. today  followed by DJ music until 2 a.m.  5091 Solano Ave., Napa. Info, 257-3318.