As a companion event to Saturday’s Freestone festivities, a fermentation symposium and dinner extraordinare is planned for Friday, May 20, at the facilities of beautiful Shone Farm, a 365 acre Bay Area residents who’ve always wanted to sink teaching venue for Santa Rosa Junior College, near Forestville. Featuring a high profile line- up of experts from the medical, culinary and scientific communities, the panel discussion takes place from 1p.m to 5 p.m., and will be followed by a tour of Shone Farm grounds. At 7 p.m., a feast of local wines paired with a variety of fermented dishes created by a host of master chefs -- including John Ash -- will be served onsite, and is limited to 120 guests. “These dishes will astound the taste buds and fire up the imagination,” says Ash. Feast is ages 21 and over. (Suggest attire is evening-on-the-farm classy casual.)

As old as civilization, fermentation is becoming a cause célèbre in the cuisine world, with foodies of every stripe and background proclaiming its many benefits. Influential writer Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma) is including a chapter on fermentation in his next book. Not only is a little bacteria good for the immune system, but the strong and complex flavors of fermented foods are a tasty addition to whatever menu is being served. “The west county has been a vital center for healthy habits that are now taken for granted, such as eating locally and seasonally, and organic farming,” says Michael Stusser, founder of Osmosis Spa, and one of the festival’s key sponsors. “Fermentation is the next big thing, and we’re thrilled to have generated so much interest in only three years.” Stusser is a well known spa leader, having brought fermentation bathing from Japan to California with the cedar enzyme bath.

All proceeds from the Freestone Fermentation Festival and Symposium/Feast will benefit Sonoma County’s Ceres Community Project, a non-profit that provides an astonishing 30,000 free meals each year to individuals and families dealing with cancer and other life threatening illnesses. These meals are prepared by volunteer teen chefs who learn about preparing and eating locally grown organic food, and the value of giving back to their community. For more information on the festival, log onto www.freestonefermentationfestival.com.