Celebrate the Craft
When: Oct. 25, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: The Lodge at Torrey Pines
With so many food “events” these days, the challenge seems to be to find one that’s the right size, not just sizeable. And Celebrate the Craft has always been just that—probably my favorite food event of the year. Held on the back lawn of the Lodge at Torrey Pines (next to that famous 18th hole of that famous golf course), it’s basically a smattering of A.R. Valentien chef Jeff Jackson’s best pals who share his vision for real, quality food. Food stations are set up throughout, placed just so, and wine and cocktails as well. It’s just the right amount of food people so that you can enjoy some of the best chefs without the lines. Chefs this year include Matt Gordon (Urban Solace), Nathan Coulon (True Food Kitchen), Drew Deckman (Deckman’s en el Mogor), Greg Frey (The Golden Door), Christian Graves (Jsix), Jason Knibb and Rachel King (Nine-Ten), Javier Plascencia (Bracero), Jarrod Moiles (Rancho Valencia), Carl Schroeder (Market), Kara Snyder (Tender Greens), Monica Szepesy (Q’ero), Ryan Studebaker (Miho) and others.
COST: $125
San Diego Beer Week
When: Nov. 9-15
Where: Everywhere
Anyone who tells you their city blah blah blah is the blah blah craft beer capital blah blah, know that they are fools. Unless they’re from San Diego. Running the risk that such hubris turns the beer world against us, I become the hundred thousandth person who works in the industry to declare San Diego the nation’s hub of craft beer. Pale Ale, not Shamu, should be our mascot. And “Beer Week” is a whole week with four hundred million events dedicated to the specialization, creation, creativity, art, reverence, near-deification, of all things craft beer. If you wish to maintain cultural literacy as a proud citizen, you must attend. I could try to pack all of the information into this tiny little info box, but that’s a fool’s errand. Just visit the website, purchase your tickets, and start studying up on barrel-aged this and cask that.
COST: Varies
San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival
WHEN: Nov. 16-22
WHERE: Everywhere (with the Grand Tasting at Embarcadero Marina North)
Now, to completely contradict myself after hailing the small, indie-ness of “Celebrate the Craft”—SDBW&F is the city’s culinary super bowl. The biggest, most ambitious event in the city that draws the most famous chefs in the country to our coastal fishing village. If “Celebrate the Craft” is like seeing your favorite Coachella band play at a cafe, SDBW&F is like seeing Aerosmith in a stadium. Both have their charms. One is more leisurely, the other is spectacle. This year the name chefs are predictably good, with Rick Bayless, Anna Bullet (Cooking Light), Gale Gand (pastry chef rom Tru and Spitzburger), Katsuya Fukushima (Daikaya)… and then tons of local chefs. It’s Coachella for your mouth.
COST: Varies
The Best Food & Drink Events This Month: October-November 2015
Celebrate the Craft at The Lodge at Torrey Pines
