The best kind of events have more food than you could possibly handle, and an enormous amount of wine, beer and spirits to wash it all down. Well Eat Drink SF 2016 is bound to give you more than just that. Over the course of four days, you will also have access to culinary demonstrations, wine and cocktail classes, an exclusive VIP Lounge sponsored by Umpqua Bank, and the infamous Taco Knockdown event to kick things off.
Previously known as SF Chefs, Eat Drink SF was established in 2009 by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association as a way to bring together the Bay Area’s best and most sought after restaurants. Wine lovers, beer and spirit lovers, and foodies alike gather each year to sample the best the Bay has to offer. This event can see as many as 8,500 people in attendance. This year’s Eat Drink SF Festival is taking place from August 25th-28th at the Fort Mason Festival Pavilion in San Francisco.
The fun begins Thursday evening with the Taco Knockdown, a fierce competition between twelve chefs, vying for the title of “Best Overall”. An expert panel of judges will be on hand to judge the competition. Attendees will also get the opportunity to taste the tacos and place their vote for “Peoples Choice”. Both Trick Dog and DOSA are back to re-claim their titles from last year. New to this year’s “Knockdown” event is the Milagro Margarita Mix Off. Some of the Bay’s best bartenders will be putting their Margarita skills to the test in an effort to take the crown for the top Margarita creation.
Each evening will be represented by various restaurants and beverage companies. There are also special tasting sessions being held on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The main event for Friday through Sunday is the grand tasting, which features over 35 restaurants and over 70 brands of wine, beer and spirits. You can sit in on a live culinary or cocktail demonstration from leading chefs and bartenders, or enjoy wine education via the San Francisco Wine School Beverage Classroom.
All of the Grand Tastings will feature the “Bay Bar”, showcasing some of San Francisco’s stand-out cocktail bars, such as Hard Water, The Treasury, Prizefighter and Whitechapel. Buena Vista Cafe‘s Irish Coffees will also be served during the tasting, intriguing guests palates with what’s known as the “Flavor of San Francisco”.
If you are a VIP ticket holder, you will enjoy additional benefits such as entering the event 45 minutes before General Admission ticket holders, and access to a private seating area where you will enjoy additional culinary and beverage experiences.
Closing out the event is a special Sunday afternoon Grand Tasting to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association. Honoring Bay Area restaurants that have been open for twenty years or more, such as Alfred’s Steakhouse and Scala’s Bistro, Aftershock, the Golden State Warriors drumline, and the GLIDE Ensemble and the Change Band, will be on deck to entertain the crowds.
This event is filled to the brim with so many amazing experiences, I can guarantee you will have a hard time deciding what to attend. But don’t take to long to make up your mind. Tickets go FAST and you won’t want to miss out.
For more information on the featured participants and ticket availability, please visit http://eatdrink-sf.com/.
Southern Girl in a Wine World 
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