All the local food and drink events you'll actually want to attend
Eater SF’s events roundup provides a weekly curated rundown of the most interesting and engaging local dining and drinking festivals, classes, workshops, dinners, and more. Published every week, this is your stop for all the happenings that are actually worthy of your time in San Francisco, the East Bay, the Peninsula, the North Bay, Napa Valley, and beyond.
Every week, Eater SF editors weed through tips, emails, and listings to bring you the most essential food-related happenings — each and every event listed here is a personal recommendation from an Eater editor, hand-selected because of its intriguing menu, above-the-bar cuisine or drink, or exceptional chef and restaurant involvement.
The focus is on events taking place in the next three months, as well as upcoming affairs you’ll want to make reservations or buy tickets for stat (before they sell out). Food and drink events are listed in chronological order.
Have an event you’d like listed here? Send it our way at sf@eater.com.
FEBRUARY
Saturday, February 25
Bacon and Beer Classic
What: Bacon. Beer. Need we say more? For one blissful brew-laden day, Levi’s Stadium will be overtaken by a bacon eating contest, over fifty different bacon-infused dishes from Bay Area chefs, more than one hundred craft beers, and, as though that weren’t enough, a giant Jenga set, a bungee-run, a photo booth, and more.
Details: Tickets start at $69 and guests can stop by Levi’s Stadium (4900 Marie P. DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara) either in the afternoon (1 p.m. to 4 p.m.) or evening (7 p.m. to 10 p.m.).
Farm-to-Fork Brunch Lecture Series
What: Get the run down on sustainable fish farming at Farm-to-Fork’s upcoming Beneath the Surface Brunch and Lectures Series. There will be a discussion with chef-turned-fishmonger Kenny Belov and advocates from Food and Water Watch, as well as an open mimosa bar, a family style brunch of quiche, local cured fish, and more. Details: Brunch starts at 11 a.m. at The Village (969 Market St., SF), with tickets available for $60. Get them here.
Sunday, February 26
Finn Town’s Oscar Party
What: Castro newcomer Finn Town will be laying down the red carpet for its “You’re Dead to Me Oscar Party,” in which guests are encouraged to dress up like their favorite late movie star. There will be a photo booth, passed appetizers, and a Stoli open cocktail bar. The Oscars will play on three different screens inside the restaurant.
Details: 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. at Finn Town (2251 Market St., SF), with tickets for $130.
Pizzaiolo’s Sunday Supper Fundraiser
What: Drink wine, eat delicious Italian food, and raise money for a good cause all at the same time at Pizzaiolo’s Sunday Supper fundraiser dinner for dental nonprofit Just Health 510.
Details: There are two seatings available for Pizzaiolo’s (5008 Telegraph Ave., Oakland) meal, one at 5 p.m., the other at 8 p.m. Tickets are $100 each and include wine.
Phat Sunday at SoMa StrEat Food Park
What: Celebrate Mardi Gras with food trucks and pop-up vendors, plus live jazz music, and craft beers. The party benefits the School of the Arts, whose students, alumni, and faculty will be providing the zydeco, jazz, and funky tunes. All proceeds from the event benefit the Artists-in-Residence program at Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts.
Details: There are several ways to participate at the festival on Sunday, February 26 from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Grab a ticket for the $32 all-you-can-eat crawfish boil (plus one drink), $40 for all-day craft beer and sangrias, $67 for the all-you-can-consum crawfish and beer combo. General admission is $5, after which you can choose your own adventure at the food trucks and enjoy the music; tickets available here. (SoMa StrEat Food park, 428 11th Street, SF)
Monday, February 27
Kronnerburger Pop-Up at Del Popolo
What: Kronnerburger chef Chris Kronner will be stopping by Del Popolo to grill up his famed burgers, in addition to a mysterious Del Popolo pairing called the “magical pizza burger.” Cocktails, shakes, beer, and fries will all be in abundance.
Details: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Del Popolo (855 Bush St., SF). Make reservations here.
Tuesday, February 28
Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras
What: Carnaval is sweeping through San Francisco and four venues are hosting Mardi Gras themed events on Fat Tuesday. Indulge in this international day of decadence by stopping by either Balançoire, Make-Out Room, Latin American Club, or Bissap Baobab where there will be live samba music, masked revelers, and of course, plenty to drink. Details: Each venue will be open to all ages from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Get the full rundown here.
Fat Tuesday at The Elite Cafe
What: Mardi Gras celebrations are soon underway at The Elite Cafe, where guests can dance to the jazzy tunes of the Charles Wheal Duo, chow down on an unlimited crawfish boil, and sip on sazeracs and frozen hurricanes.
Details: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Elite Cafe (2049 Fillmore St., SF). Tickets are $40 per person.
Fat Tuesday at Alba Ray’s
What: The Mission’s brand-new Cajun party of a restaurant Alba Ray’s is appropriately hosting a Fat Tuesday party, complete with live music, party food, drinks, and plenty of beads. Each tickets includes one Hurricane cocktail and food, but additional drinks are available for purchase.
Details: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Alba Ray’s (2293 Mission St.). Tickets are $65 per person.
Fat Tuesday at Boxing Room
What: The sixth annual Mardi Gras party will go down at Boxing Room, with a crawfish boil, alligator-andouille sausage po’ boys, king cake, Sazerac Jell-O shots, live jazz, and lots of beads.
Details: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Boxing Room (399 Grove St.)
Local Musician Dinners at Dosa
What: Dosa is debuting a music and dinner series that will take place on the last Tuesday of every month and present a performance by a local musician along with a seasonal prix fixe meal. For the initial meal, Bay Area performer Gautam Tejas Ganeshan will play his modern stylings of traditional Indian music.
Details: Dosa (1700 Fillmore St., SF) will host two seatings at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively. Tickets start at $60 and can be purchased here.
German Wine Dinner With R.T.B. Fillmore
What: Former Atelier Crenn chef Rodney Wages’ innovative pop-up R.T.B. Fillmore is planning two German wine tasting meals at Izakaya Kou. The dinners will pair five courses with German wines including pinot noir, pinot blanc, and pinot gris.
Details: Get tickets here. All events take place at Izakaya Kou (1560 Fillmore St., SF).
MARCH
Wednesday, March 1
Winemaker’s Dinner at Epic Steak
What: Sonoma County micro-winery Idle Cellars Winemakers and EpicSteak are teaming up for a winemaker’s dinner that will pair dishes like almond smoked squab breast with a bold Sangiovese, coal-roasted New York steak with a bright Syrah, and dessert of bittersweet chocolate doughnuts with Merlot.
Details: The prix fixe menu is available for $85 with wine pairings starting at $40. Call (415) 369-9955 for reservations at Epic Steak (369 The Embarcadero, SF).
Thursday, March 2
APACC Benefit: An Evening with Martin Yan
What: James Beard-award-winning celebrity chef Martin Yan will dish on his renowned cooking techniques and travel experiences during an evening of conversation, drinks, and appetizers inspired by Yan’s recipes. Proceeds will benefit the Asian Pacific American Community Center.
Details: Recology Golden Gate (900 7th St., SF) will host the event from 6 p.m to 8 p.m. Snag tickets ($25) here.
Saturday, March 4
CAAMFeast Awards
What: The Center for Asian American Media will be celebrating the culinary achievements of a number of chefs like Korean taco truck purveyor Roy Choi, chef Khai Duong of Khai, and Straits chef Christopher Yeo. Taste food from LocoL, Hodo Soy, Buffalo Theory, and more alongside cocktails booths featuring Remy Martin and Distillery No. 209. All proceeds to benefit CAAM.
Details: It’s recommended that guests wear cocktail attire when attending this event, which starts at $175 per person. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. inside the Green Room of the San Francisco War Memorial (401 Van Ness Ave., SF). Tickets here.
Monday, March 6
La Cocina Restaurant Week
What: For one week, seven celebrated Bay Area chefs will be cooking up multi-course, family style meals in an interactive setting. Heavyweights like Delfina, El Buen Comer, Smitten Ice Cream, and A16 will contribute their talent to a week of inventive menus with event proceeds benefitting SF’s key incubator kitchen La Cocina.
Details: Monday, March 6 through Sunday, March 12. Check out ticket prices, venues, and meals here.
Tuesday, March 7
Starbelly’s Picnic Patio Pig Roast
What: Starbelly’s picnic patio series is kicking off with a whole pig roast from Devil’s Gulch Ranch. Magnolia Brewing Company will provide the beer, and there will be plenty of sides like grilled chicory salad, white cheddar grits, and marinated cauliflower to snack on.
Details: Two seatings are available — one at 6 p.m. and the other at 8 p.m. — at Starbelly (3583 16th St., SF). Tickets at $45, and you can purchase them in advance here.
Saturday, March 11
Vintners Market at Fort Mason
What: Fort Mason will transform into a wine lover’s paradise for two days with top-tiered and boutique producers offering wine classes and tastings. Their aim? To guide you through the tasting experience and keep your wine cellar stocked with unique selections.
Details: You can purchase tickets starting at $80 for either Saturday, March 11 or Sunday, March 12 here. Event takes place at Fort Mason (Landmark Building C, 2 Marina Blvd., SF).
Thursday, March 16
A Taste of Yountville
What: Great music, food, and wine all collide during a Taste of Yountville’s jam-packed three-day festival that pairs the music of Rodrigo y Gabriela, Five for Fighting, and more along with world-class meals cooked up by celebrated chefs and wines from select Napa Vineyards.
Details: Event schedule varies; check out the full rundown here.
Friday, March 17
12th Annual Pigs & Pinot
What: Celebrity Chef Charlie Palmer presents the 12th annual Pigs & Pinot with a star-studded line-up of chefs and vintners who will be hosting culinary events over the course of two days. This year’s fundraising goal is to surpass one million dollars, to be donated to Sonoma County charities along with Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign.
Details: The event runs from Friday, March 17 to Saturday, March 18 in Sonoma and you can check out the full line-up and ticket prices here.
Wednesday, March 22
Flavor! Napa Valley
What: For five days, Napa Valley will be filled with unmissable food and wine events — like a “Ghost Winery Tour,” a bubbly brunch at Domaine Chandon, and an insider food and wine tasting comparison with four winery proprietors. Part of the proceeds will support scholarships to the Culinary Institute of America.
Details: There’s a comprehensive line-up of events for this five day festival which is chock full of activities from Wednesday, March 22 to Sunday March 23. Be sure to check out the schedule here.
Thursday, March 23
10th Annual Taste of the Nation
What: This annual No Kid Hungry fundraiser draws in top SF restaurants, this year including but not limited to Flour + Water, The Slanted Door, Aatxe, and Tacolicious. Expect excellent wine and cocktails, a live auction with dining prizes, more. All proceeds benefit No Kid Hungry.
Details: Tickets start at $150 for general admission from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., or VIP admission for $250 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at City View at Metreon (135 4th St.).
Friday, March 24
California Artisan Cheese Festival
What: For two full days, Sheraton Sonoma County will celebrate one especially laudable dairy product: cheese. Artisan cheesemakers, farmers, educators, chefs, authors, brewers, and winemakers will all team up to present cheese tastings, cheese pairings, and many multi-course cheese-inspired feasts.
Details: The festival runs from Friday, March 24 to Sunday, March 26. Check out the full line-up and purchase tickets here.
APRIL
Saturday, April 22
27th Annual Great Chefs and Wineries Gala
What: More than fifty renowned Bay Area chefs and winemakers will descend on the Peacock Gap Golf Clubhouse for an evening filled with delicious food, premier wine, live music, a live auction, a raffle, and more. All proceeds will benefit Lifehouse, a nonprofit that provides support to those with developmental disabilities.
Details: 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Peacock Gap Golf Club (333 Biscayne Dr., San Rafael). Tickets start at $350 and you can purchase them here.
Cider Summit San Francisco
What: An enormous cider-tasting festival is taking over the Presidio with craft-brewed cider selections from nearly 200 producers. There will be an abundance of cider tastings, in addition to other apple-flavored spirits, as well as a number of food options from the likes of Slow Hand BBQ and Whole Foods Market Truck.
Details: Tickets are available for as low as $35, but you need to purchase in advance. The festival starts at 1 p.m. at the Main Post in the Presidio on the Civil War Parade Ground.
MAY
Sunday, May 7
Wine, Women & Shoes Fundraiser
What: The Ritz-Carlton will pair shopping and shoes with wine for its Wine, Women & Shoes fundraising event for the Tenderloin Health Improvement Partnership, a nonprofit that contributes to the community health, safety and well being of residents in the Tenderloin. There will be a fashion runway, a live auction, and wine tastings from vintners like Flora Springs, Conundrum, and Carmel Road.
Details: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton (600 Stockton St., SF). Tickets start at $130.
— Ellen Fort and Stefanie Tuder contributed to this article.