Every summer, the Golden Gate Restaurant Association throws a weekend-long party honoring San Francisco’s top chefs, somms and mixologists succinctly called Eat Drink SF. With over three dozen restaurants and 70 beverage purveyors in attendance, the sheer volume of food and drink available to taste can be way too much for one person’s palate. So, if you’re looking to hone in on this year’s best bites, we’ve got a list of offerings that you simply can’t miss.
August 25, Friday evening
- A newcomer to the SF food scene and to Eat Drink SF, Robin serves up some of the city’s finest and freshest Japanese dishes. Chef-owner Adam Tortosa will be serving silky tuna toro (a rich fatty cut of fish belly) and samples of ikura donburi, a mixture of rice and vegetables topped with cured salmon eggs.
- Black Cat executive chef Alicia Jenish-McCaron blends classic composition and whimsical ingredients in her elegant pavlova, a crisp meringue-based dessert topped with boozy cream and fresh fruit.
- A SF icon for almost 20 years, Traci De Jardins was one of the Bay Area's first celebrity chefs. Rogelio Garcia, De Jardins’ executive chef at The Commissary, will represent the Spanish restaurant with a squash blossom brioche.
August 26, Saturday afternoon
- China Live takes the stage on Sunday with a dumpling-folding demo that should make for some tasty entertainment. They’ll also be dishing out the amazing Sichuan "Working Hands" dumplings, silken wrappers brimming with a steamy rich broth of sesame butter, peppercorns and hot chiles.
- Oakland-based Shades of Sugar Bakeshop turns out Parisian-style macarons crafted with a California almond flour and egg white base that leaves them naturally gluten-free and has customers licking their fingers. The bakeshop, known for their innovative flavors, will showcase their shiso plum macarons at this year’s event.
August 26, Saturday evening
- August (1) Five implements contemporary techniques and inventive plating to take traditional Indian fare to the next level. At EDSF, they’ll share their popular shami kebab, a beautiful mixture of ground lamb, chick peas, lentils and spices, pattied together and topped with creamy yogurt.
- Cuban-inspired Media Noche will offer ice cream bars in flavors like cafe con leche (coffee ice cream with cocoa nibs and dark chocolate) and “Mi abuelita favorita” (guava cheesecake ice cream, dark chocolate and crushed Maria cookies).
- For those who feel clueless when it comes to food and beverage pairings, Half Moon Bay Brewing Company will do all of the work for you by presenting their popular spicy ahi poke with beer pairings from their own kegs.
August 27, Sunday afternoon
- Small bites go big for Charles Bililies, owner of Greek eatery Souvla. The restaurant will be repping with spit-roasted whole lamb, which typically comes in the restaurant's popular gyros and salads.
- A mezcal palace that serves upscale Oaxacan-inspired fare, Mezcalito will diverge from the typical menu with a seafood, stone fruit and Spanish octopus salad dreamed up just for the occasion.
- Our final recommendation is from the de Young Museum Cafe. Be sure to get a hearty helping of their veal and ricotta meatballs, served with Marty’s tomatoes in savory sauce and Brentwood corn polenta.
Eat Drink SF will take place Aug 24-27 at the Festival Pavilion in Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture (eatdrink-sf.com).