Whatcha doing this weekend? On Saturday August 13th, La Cocina is hosting La Lucha de La Cocina, a taquiza (i.e., taco party!) and lucha libre (yes, there will be pro masked wrestlers!) at Pier 70. The party runs from 3:30pm-10pm, with the lucha libre spectacle from 5pm-7pm. Since there won’t be the Street Food Fest this year, here’s your chance to taste $2 regional tacos, traditional Mexican antojitos, and more Latino treats and foods from La Cocina chefs and other partnering chefs—more than 20 in all! There is also a mezcal tasting arena courtesy of the Mezcalistas, cocktails, beer, art exhibitions, live music, Donald Trump piñatas (THWACK!), and a dance party following the main event. Tickets here.
As if BAR TARTINE chefs Nick Balla and Cortney Burns weren’t busy enough, they now have a second restaurant concept in the works, Motze (and FYI, there isn’t an update on the transformation of Bar Tartine into Crescent just yet). Since they don’t have a location for Motze just yet, they are going to be hosting a Monday night dinner series in the meantime, Motze Mondays. And no, it isn’t a spin on matzoh: the name is in honor of a fifth-century Chinese philosopher, Motze.
The family-style menu will include a range of bites like salmon belly in chrysanthemum sauce and black koji and flaxseed crackers with salmon roe, followed by larger dishes like chicken fat dumplings with egg and shiso, and eggplant with rye shoyu, plus some sweets (like quince steam cake). $58 per person (excluding tax and tip), beverages additional. 5:30pm-10pm. Reservations here or call 415-487-1600.
This gray weather is definitely depressing, so get out of town and enjoy a casual summer picnic—with cheese! Marin French Cheese Company is hosting their second annual Summer Picnic Party on Sunday August 21st from 11am-3pm. You’ll be hanging out on the scenic grounds surrounding the Marin French creamery, 10 miles west of Petaluma. There will be live music, interactive cheesemaking and beekeeping demos, artisan foods, local craft beers, wine, and plenty of local cheeses, charcuterie, jams, pork sliders from Devil’s Gulch Ranch, and more. The event is kid- and pet-friendly. Tickets are $12.50 (not including food and drinks).