Update on the SF Street Food Festival

There’s more going on than ever with this year’s SAN FRANCISCO STREET FOOD FESTIVAL, in addition to what we mentioned previously. Got a couple updates here for ya, but first, a refresher (as if you need it): food trucks and restaurants alike are going street food-style Saturday August 20th from 11am-7pm on Folsom between 22nd and 26th Streets. The event is free and open to the public, and all food will be under $8, half under $3.

There’s still time to win prizes in the Street Food Fest scavenger hunt game: get a team together and sign up here. You can do a bunch of the challenges from the comfort of your own computer, and prizes include gift certificates for food at Off the Grid, drinks at 15 Romolo, and even an invite to the opening of Wise Sons Deli with free bagels to boot.

So what’s to eat on the big day? You’ve already got 30 of La Cocina’s vendors, 20 Bay Area owner-operated restaurants, and 10 local food trucks, serving everything imaginable from Zaré’s Persian lamb tacos ($8) to Anda’s piroshkis ($3) to Namu’s kimchi okonomiyaki ($8). Drinks and sweets run the gamut too, from lassis, teas, and juices to ice cream, cupcakes, and even “Gelishots” (with tequila). Six visiting vendors are confirmed: Skillet Street Food from Seattle (fried chicken sandwhich, $8), Big-Ass Sandwiches from Portland (Roast Beef Sandwich, $4/$8), the peached tortilla from Austin (Asian tacos, $3), Ingrid’s LunchBox from Madison (warm apple crisp in a crêpe, $6), and The Arepa Lady from New York (Colombian corn cakes, $4). It’s like eating your way across the country and the world, in one place. Plus when you hit up the out-of-towners, all profits will be donated to La Cocina.

You’ll wanna visit the Cocktail Gardens too (generously curated by Jon Gasparini/Rye on the Road), where the city’s best bartenders will be serving concoctions specially crafted for the festival (only to those who are 21+ with ID, of course). Look for the Lawrenceburg Swizzle (Wild Turkey 81, lemon, mint, maple syrup, Creole bitters drizzled over crushed ice with mint garnish), Street Food Punch (Flor de Caña 7-year rum, ginger syrup, lime, Rye Bar aromatic bitters, Prosecco, lime zest garnish), and Spicy Paloma (Espolón tequila blanco, agave jalapeño syrup, fresh grapefruit, fresh lime, seltzer, pinch of salt, sweet pepper garnish).

With so much food to eat and drinks to drink, don’t bother fumbling for cash. Get a passport, online and ahead of time. 20% of sales go to La Cocina, and passports can be shared. Here’s the important part: passport holders get exclusive “secret” treats for free, like a small bite from Bill Corbett (executive pastry chef, Absinthe) at the Mission Artisan Tortillas truck. In another online perk, you can now see a map and make a favorites list to share with friends and view on your iPhone.

After the festival, join the official after-party from 7pm-2am for more food (late night tacos!), music, and dancing with Afrolicious, Tormenta Tropical, and DJ Quest at Public Works, 161 Erie Street at Mission (near 14th Street). Tickets are just $5.

Try not to get too hungover (haha) because there’s the “Eat Your Cart Out” brunch on Sunday August 21st, noon-1:30pm, at Fort Mason Center, where Top Chef Masters contestant Suvir Saran will be making peanut shrimp. He’s joined by Wise Sons Deli, Azalina’s, and Ingrid’s LunchBox. Did we mention mimosas and bloody Marys are included? Brunch kicks off the two-day National Street Food Conference. There’s some juicy topics in there, like a look at the tension between brick-and-mortar restaurants and food trucks, and the old school versus new school taco truck divide. Tickets are online, ranging from $50-$100, and scholarships are available too.

See you at the festival!