Are you ready for another stellar year on Union Square at the SF CHEFS 2010 EVENT? The urban food, wine, and spirits festival will take place at the Grand Tasting Tent in Union Square, and participating restaurants around town will offer three-course “SF Chefs 2010 Showcase Menus,” highlighting the restaurant’s concept, menu, and signature dishes (there will be $35 and $50 menus).
The main events are the Grand Tasting Tent events, taking place from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. Attendees will get to savor tastes from over 30 acclaimed chefs and restaurants at each of the four signature tent experiences. Featured chefs and restaurants include Charles Phan of The Slanted Door, Melissa Perello of Frances, Craig Stoll of Delfina, Staffan Terje of Perbacco, Tyler Florence of Wayfare Tavern, Ryan Farr of 4505 Meats, Suzette Gresham of Acquerello, Jen Biesty of Scala’s Bistro, Chris Cosentino of Incanto, and Dominique Crenn of Luce, to name a few. You will also be able to taste more than 25 wines at each Grand Tasting Tent experience (and meet sommeliers and winemakers). Bartenders will participate in each Tasting Tent experience, as well as host cocktail and spirits seminars.
During this year’s introduction of SF Chefs Restaurant Week, there will be classes (some are trade only), demonstrations, tastings, panels, and seminars throughout the festival. On Wednesday August 11th (from 3pm-4:30pm), I will be moderating one of the seminars, “Hospitalitarianism: Love Thy Guest,” featuring a panel of the City’s respected “hospitalitarians” like Umberto Gibin (Perbacco, barbacco), Giancarlo Paterlini (Acquerello), Anne Stoll (Delfina restaurant and Pizzeria Delfina), and Nick Peyton (Cyrus). We’ll discuss experiences with hiring, firing and training staff, building relationships with both loyal and difficult guests, and the art of running successful restaurants.
Each seminar will be followed by a full hour reception with complimentary beverages and a chance to meet and greet with the class experts. All industry seminars are complimentary to Golden Gate Restaurant Association (GGRA) members, $25 to Visa Signature cardholders, and $35 for regular admission. The program schedule and ticket purchase information is available here.
And just in case you need help keeping things straight, there will be a free iPhone app that will feature participating restaurants, their SF Chef’s Showcase Menus, full details of the festival’s events, reservations, ticketing, and Twitter and Facebook feeds. Download the application here (available the first week of August).
All charitable proceeds garnered throughout the festival will benefit the Golden Gate Restaurant Association’s Scholarship Foundation, an organization dedicated to encouraging and providing assistance to individuals who wish to further their education in pursuit of careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry. The San Francisco Food Bank and Project Open Hand will also benefit from select events.
SF Chefs 2010 is produced by the GGRA, in partnership with Visa Signature, Andrew Freeman & Co., Tannin Management, and Dominic Phillips Event Marketing.
Event Info
Monday Aug 9, 2010 – Sunday Aug 15, 2010 Info and tickets
