Blog
San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival
11.07.17
The 14th annual San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival, taking place on Nov. 12-19 is one of the largest wine and food festivals in the country, dubbed the Coachella for your mouth. Join over 150 wineries, breweries and spirit purveyors, 60 of San Diego’s best restaurants, and 10,000 wine and food aficionados from across the nation for the biggest wine and food celebration on the West Coast.
Events will be happening at different locations throughout the city, and many notable events will be taking place at The Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, many of which include the hotel’s award-winning Chef Aron Schwartz of Marina Kitchen.
Events include:
Culinary Icons Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. featuring Chefs of the Relais & Châteaux Gourmet restaurants and luxury hotels around the world. Each course is expertly paired with wine. Hosted by Chef Aron Schwartz of Marina Kitchen and Chef Bernard Guillas of The Marine Room.
Wine and Music with Winemaker on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 10:45 a.m. Clark Smith leads a musically inspired seminar that explores the impact music has on the taste of wine.
Blind Taste With The Masters on Friday, Nov. 17 4 p.m. Join world-renowned Master Sommeliers and San Diego's brightest Somms as they battle it out in this Blind Tasting. Journey with each Sommelier as they take you through an exciting tasting experience of six wines as you try to establish each wine's varietal, region, and vintage utilizing classic techniques involving sight, smell, and taste. Find out what the professionals look for and how to identify different varietals and wine styles of wine by following the Master Sommelier's technique of identification. Moderator, Nick Hetzel, MS; - Sommelier Panelists Rusti Gilbert, Josh Orr and Paul Krikorian.
The Tasting at SommCon on Friday, Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m. Can’t wait for the Grand Tasting? Get up close access to over 100 wineries and winemakers from around the world in this exclusive pre-Grand Tasting. Mix and mingle with the superstars of the wine industry and see if you can grab a chat with one of the many Master Sommeliers and Masters of Wine in attendance.
The Vault Access on Friday, Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m. Indulge in the full tasting at SommCon Experience with access to The Vault, an exclusive area of highly allocated wines curated by the Festival Producers.
Roots Dinner Experience on Friday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. Chef Aron Schwartz of the famed Marina Kitchen invites you to join him and special guests Chef Suzette Gresham of two-starred Michelin Acquerello of San Francisco, and US French Master Chef, Chef Bernard Guillas of the The Marine Room, and Chef Kelly Mariani of Scribe Winery, for a nostalgic dining experience that takes you back to their beginnings. At this amazing wine-paired dinner, you’ll discover the bites that first got them hooked.
For more information on the entire event schedule, visit: sandiegowineclassic.com/events
The Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina is at 333 W Harbor Drive in San Diego. 619.234.1500.
Blog
The 150th Gaslamp Gala
11.06.17
The Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego celebrates 150 years on Tuesday, Nov. 7 with a party that that has been 150 years in the making.
The Hard Rock Hotel will play host in the early part of the evening on the Woodstock Green with hors d’oeuvres stations from Barleymash, Challenge Dairy, Tin Roof, The Melting Pot, Parq Restaurant and Nightclub, Queensborough, Meze Greek Fusion, Henry’s Pub, and newcomer Havana 1920 starting at 5:30 p.m. As guests enjoy the delicious food, they can bid on exclusive silent auction items, listen to the sultry sounds of “K Emeline and the Fellas,” and vote for their favorite “Dusty Rabbit” 150th Anniversary signature cocktail.
At 7 p.m. guests will go to Fifth Avenue for a three-course, gourmet meal by Cohn Restaurant Group, which has for over 33 years brought San Diego dining to a new level. The meal will be designed by Executive Chef Samuel Geffroy of Gaslamp Quarter’s own Blue Point Coastal Cuisine. Each property of Cohn Restaurant Group guarantees superior service and aesthetic comfort, providing a premiere dining experience for each guest attending the 150th celebration. While enjoying the delectable cuisine, guests will be entertained by music of the 18- piece “Big Band Express” orchestra.
An important part of the 150th Anniversary has been a public art campaign titled “Rabbitville”. 150 years ago, the area that is now the Gaslamp Quarter was jokingly nicknamed, “Rabbitville” after its chief inhabitants. The “Rabbitville” public art program honors the pioneering spirit of legendary founder, Alonzo Horton, who transformed “Rabbitville” into modern San Diego. 15 fiberglass rabbit statues have been decorated by different local artists commemorating the 150th Anniversary and San Diego.
These 150th Anniversary tributaries have been hopping around to different exhibitions thanks in part to the local artists who decorated them, and the Downtown Partnership Clean and Safe crew.
The final six will be showcased at the Gala and put up for auction. This is the chance to own a piece of the 150th celebration. The rabbits will be on exhibition to the public until May 24, 2018.
During the live auction, there is also an opportunity to bid on a first pitch at a Padres Game, a 16 person suite at Petco, $1000 worth of parking from the 6th and K Parkade, or a four foot custom oil painting titled, “The Road We Have Walked” painted by Michael J Wolf Gallery headline artist, Pete Tillack. This painting was created to commemorate the 150th celebration.
After the live auction, guests can enjoy desserts from Sensational Treats, and dancing to the sounds of “Big Band Express” while taking in the beauty of the famed Gaslamp Quarter. The after party will be at Henry’s Pub, where guests who want to keep the party going can turn in their table ticket for a free drink, and find out the final after party opportunity drawing prize.
For more information on events and promotions log onto, .gaslamp.org/150
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