Event Dining Connections: 2010-11-14

Embarcadero North Park

As I wake up this morning and gaze out my window to the gloomy sky of San Diego, California, I can not believe that I'm really staring at the heavily pouring rain on what was to be an exciting day at the 2010 San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival. For a brief moment I contemplate the idea of walking away from $125 tickets to such an amazing event for food & wine lovers, but then realize...since when did bad weather stop me from great food and libations? Taking my time to get ready I think to myself, "I'm sure there will be plenty of parking because no sane person would dare come out in this weather," but as I pull up to the Embarcadero North Park, I drive by discouraged that I, my fellow bloggers, am not the only die hard foodie out there. After finally deciding to park at the San Diego Convention Center, I make the short, but very wet stroll down the boardwalk to the entrance and stare at the white tents marking the reason for my travel through what some may call a small storm.

Grabbing my complimentary wine glass, the vessel to which my thirst will thank me I place it in my conveniently designed plate, leaving a free hand to reach for and taste any culinary samplings to calm my grumbling stomach. Hastily, I weave my way through other eager attendees to the first booth offering some type of culinary delight.

Executive Chef Anthony Calamari
Suite & Tender

As I make my way through the local culinary scene and across the mud filled grass, I watch as chefs from some of the most recognized restaurants in San Diego work quick and hard to meet the demands of anxious people waiting to experience their signature offerings made "a la minute." From the savory scallops made by Chef Anthony Calamari of Suite & Tender to the unique mini turducken nuggets of Kitchen 1540. Little morsels of turkey, duck and chicken all in one bite sized perfection that is usually only found it an enormous size served on Thanksgiving Day.

Turducken
Kitchen 1540

On to the next, I gladly accepted the simple, yet succulent stone crab claw handed out by Truluck's Seafood, Steak & Crab House. Something so easy, yet received incredibly by lines of people. As I looked around the soaked crowds, I was proud to be one of the daring souls that braved the rain visiting each tent as they happily provided their own little showcase on a plate. With over 170 wine & spirit purveyors offering everything from Rock Sake to Folie à Deux Wine and POM Wonderful cocktails to Stella Artois beer, there was definitely something to quench everyones thirst.