SF Chefs 2010 Tickets Now on Sale

SAN FRANCISCO, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The country's first and only urban food, wine and spirits festival returns to San Francisco's Union Square for its second year.  The weeklong celebration will highlight Northern California's amazing bounty of ingredients, chefs, winemakers, spirits professionals, bartenders, restaurants, and wineries.

Produced by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association (GGRA) and sponsored by Visa Signature®, the culinary festival will take place throughout the city's restaurants and the Grand Tasting Tent, set once again on San Francisco's Union Square. The Westin St. Francis, Macy's, Williams-Sonoma and surrounding restaurants will also host a series of parties, classes, demonstrations, seminars and industry-only events throughout the week.

Taste:  At each of the four signature tent experiences, from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, the Grand Tasting Tent will feature tastes from over 30 acclaimed chefs and restaurants, including notables such as Charles Phan/Slanted Door, Melissa Perello,/Frances, and Craig Stoll, Delfina, to name a few.

Mix:  The City's best bartenders will source local ingredients and produce creating innovative and custom cocktails unique to San Francisco.  

Pair: Leading sommeliers, producers and vintners, will pour over 50 wines at each Grand Tasting Tent experience from Napa, Sonoma, Livermore, Lodi, and beyond.

Engage:  Between classes, the Grand Tasting Tent, and special events throughout the weekend—including parties devoted to pork and lamb—attendees will meet and mingle with notable chefs, restaurateurs, bartenders, and artisans, from Top Chef Masters Cindy Pawlcyn, Hubert Keller, Michael Chiarello and Elizabeth Falkner, to New York culinary stars David Burke and Daniel Humm, to boutique winemakers from throughout the region and locally-based, celebrated brewers.

What's New For 2010:  In addition to the Grand Tasting Tent and ancillary events, this year's festival will expand to a complete week with the introduction of SF Chefs Restaurant Week, designed to drive business directly to Bay Area restaurants.  Participating restaurants will offer their very own "SF Chefs 2010 Showcase Menus" designed to highlight the restaurant's concept, menu and the Chef's signature dishes.  

To benefit the Bay Area's restaurant industry, the GGRA will offer complimentary trade-only seminars throughout the week, covering topics such as service excellence, the social media explosion, and butchery.

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 Foodbank 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.  

The GGRA asks that participants and attendees join them in making SF Chefs 2010 a zero waste event.

COMPLETE SCHEDULE AND TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT www.SFChefs2010.com

SFChefs 2010 presented by Visa Signature®, is a food and wine event celebrating the bounty of Northern California. The main tasting tent will be in Union Square, where chefs, wine makers and distillers will offer an exploration of taste. Classes and seminars will offer interactive opportunities for the public to participate with culinary experts in an entertaining forum.

SOURCE Golden Gate Restaurant Association