INAUGURAL DEL MAR FOOD FESTIVAL CELEBRATES AREA’S CULINARY ARRIVAL

Celebrity chefs, pro athletes, tastings, music on tap in fall

Calling all self-proclaimed foodies and San Diego superfans — a new food-centered festival is coming to North County this fall. The Del Mar Wine & Food Festival will celebrate local tastemakers and the SoCal lifestyle alongside celebrity chefs, athletes and hometown restaurateurs.

The inaugural festival will host events — including tastings, cooking contests, live music and outdoor activities — up and down the coast from Del Mar to Oceanside starting Sept. 6 through Sept. 11.

The main event will be the two-day “Grand Tasting” at the nearly 80-acre Surf Sports Park with wine, beer and spirit tastings as well as culinary showcases from regional restaurants. Additionally, critically acclaimed chefs and Food Network stars such as Antonia Lofaso, Carlos Anthony, Claudette Zepeda, Claudia Sandoval, Brad Wise, Brian Malarkey and many more will be joining the festival.

The weekend will feature cooking contests where the audience judges local restaurants in a showdown that will award two winning chefs $15,000 in cash and prizes.

The San Diego Wave FC women’s soccer team will kick off the festivities by hosting an opening night dinner on Sept. 6 celebrating the region’s iconic street foods. Dos Hombres Mezcal, the alcohol brand founded by friends and Breaking Bad co-stars Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston, will host a pairing dinner experience.

In addition to various culinary-centric activities, there will be live entertainment and outdoor experiences to get people moving.

Professional surfer Rob Machado will be offering surf lessons and leading a beach cleanup. Former NFL quarterback and San Diego Charger Drew Brees is throwing a celebrity pickleball tournament to raise funds for Feeding San Diego, the festival’s charitable partner.

The Wonderbus double-decker mobile stage