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Our Must-Do's of the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Fest

We know that San Diego Beer Week is only halfway through, but saddle up people, there is more food and drink fun on the horizon.

After Beer Week closes, you have seven days to rest and recuperate before the start of the 10th annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival (November 18-24). The week will be jam packed, morning, noon and night, with tastings, classes, lunches and dinner that celebrate all things wine, with some beer and spirits thrown in for good measure.

You can't do them all, so here's where we'd be:

What: La Plancha Pop-Up Dinner
When: Monday, November 18 at 6:30 p.m.
Why: Plancha Baja Med's Chad White, Jason Knibb from NINE-TEN and Mision 19's Javier Plascencia are teaming up for a six-course collaboration dinner at Plascencia's Romesco Baja Med Bistro in Bonita. Tequila pairings will be provided by chef Marcela Valladolid. Call (760) 845-0911 to reserve a seat. $75

What: The San Diego Classics: Fish Tacos & Craft Beers
When: Tuesday, November 19 at 6 p.m.
Why: The fest's launching a Fish Taco TKO Competition that will pit top local fish taco makers against each other in culinary battle; participants include the Blind Burro, The Oceanaire, Casanova Fish Tacos and Pacific Beach Fish Shop. The shebang is hosted at the new Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens location in Liberty Station, so you know there will be plenty of beer. $45


  • What: SWISH: Serious Sips & Urban Eats – The Burger Bash Edition
    When: Wednesday, November 20 at 6 p.m.
    Why: The San Diego Public Market will be a great venue for this burger-centric party hosted by Top Chef All-Stars winner Richard Blais. Wine and cocktails are included, as are burgers and sides from local and guest celebrity chefs, who will be competing for the title of Best Burger. $45

  • What: Pappy Van Winkle Tasting Experience
    When: Thursday, November 21
    Why: For serious bourbon fans only, this tasting session from the
    Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery includes Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 20 year old, Pappy's 23 year old bourbon, the Van Winkle Family Reserve, as well as the Reserve Rye. As a bonus, two local expert bartenders, Nathan Stanton and Anthony Schmidt, will also give a hands-on drink-mixing seminar. $200

  • What: Belgian Beer Luncheon
    When: Friday, November 22 at noon
    Why: Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant's exec chef Carl Schroeder and chef de cuisine Ted Smith will be cooking up dishes to pair with an array of Belgium beers, with Belgian Master Beer Sommelier Marc Strooband as your guide through the pairings. $95

  • What: Grand Tasting Event
    When: Saturday, November 23 at noon
    Why: This grand finale is the fest's main event, with tastings available from 170 wine and spirit purveyors and over 70 chefs and restaurants. Brian Malarkey is scheduled for a cooking demo and participating chefs will vie for the Chef of the Fest title. $125
    San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival [Official Site]