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LITTLE ITALY— The official kickoff for the 12th annual San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival, Monday, November 16th's epic feast at Bracero featuring host chef Javier Plascencia, chef Chad White and Chicago's legendary Rick Bayless, is sold out but you might have a chance to sip mezcal with the chefs if you stop by the restaurant after the dinner ends at 8:30 p.m. or make your own late night reservations at the restaurant. If you want even more quality time with Plascencia, sign up for Baja Wine + Food's Expedition BAJA, a day trip on Thursday, November 19 that includes wine tasting in the Valle de Guadalupe and a dinner at the chef's Mision 19 in Tijuana. [EaterWire
EAST VILLAGE— Dining Out Magazine's Fish Taco TKO event is back on Tuesday, November 17, from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Quartyard with a fish taco competition that includes more than 10 restaurant competitors, including Puesto, Ironside Fish & Oyster, The Blind Burro, Tacos Perla and Tijuana's Tacos Kokopelli. Tickets are $45 and the event include craft beer stations and live music. [EaterWire]
LA JOLLA— On Wednesday, November 18, The Marine Room's Master Chef Bernard Guillas is welcoming a collection of talented local chefs into his kitchen, including Tiday's Amy DiBiase, Rob Ruiz from The Land & Water Co., NINE-TEN's Jason Knibb and special guest Tommy Gomes from Catalina Offshore, to prepare a five-course Ocean-To-Table lunch that will begin with a reception at 11:30 a.m. with sparkling wine and tray-passed bites. Tickets are $85 [EaterWire]
DOWNTOWN— The first annual SommCon, a conference for sommeliers and win enthusiasts is being held from November 18 to 21, and will feature keynote speaker, panels and educational classes. Its signature event, The SommCon Tasting on Friday, November 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, will include tastes from over 100 wine, spirit, and brewery producers, plus a silent auction to benefit culinary arts scholarship programs. Tickets are $65. [EaterWire]
EMBARCADERO MARINA PARK NORTH— The culmination of the five-day festival is the Grand Tasting Event on Saturday, November 21 from noon to 3 p.m. and is the largest wine and food festival in Southern California. There will be dishes prepared by over 60 local restaurants, tastings from more than 30 gourmet food companies and hundreds of wines and spirits to sample. [EaterWire]
