James Beard Taste America SF

Many thanks to all of our local supporters who attended this year’s James Beard Taste America event at Fairmont San Francisco on Friday, October 27th. The evening hosted San Francisco’s brightest culinary stars and raised crucial funds to support the James Beard Foundation’s mission and many programs, including scholarships for aspiring local culinary students. Thanks in part to your generosity, we are pleased to report this year’s event was our best yet!

Our Taste America® tour gathers 100 of our country’s most talented chefs to celebrate “local flavor from coast to coast.” In San Francisco, the stars shined bright with culinary talent. Our reception Chefs, David Barzelay of Lazy Bear whipped up his infamous scrambled eggs, Evan & Sarah Rich of Rich Table delighted with Olivier’s bacon–heirloom tomato toasts, Mourad Lahlou of Mourad served aged Lamb Tartare with osetra caviar and crackers, Val Cantu of Californios created Crispy Lobster Tacos, Melissa Perello of Frances and Octavia served up marinated Squid with jimmy nardello pepper relish, and host chef, Oscar Gonzalez of Fairmont served Spring Lamb Birria with hominy, chicatanas, and salsa roja.

James Beard Award Winner and National All-Star Hugh Acheson of Five & Ten, Athens, GA kicked off the four-course dinner with a fall vegetable salad with pickled shrimp, crisped wheat-berries, and uni boiled dressing, followed by liberty farms duck with yuba noodles, enoki mushrooms, and smoked vinegar broth from James Beard Award Winner and Local Star, Stuart Brioza of State Bird Provisions and The Progress. Chef Hugh dazzled guests with Grilled Snake River Farms Wagyu Beef New York Strip Steak with stewed wheat-berries and chestnuts; broccoli leaf kimchi, charred leeks, and beef fat vinaigrette. The dinner ended on a sweet note with Guittard Boca Negra Cake with candied ginger cream and huckleberries created by James Beard Award Winner and Local Star, Nicole Krasinski of State Bird Provisions and The Progress.

This major undertaking would not be possible without the participation of amazing patrons like you. We look forward to seeing you next year San Francisco!

Check out photos from the San Francisco event here!