Local Wally's Guide to San Diego

Local Wally's Guide to San Diego

San Diego Wine Food Fest

San Diego Wine + Food Festival Review - WORTH IT? Is this the BEST food festival in San Diego? 2023 Review Plus 2024 Event Info!

Food FestivalsLocal WallyComment

Sam the Cooking Guy wows the crowd again at the San Diego Wine and Food Festival

What a weekend! Every November San Diego hosts a GIANT wine and food festival that culminates with THE GRAND TASTING where there are seemingly endless booths of gourmet food, prestige wines and tons of good vibes all included in your admission price. The event is held on the large grassy peninsula behind Seaport Village, officially called the Embarcadero Marina Park North. For roughly the cost of dinner for two at a nice steakhouse you get three hours of unlimited bites and sips at one of San Diego’s most scenic spots. With views of the Coronado Bridge, sailboats in the bay, and an ocean of vibrant people to watch, it really is one of the best weekends you’ll ever have.

The Grand Tasting takes place on Saturday and for those who can’t get enough there’s THE GRAND FIESTA on Sunday, also known as the TACO TKO where you get to sample 20+ tacos and vote for the best taco in San Diego. This event is much more low key, which is fine after the busy main event on Saturday. Lots of Baja wines, lots of tequila, live music, if The Grand Tasting is like a night in Vegas the Grand Fiesta is like a really great BBQ with good friends in your backyard.

I’ve been to the Grand Tasting many, many times, over 10 times, maybe more, and I need to be honest here - the 2022 event was the Covid bounce back and it was good but left a lot of people wondering if it was still worth it. The folks behind the event were paying attention and in 2023 the event was spectacular, perhaps the best one ever with every booth knocking it out with their A game.

Is the San Diego Wine and Food Fest Worth It?????

SO IS THE SAN DIEGO WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL WORTH IT?? Yes, yes, yes!

The event returned to it’s wine tasting roots and was set up in regions with Napa and Sonoma, Paso Robles, Temecula and Baja well represented. That was a great way to sample each region and there were plenty of great wines to taste. If you haven’t been before here’s how this works - when you enter you are given a wine glass and your job is to go taste as many wines as you like. Pours are generous and lines manageable and if you get something you don’t love you just dump it and move on. Beer and spirits were there as well but I did like that they really upped their focus back on wines.

How was the food??? I know, a lot of food festivals offer bites that makes Costco samples look generous but there was so much food that I found myself sharing bites with my wife and then… gasp… even turning down food. Look, I’m the guy normally standing in line for half of a breaded chicken nugget that’s shaped like a dinosaur but I was so stuffed I was turning down BBQ brisket and fried chicken sandwiches made by Crack Shack and sushi and, well, you get it. So much food! So good, so good!

For those who want to splurge there’s a VIP tent with even more food. I was lucky enough to gain entry (that PRESS pass really came in handy) and damn there were oysters and caviar and escargot roasted over the BBQ, a live band to keep things lively, and it’s sure nice to be a VIP if only for a few minutes to shoot photos. OK, I did sneak a few bites but I do this for you guys out there and take my responsibility to shoot photos and report back to my readers seriously.

wait… there’s more! THE GRAND FIESTA ON SUNDAY

Held at Liberty Station in a grassy park, The Grand Fiesta is much more low key but packs a lot of punch and yes, value. The concept is similar - loads of booths to stroll featuring food and beverages - but this time every booth has a taco and the beverages range from beer to Baja wines to tequila. These are not ordinary tacos either - No Wallybertos - but rather rather gourmet tacos with each booth trying to out-taco the next. With carne cooking over open fire, lobsters and octopus on the grill, ceviche and creative fusion of Japanese and Baja - if you love tacos, you’re going to be happy. And the tacos are either full size or fully stuffed street tacos and all you can eat, of course. Get a taco and vote for your favorites, wash it down with some awesome Baja wines or tequila, just relax because this event is low key and just a lot of fun. Lines are short and the music is great, it’s a nice way to cap off a great weekend. If you’ve never been to a food festival and want to see what it’s all about do this one next year - I love it. And if you always go to The Grand Tasting and never have tried The Grande Fiesta then you know what I’m going to say - do it! Look, Local Wally is all about telling you the honest truth and I really, really like this event.

There are other competing Wine and Food Festivals now in San Diego but the San Diego Wine + Food Festival, also known as the San Diego Bayfest, is the OG and still the best. You just can’t argue with the setting on the bay and the local San Diego vibe and with the return to their high standard for food and wine it’s my top pick for Event of the Year!

The 2024 san diego wine and food festival is coming in november

There’s no date announced as of this writing but the San Diego Wine and Food Fest is typically the weekend or two before Thanksgiving. Go to the official San Diego Bayfest site to get more info on date and tickets. In fact, I suggest you go to you calendar right now and put a reminder to check their site around September of 2024 as by then all the info will be up. You must trust me - this is the wine and food festival you’re looking for. See you next year!

My Dinner at ARLO: The San Diego Wine and Food Festival

Food Festivals, Things to Do in San Diego, Things to Eat San Diego, San Diego Wine Food Fest, restaurantsLocal WallyComment

At a Glance….

ARLO SAN DIEGO: A contemporary casual restaurant in Mission Valley that creatively combines fresh local ingredients in a mash up of of flavors from around the world. Gourmet yet accessible dining. Official Website | 619-908-5058 | $$$ | Yelp

HAMEL FAMILY WINES: A family run winery located in the Sonoma Valley with wines that inspired Chef Josh Mousakes’ menu. Official Winery Website

SAN DIEGO WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL: Held each year around the second week of November, it’s a week long extravaganza featuring gourmet events like this one, food focused day trips, and one of the best wine and food festivals in the country. Official Website

San Diego Wine and Food Festival hosts a six course gourmet dinner featuring wines by Hamel Family from Sonoma


My Evening at ARLO: 6 courses, 6 wines

Now that Covid is loosening its grip I’ve started to venture outside again but seem to have a bit of Rip Van Winkle syndrome. Where’s Qualcomm Stadium? What? The Trolley runs to La Jolla now? And especially, what happened to the Town and Country Hotel???

I used to work in Mission Valley and to escape from a tyrannical boss I would walk along the river and around the Town and Country Hotel. It was dilapidated but oddly charming, but last time I drove the 8 (when was that, 2020, 2021??) it was just gone, then a pile of rubbish and dirt. Little did I know that during my time asleep that the Town and Country would rise again, returning as a cool and modern resort that rivals some of San Diego’s best. And within the resort is ARLO, a restaurant that’s been getting a lot of attention this past year (Best new restaurant, Best Fine Dining, Best patio dining).

So when I heard that they were featuring a gourmet six course dinner via the San Diego Wine and Food Festival, not even a stormy rainy night could keep me away.


A mad rush through the pouring rain from the validated parking structure to the restaurant, right on time for the dinner to begin. The setting is intimate, not too many tables but enough to make it fun, with the chef and winery introducing themselves and their vision for the night. Six courses, six wines, I’m ready!

Scallop Crudo, Orange creamsickle, sea grass, brie cheese

Scallop Crudo paired with Hamel Family Sauvignon Blanc

Let me first start by saying all of the wines we had were perfectly paired with each course - and all of them were over the top delicious. I especially liked how this sauvignon blanc paired with the freshness of the scallop crudo. Stunning presentation, you can tell that Chef Josh Mouzakes trained at The French Laundry, and the perfect opening to the evening.

Charred Chilean Seabass ith prosciutto, Medjoool dates, brioche, and allium powder

Charred Chilean Seabass with Hamel Family Grenache

Another impressive dish, a crispy yet moist slice of seabass on top of salty prosciutto and a softer than air brioche bun, looking like a play on sushi and oh so delicious. A dip into the date sauce, another winning plate. The brioche was so light and balanced out the proteins perfectly. Another one, please.

Black Pepper Squab, mission figs, butternut squash, caramelized plum

Black Pepper Squab with Hamel Family Isthmus

Served on top of a charred plank from a wine barrel, the squab was elegant yet begged to be picked up by your fingers, which of course I did. I love squab and the mission fig sauce along with the charred butternut squash and caramelized plum added a complexity that elevated the dish to gourmet level. Winner Winner Squab Dinner.

Wagyu Coulotte, chanterelle mushrooms, smoked potato purée

48 HOUR WAGYU COULOTTE WITH CHANTERELLE MUSHROOMS, SMOKED POTATO purée WITH HAMEL FAMILY ranch CABERNET

Steak and potatoes? But not what you might think. It was of course the highest quality Wagyu but for me the stars were the mushrooms and potato. The chanterelles were very much the Thomas Keller philosophy of giving you a bite so delicious you wish there was more, only to move on to the smoked potatoes which had the same lingering effect. Oh how I loved both the mushrooms and potatoes. And yes, the 48 hour wagyu was quite nice, cooked and seasoned to perfection, though for me my love goes to the sides.

Tongue, cheek and tail rye wheat ravioli with tomato marmalade, preserved lemom ricotta

Tongue, Cheek and Tail ravioli with hamel family nuns canyon cabernet

In a prior life I worked in the tech industry and had to go to way too many meetings. It was there I learned the art of looking attentive while letting my brain drift to daydream mode. So yes I’ll admit it, five courses in I didn’t pay close attention to the description of the dish but you can trust me that it was yet another winner, the rich sauce complementing the tender meat that was wrapped in ravioli that had a satisfying chew, like the best al dente pasta you get in Italy. And I do remember the wine, perhaps the best pour of the evening and a perfect pairing. Look, it’s been a long evening so I think I did pretty good.

Honeycomb Pavlova, macerated apriocot, white chocolate tuille

Honeycomb Pavlova with hamel family late harvest sauvignon blanc

I love dessert wines, especially when paired with dessert, and the pavlova with its crispy, chewy exterior and softer marshmallow-like interior just melted in the mouth, a contrast of textures. A sip of late harvest sauvignon blanc, a delightful ending to a perfect meal.


Final Thoughts…

The San Diego Wine and Food Festival is a week long celebration of the best culinary experiences in San Diego and the Six Course Dinner at ARLO was no exception. But don’t wait until next year to check out ARLO - maybe go for Brunch this weekend, or hit up the bar for cocktails after work, or yes, go for dinner where you’ll find a menu that features everything from affordable wood fired flatbreads to plates for sharing to gourmet entrees. Check out their menu - and go check out what they did to the Town and Country Resort. It’s got that San Diego vibe that makes you feel like you’re on vacation even if you live 5 minutes away.

More info on ARLO | San Diego Wine and Food Festival Info


About the San Diego Wine and Food Festival

Every year around the second week of November is the San Diego Wine and Food Festival. The week long activities feature a myriad of culinary adventures, from gourmet dinners to trips to Baja to the Grand Tasting event on the bay behind Seaport Village on Saturday, and the Grand Fiesta event featuring a Best Taco competition and beers, wines and spirits from Baja California on Sunday. You can pick and choose which events you want to attend or buy package tickets for multiple days. I’ll post more info as the year progresses but mark your calendars now to check events and ticket sales around mid-October 2023.