Full plate: October food and drink events

Food and drink events coming to the San Diego area this month include the Valle Food & Wine Festival, San Diego Mac & Cheese Fest, Taste of North Park and Fit Foodie Festival & 5K.

Through 10.7: CRAFToberfrest 2018

During this 10-day celebration, attendees can experience the Beer Olympics, a flower crown making station, stein giveaways, drinking games and more, plus German foods from Liberty Public Market’s tenants.

Liberty Public Market, Liberty Station,
libertypublicmarket.com

10.3: Celebrity Chef Series

Brian Malarkey and Sam Talbot, another former Top Chef contestant, kick off the first in a series of Herb & Wood’s guest-centric events with a five-course, beverage-paired dinner featuring two courses prepared by the TV chefs themselves.

Herb & Wood, Little Italy, chefseries.eventbrite.com

10.4: Gaslamp Gala

Nosh on tray-passed apps from 10 of downtown’s best restaurants, then raise a glass to the Gaslamp itself during this decadent three-course dinner that evolves into an exclusive outdoor celebration right on a closed-off block of Fifth Avenue.

Gaslamp Quarter Hilton Hotel, Gaslamp, gaslamp.org

10.4: Taste of Mesa

This signature culnary fundraiser features a cooking show style event with tastings, demonstrations and three cook-off competitions between alumni, students and a baking team.

San Diego Mesa College, Culinary Outlook - Mesa Commons, 7250 Mesa College Dr., Clairemont Mesa, sdmesa.edu/tasteofmesa

10.5-6: Third annual Oktobierfish

Normal Heights’ casual-counter seafood spot invites Oktoberfest fans to kick off the weekend with live polka music on Friday followed by grilled brats and great brews on the patio Saturday afternoon.

Beerfish, Normal Heights, beerfish.com

10.5-7: El Cajon Oktoberfest

Tantalize your taste buds with authentic German food, beer and booze featuring a raffle that will award the winner with a flight for two to the Fatherland.

German American Societies, El Cajon, germanclubsandiego.org

10.6: Solo Italiano: Dinner in Rosso

Be there when Little Italy’s Piazza della Famiglia transforms into a Tuscan-inspired, family-style dinner featuring endless Italian courses, lots of authentic libations and plenty of engaging, table-side entertainment.

Piazza della Famiglia, Little Italy, soloitalianosd.com

10.6: Second annual Valle Food & Wine Festival

Board a 50-person bus or book a seven-person SUV and travel down to Baja, where 30 chefs from both sides of the border will prepare a massive, locally sourced meal in the midst of mountains, vineyards and a huge selection of adult beverages.

Finca Altozano, Valle de Guadalupe (Shuttles depart from Old Town Transit Center), vallefoodandwinefest.com

10.6: Taste of Oceanside

Take a ride on the Taste Trolley — or just hoof it if you want the exercise — and sample great food, beer and wine from many of O’side’s most reputable eateries.

Throughout downtown Oceanside, mainstreetoceanside.com

10.6: Carlsbad Oktoberfest

Dust off your finest German attire as North County’s longest-running Oktoberfest returns for another year of costume contests, ice-cold beers, music, meals and much, much more.

Holiday Park, Carlsbad, rotaryoktoberfest.org

10.6-7: West Coast Oktoberfest: The Pursuit of Hoppiness

Spanning India Street between Ash and A streets, this traditional German extravaganza will feature more music, bratwursts and costume contests than you can shake a schnitzel at.

Music Box, Little Italy, musicboxsd.com

10.9: Chew the Scene

More than 20 of San Diego’s top chefs, restauranteurs and bartenders will collaborate for completely off-menu takes on Asian American cuisine for a dining experience that marks the kickoff for the San Diego Asian Film Festival.

The Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park, chewthescene.com

10.10: San Diego Craft Beer Economic Summit

This tasting event/sudsy symposium explores the economic impact of San Diego’s craft beer industry and aims to demonstrate how the region can continue to support and serve our beloved breweries. You’ll even find PACIFIC’s editor-in-chief weighing in on one of the panels.

California State University San Marcos, sdbeer.com

10.11: Taste of Carlsbad Village

Discover Carlsbad’s delectable dining scene on this self-guided walking tour to 35 restaurants sprinkled with 15 sip stops between destinations.

Throughout downtown Carlsbad, carlsbad-village.com

10.11-14: Havana 1920 one year anniversary

Downtown San Diego’s happening Cuban restaurant will celebrate its first anniversary in style with specials throughout the weekend including a VIP party with live music, salsa dancing and cigar rolling on Thursday, half-priced rum from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, plus complimentary dessert and food specials on Saturday and Sunday. — Leslie Hackett

548 Fifth Ave., downtown, havana1920.com

10.12: By the Barrel: Whiskey & Wine

This southern-style BBQ bash will feature plenty of your comfort-food favorites, but the real stars are the barrel-aged whiskey and wine selections Estancia’s team spent a year searching for.

Hotel Estancia, La Jolla, meritagecollection.com

10.12-13: OB Oktoberfest

Toss a sausage, gorge on bratwurst or dare to do “Das Booty Flip” as Bavaria takes over Ocean Beach for a weekend full of beer, live music, costume contests and lots of crazy challenges.

Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach, oboktoberfest.com

10.13: Oktoberfest Coronado Island

Tickets to Coronado’s take on the Oktoberfest tradition include unlimited beer pours, a custom stein and a bratwurst sandwich in addition to samples of German-inspired cuisine from several of the city’s restaurants.

Coronado Ferry Landing, Coronado, oktoberfestsd.com

10.13: Taste of North Park

Sink your teeth into tasty samples from more than 50 of North Park’s restaurants on this self-guided foodie tour that includes stops at 15 neighborhood breweries.

Throughout North Park, explorenorthpark.com

10.13: Pala Oktoberfest

Pala Casino welcomes you to celebrate Oktoberfest in style by treating your taste buds to 10 beer samples and fill up at food stations including German pretzels, sauerkraut, strudels and Brussels sprouts.

Pala Casino, Pala, palacasino.com

10.14: Wasted: A Celebration of Sustainable Food

Thirty local (Davin Waite, DJ Tangalin, Phillip Esteban and Brian Malarkey to name a few) and national chefs and mixologists join forces in a competition proving that delicious dishes can be made even with ingredients that might otherwise be considered waste. — Leslie Hackett

Luce Court and Legacy Plaza at Liberty Station, wastedcelebration.com

10.18: Sixth annual Komen Dine Out for the Cure

Put on something pink and grab some grub at any of the many generous restaurants, bakeries and coffeehouses participating in Susan G. Komen’s food-centric fundraiser.

Throughout San Diego, komensandiego.org

10.18: 56^th annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County Gourmet Dinner

One of the city’s most revered galas returns, beginning with a lavish seafood cocktail party, followed up by an exquisite ballroom feast and culminating with cigars and after-dinner drinks outdoors.

Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine, La Jolla, sdbigs.org

10.18-20: Baja Culinary Fest

Culinary stars from around Baja and San Diego are descending upon Tijuana for three days filled with conferences, workshops, cooking demonstrations and a culminating festival at Club Campestre de Tijuana featuring dishes from 30 culinary stations, live music and the chance to interact with participating chefs. — Leslie Hackett

Various locations around Tijuana, bajaculinaryfest.com

10.20: Barks & Brews Oktoberfest

Fans of dogs, beer or both are invited to attend this furry and foamy event that includes dozens of brews, a contest to determine the ugliest dog and more free biscuits than your pooch will know what to do with.

Spanish Landing Park East, near Harbor Island, dogsdrinkfree.com

10.20: Fit Foodie Festival & 5K

Treat yourself to a feast on your way to the finish line during this gustatory jaunt that precedes a post-run Food & Fitness Festival, featuring even more mouthwatering bites along with a beer garden, culinary demonstrations and much more.

Liberty Station NTC Park, Point Loma, fitfoodierun.com

10.21: Iron Pig Alehouse 4-year anniversary

Celebrate the occasion with $4 pints of Aporkalypse Pale Ale from Bay City Brewing Co. and the full tap list, $4 cocktails and $4 pork sliders — that’s a lot of fours that your wallet can appreciate. — Leslie Hackett

1520 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach, ironpigalehouse.com

10.25: Fourpenny House’s Monkey Shoulder night

“I love scotch. Scotchy scotch scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly.” — Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy in Anchorman. If this sentiment hits home, then head to La Mesa for an evening of craft cocktails and chow featuring Monkey Shoulder Scotch Whiskey. Plus, there may be some free collectible swag going around, too. — Leslie Hackett

8323 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, fourpennyhouse.com

10.26: Night of the Evil Dead... Red! Halloween Bash

AleSmith will transition into a brewery fit for the undead to celebrate the seasonal release of Evil Dead Red Ale (which has a 6.66% ABV, of course). Event is free to attend, but tickets for two beer pairing options are available on Eventbrite.

9990 AleSmith Ct., Miramar, alesmith.com

10.27: Fourth annual San Diego Mac & Cheese Fest

Cast a vote for the city’s best mac ‘n’ cheese while sipping 10 beer samples at this congregation of comfort-food aficionados, which highlights restaurants selected by SoCal’s top chefs.

Waterfront Park, Little Italy, sandiegomacncheese.com

10.27: San Diego Culinary Bowl

Spectate — or participate — in this daylong series of judged cooking challenges with categories including bread, desserts and hot appetizers, among others.

Art Institute of California — San Diego, Mission Valley
sdchefs.org

10.28: 16th annual Celebrate the Craft

The annual celebration of California’s best culinary offerings returns with a showcase of food, chefs, wine and craft beer, with a portion of proceeds benefitting Slow Food Urban San Diego.

The Lodge at Torrey Pines, La Jolla, celebratethecraft.com

10.28: Ninth annual Spring Valley Tailgate & BBQ Fest

Put your grill skills to the test and compete against 29 other teams as California’s largest annual amateur tailgate & BBQ contest returns for yet another lip-smacking year.

Troy Street, Spring Valley, behindthesmokemedia.com

10.28: Bubbly & Brunch on the Beach

Newly reimagined JRDN Restaurant invites guests to enjoy a three-course morning meal paired with sparkling wine from Iron Horse Winery while enjoying unrivaled Pacific Ocean views. — Leslie Hackett

723 Felspar St., Pacific Beach, eventbrite.com

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Things to do in October