There’s a new tradition at Union Square every August. It’s called SF Chefs and it officially kicks off tonight right here in the heart of the city.

A must-attend foodie event, SF Chefs has quickly climbed my personal what’s hot charts, and ranks alongside other high profile, well-run events in the SF Bay Area including Pebble Beach Food & Wine, Montalvo Food & Wine Classic, and the annual Star Chefs and Vintners Gala.

Team Stark will be on location in San Francisco again this year to cover the mega-event which includes gourmet food tastings, seminars, classes, cooking demos, grand food/wine soirees, after-parties, and so much more.

Besides all the spectacular gastronomy, there’s even a pragmatic aspect that hasn’t escaped my notice in previous years. And that is: trendspotting. What you see here — whether whimsical plating, emphasis on pork, unique ice cream flavors, varying portion sizes — usually makes its way into restaurants and kitchens across the country. In other words, we be trailblazers. Well, “we” in the greater food community of San Francisco sense, that is.

WATCH: Scenes from SF Chefs

Organizer and co-producer Andrew Freeman told me, “I think you’re going to see a lot of what you’re tasting today popping up on tasting plates in their restaurants.”

If you’re around San Francisco this weekend, definitely consider adding SF Chefs to your itin. Meantime, I’ll leave you with these photos, plus some SI TV segments we shot. And don’t miss the weekend schedule also included below for your quick reference.

I hope to see you there, Salut!

WATCH: SF Chefs Challenge: Crenn & Jackson VS. Cosentino & Faulkner

San Francisco Bay Area Food and WineSF CHEFS Weekend Schedule

FRIDAY AUG. 3

7:00pm
Friday Night Opening Celebration and Grand Tasting

10:00pm
Steamed, Fried and Shanghai’d: The After Party at E&O

SATURDAY AUG. 4

10:00am
Rhône Valley Spotlight on Côte Rôtie (sold out)
MonoArabica Coffee Cooking with Marcus Samuelsson & Chris Consentino

11:00am
100 Years Of Chardonnay
Gary Danko & Joanne Weir: Summer Corn Sensations

11:30am
What is Northern California Cuisine?

12:00pm
Test Your Wine Knowledge: Blind Tasting with Top SF Sommeliers & You!

1:00pm
Saturday Afternoon Grand Tasting

3:30pm
The Inside Scoop with Michael Bauer

4:00pm
An Afternoon of Tea & Peculiarities

4:30pm
The Eater Chef Challenge: Round 2

7:30pm
Saturday Night Grand Tasting: Decadence after Dark

10:00pm
Late Night Cocktail Adventure

SUNDAY AUG. 5

10:00am
The Eater Chef Challenge: Final Faceoff
Go Nuts for Donuts
Discover Portugal with Tom Pizzica & Eugenio Jardim
Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony with Marcus Samuelsson

11:00am
Prime Your Palate

11:30am
An Exploration of Cabernet Sauvignon

1:00pm
Sunday Afternoon Grand Tasting

WATCH: Interview with SF Chefs co-producer Andrew Freeman

IN PHOTOS: SF Chefs

Loni Stark
Loni Stark is an artist at Atelier Stark, self-professed foodie, and adventure travel seeker who has a lifelong passion for technology’s impact on business and creativity. She collaborates with Clinton Stark on video projects for Atelier Stark Films. It’s been said her laugh can be heard from San Jose all the way up to the Golden Gate Bridge. She makes no claims to super powers, although sushi is definitely her Kryptonite.
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