Star Chefs in San Francisco, Open House at Sunset in Menlo Park & More

In San Francisco:

Get up close and personal with the Bay Area’s “Rising Star Chefs,” 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. June 16, at Ghirardelli Square.

StarChefs.com, the online culinary magazine, will be showcasing its picks for this year’s rising star chefs at this walk-around tasting event, featuring savory dishes, desserts and cocktails created by their top toques.

StarChefs.com chooses only four cities each year in which to pick its rising star chefs. More than 90 Bay Area chefs, sommeliers and mixologists were considered before the list was narrowed to these winners:

Chefs:

Matthew Accarrino, SPQR
John Paul Carmona, Manresa
Maximilian DiMare, Wood Tavern
Louis Maldonado, Aziza
Thomas McNaughton, Flour + Water
Scott Nishiyama, Chez TJ

Pastry Chefs:

Melissa Chou, Aziza
Catherine Schimenti, Michael Mina

Mixologists:

Erick Castro, Rickhouse
Brian MacGregor, Jardinière

Sommelier:

Sarah Valor, Commis

Concept:

Joshua Skenes, Saison

Restaurateur:

Shelley Lindgren, A16 and SPQR

Hotel Chef:

Josh Thomsen,  Claremont Hotel Club & Spa

Tickets are $95 per person. VIP tickets include a pre-reception with champagne and Petrossian caviar. A portion of proceeds will go to La Cocina, a San Francisco organization that assists low-income entrepreneurs in developing food-related businesses.

In Menlo Park:

Sunset magazine welcomes you to its 7-acre campus in Menlo Park, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., June 5-6, for its annual “Celebration Weekend.’

Join experts to learn all about food, wine, garden, home and design.

Foodies are sure to rejoice that the magazine has invited some of the most popular food trucks to park on-site to sell their delicious fare. Trucks include Sam’s Chowder House, Liba Falafel Truck, Seoul on Wheels, Gelateria CiCi, Kara’s Cupcakes, and Fruit ‘n’ Exotica.

His truck won’t be there, but Roy Choi, the man who started the whole food-truck craze with his Kogi BBQ in Los Angeles, will be on hand to do a cooking demo. Other chefs hosting demos include Ryan Farr of 4505 Meats in San Francisco, Food Network star Ellie Krieger, and Tom Douglas of Seattle’s Dahlia Lounge. For a complete list of chefs, demo schedules and featured recipes, click here.

Additionally, enjoy an artisan food pavilion, wine seminar courtyard, a home & garden stage, and “Secondhand Sunset” — goodies culled from the magazine’s prop studio, library, Idea Houses and editors’ own closets, which will be up for sale with proceeds benefiting a local charity.

Tickets to “Celebration Weekend” are $16 for general admission; $12 for seniors; and free for kids under age 12. You also can get $1 off the admission price if you bike to the event or park at Oracle, 1601 Willow Road in Menlo Park, and take the free shuttles to the Sunset campus.

In Saratoga:

The Montalvo Arts Center hosts its annual “Food & Wine Classic,” 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. June 6, at its historic villa and lovely gardens.

Join a bevy of local chefs for an evening of gourmet eats and exceptional wines, as well as live and silent auctions.

Participating restaurants include: Arcadia in San Jose, Cin Cin in Los Gatos, Junnoon in Palo Alto, and the Plumed Horse in Saratoga.

Tickets are $175 per person or $150 for members. Purchase by calling (408) 961-5858. Proceeds benefit Montalvo’s arts and education programs.

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