17th Annual Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival
It’s a total chocolate weekend in store, noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 8-9, when the 17th Annual Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival rolls into San Francisco’s Ghirardelli Square.
Take part in an ice cream eating contest, in which contestants will have to down a famous Ghirardelli “Earthquake Sundae.” Join the chocolate scavenger hunt. Watch chef demonstrations. And enjoy the first ever festival bake-off with treats made from Ghirardelli products.
The chocolate extravaganza is a benefit for Project Open Hand, which provides meals to those who are homebound. Last year, $63,000 was raised.
Tickets are $20 each, which will get you 15 samples.
Chef Craig Stoll Cooks at Bloomingdale’s San Francisco
Craig Stoll, chef-proprietor of Delfina, Pizzeria Delfina and Locanda, all in San Francisco, will be whipping up some delicious dishes at Bloomingdale’s in downtown San Francisco, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 8.
Sponsored by All Clad, the cooking demo is free.
South Bay Chefs Headline “Chefs of Compassion”
There are many gala fund-raising dinners held every month. But only at the 2md Annual Chefs of Compassion are esteemed chefs pushed to the mettle to create a gourmet dinner for patrons using items scrounged from a low-income food pantry.
I had the honor of being a judge last year at the inaugural event. This year, I’m happy to reprising my role for this year’s event that will feature chefs Joey Elenterio of Chez TJ in Mountain View, David Wiesner of Siena Bistro in San Jose, Brad Kraten of Park Place Restaurant in Cupertino, and Ross Hanson of Restaurant James Randall in Los Gatos.
The event, held at Lexus of Steven’s Creek in San Jose, will require each chef to create a course using ingredients from the West Valley Community Services food pantry. The judges will choose the best dish of the bunch. Attendees also will get a chance to choose their favorite for the “People’s Choice Award.”
Tickets are $100 per person. The event is a fund-raiser for West Valley Community Services.
