Chow Down at Outside Lands

Food and Wine will be a big part of this year's Outside Lands, San Francisco's 3-day Music and Arts Festival to be held August 28-30, 2009 in Golden Gate Park.

Outside Lands, A Taste of the Bay Area

After last year's successful maiden voyage, this year's Outside Lands promises to be even bigger and better with over 30 restaurants and 25 local wineries offering tasty sustenance as festival goers enjoy music from the likes of Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Tenacious D, Incubus, Black Eyed Peas, M.I.A., Ween, Modest Mouse, and Jason Mraz, among others.

The festival honors Bay Area culture, and as a city that loves our food, you can be sure that offerings will not be confined to your average festival fare. For those who attended last year, you'll recognize some returning vendors such as: El Huarache Loco, bringing the flavors of the D.F. (Distrito Federal a.k.a. Mexico City) to the SF, Hog Island Oyster Company, shucking and grilling away, Maverick, serving their famous pulled pork sandwich, and Pacific Catch, getting fresh with their Hawaiian poke.

With over 50% more local restaurants participating in Outside Land's Taste of the Bay Area tent this year, you can look forward a plethora of newcomers as well. Local favorites like: DOSA's tantalizing Southern India cuisine, Little Skillet's farm-fresh soul food, Q Restaurant's funky American comfort food (word on the street is tater tots!), Taylor's Automatic Refresher's pulled pork sandwiches and chicken Caesar salad (what, no burgers?), Ti Couz's savory and sweet crepes, and Yats' ridiculous poboys.

For purists, don’t worry, you can still get your burgers and dogs, but Burgermeister and Let's be Frank will be serving them SF-style (organic grass-fed beef, topped with locally grown lettuce and tomato, nitrites/nitrates/hormones/antibiotics/filler free).

A Taste of the Bay Area participating restaurants

This year's Winehaven tent will feature 75 different wines, each available in half or full glasses. Tasting seminars will also be offered:

• Taste with the Trailblazers: Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon, Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat, Bob Lindquist of Qupe, Steve Edmunds of Edmunds St John
• The Sustainable Sipsters: Robert Sinskey, Long Meadow Ranch, and Preston of Dry Creek
• The Next Generation: Morgan Peterson of Bedrock Wine Company, Charles Bieler and Joel Gott of Three Thieves, and Ethan Lindquist
• Coastal Cowboys: Pax Mahle of Wind Gap, Bradley Brown of Big Basin, Steve Clifton of Palmina.

I was blown away by the transformation of Golden Gate Park during last year's Outside Lands. It was the perfect storm of great music, community building, and no shortage of good things to eat and drink, all encompassed within the beauty of the city's iconic park. The bar has been set high, but with a solid lineup on the horizon, things are looking good for a strong showing once again this year.

Stay tuned, yours truly will be covering this event...highlight recap to come.

Outside Lands
August 28-30, 2009
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Tickets: Advance Single Day General Admission tickets ($89.50), Advance 3-Day Tickets ($225.50)
Tip: It looks like there are a few contests going on to win free tickets, and volunteer opportunities as well.