GUIDE: Here's Your GastroMagic Line-Up For Outside Lands 2015

With 77 restaurants, 38 wineries, 32 breweries and numerous cocktail bars, the food offerings at San Francisco's Outside Lands Festival (Friday, August 7 - Sunday, August 9) are almost as big a deal as the musical headliners. As local anticipation reaches fever pitch, organizers have just released the official line-up for the festival's GastroMagic foodie extravaganza!

As with all things Outside Lands, the offerings are plentiful (for which, read: daunting) -- so we're here to break things down for you. Read on, or scroll down for the line-up in full...

The GastroMagic stage at last year's Outside Lands (Wendy Goodfriend)

What is GastroMagic?

To quote festival organizers, GastroMagic is a stage "devoted to fantastical entertainment in the way of star personalities, food, cocktails, comedy, improv, music, and of course, sorcery." (Of course!) Basically, it's an imaginative, frequently-interactive onstage foodie experience that goes way beyond standing in line for a hot dog before your favorite band starts their set, and was a roaring success when it premiered at last year's festival. Think: the world's weirdest food expo where you might be asked to dance for your food. The whole thing is co-curated by San Francisco's ChefsFeed team, a community of local chefs who almost certainly know what they're talking about.

Chris Cosentino of Cockscomb (pictured at GastroMagic 2014) will be talking collaboration, food, cocktails and more this year. (Wendy Goodfriend)

Where is it, and how can I go?

The main GastroMagic stage is located in the "wooded wonderland" that is McLaren Pass, in the festival's home of Golden Gate Park, and there'll also be GastroMagic events neighboring that stage. "Performances" will be taking place on all three days of Outside Lands, and entrance is included in your festival ticket.

If you're asking "how can I go to Outside Lands," I regret to inform you that train has sailed: tickets sold out long ago. Sorry.

What can I see?

What can't you see? From the expected (talks from experts and live demonstrations) to the joyfully bizarre (magic, dance-offs, sushi karaoke), we've got the full line-up below. Here are a few of our stand-outs picks, mainly because they sound like tons of fun:

Morimoto Karaoke (5:30pm, Friday, Aug 7)
Iron Chef Morimoto rolls sushi and performs karaoke, potentially at the same time. What more do you need to know?

Truffle Shuffle w/ Mina Test Kitchen & DJ Vin Sol (1:50pm, Saturday, Aug 8)
Chef Adam Sobel from foodie icon Michael Mina's cooking coterie The Mina Group reinterprets the Truffle Shuffle dance, aided by instructor Julia Hubara. Oh, and you will have to shuffle yourself for a taste of Chef's Truffle Ribeye Cheesesteak. (Click here for a reminder of the Truffle Shuffle, courtesy of The Goonies.)

Beignets & Bounce Brunch with Big Freedia & Brenda’s Soul Food (3:10pm, Saturday, Aug 8)
You want some of Brenda's famous beignets? Big Freedia will make you twerk for them. Watch a video from last year to see what you're letting yourself in for.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGwxP_xV450
Video by Wendy Goodfriend

PB & MJ (7:40pm, Saturday, Aug 8)
Hear the hits of Michael Jackson while eating Peanut Butter Fudge Ripple ice cream provided by Humphry Slocombe. Smooth!

Food Fight with Pete Holmes - Ne Timeas vs Big Night (3:50pm, Sunday, Aug 9)
An epic game show on the GastroMagic stage with representatives from Bay Area food titans Ne Timeas (Flour + Water, Central Kitchen) and Big Night (Marlowe, The Cavalier.). We're promised that "only one survives," which seems harsh.

Enough with the watching. How can I eat all this stuff?

Pro tip: Several of the GastroMagic performances will apparently have an "intimate tasting table component where fans will have the opportunity to indulge in creations from the show" (ie. you get to eat the stuff they made onstage.) Seats are free but will be offered at certain shows (look for the "**" here) on a first-come, first-served (literally) basis to the first ten fans to arrive before that particular performance, and that details will be released via the Outside Lands mobile app. Download it here now!

What about drink?

Don't you worry. Surrounding the GastroMagic stage will be the Bay Area's best bartenders with four themed cocktail experiences: "Talk Like A Pirate Bar" (bring your best Jack Sparrow accent), "Uh Oh It's Magic" (so-called cocktail hoaxes), "Let's Get Fizz-ical" (bubbles) and "Mission Agave" (top-notch tequila.) The mixologists will be from the Bay Area's Bon Vivants, 15 Romolo, Boxing Room and Nopa, so you're in safe hands.

Anything else I should know?

Did we not mention that there'll be a "BaconLand" area nearby offering Bacon Flights from around the country? Including Tennessee's Benton's Bacon as well as Grilled Cheese with Bacon?

Bacon Land vendor showcases Bacon Flight. Photo: Wendy Goodfriend

See you at Outside Land, food lovers!

GASTROMAGIC LINE-UP IN FULL

FRIDAY AUGUST 7, 2015

1:20pm - 1:50pm
Magician Jon Armstrong
"Jon Armstrong, GastroMagic’s emcee for the weekend, kicks things off with a few tricks up his sleeve. He may have a few up yours as well."

2:45pm - 3:10pm
Trash Talk Cook Off with CUESA
"Waste not, have more! Chefs vending at Outside Lands hit the stage to concoct an all-star dish made from a mix of food by-products from popular recipes and “ugly” vegetables."

4:00pm - 4:30pm
Unknown Donuts w/ Rich Table
"San Francisco’s Rich Table showcases their artisanal donuts, so out of the box they’ll launch you into another dimension."

5:30pm - 6:00pm
Morimoto Karaoke
"Iron Chef Morimoto shares his expertise in the art of sushi rolling and rocks the stage with his hidden talent. It's only rock and roll, but he likes it."

7:15pm - 7:55pm
Breakdown Breakdance w/ Avedano Meats & Belcampo Meat Co.
"B-boy troupe Beatz N Pieces bring the beats while Bay Area butchers bring the meat. Watching their process unfold will make your head spin."

SATURDAY AUGUST 8, 2015

1:50pm - 2:20pm
Truffle Shuffle w/ Mina Test Kitchen & DJ Vin Sol
"Chef Adam Sobel from The Mina Group is joined by dance instructor Julia Hubara to reinterpret the infamous Truffle Shuffle. Fans must shuffle for a taste of his Truffle Ribeye Cheesesteak."

3:10pm - 3:40pm
Beignets & Bounce Brunch w/ Big Freedia & Brenda’s Soul Food
"Big Freedia is back to shake and bounce during the second annual bounce brunch. Brenda's Soul Food beignets for those willing to twerk."

4:30pm - 5:00pm
Evolution of Collaboration w/ Chris Cosentino
"Last year, the topic was evolution of creativity and this year, Chris Cosentino of Cockscomb talks collaboration, food, cocktails and more."

6:00pm - 6:30pm
PopStars w/ Emilie Baltz and Dan Deacon
"Dan Deacon provides the sweet sounds for this lickable popsicle orchestra imagined by experiential artist & storyteller, Emilie Baltz. Join them on stage to help bring this concept to life, one lick at a time."

7:40pm - 8:25pm
PB & MJ w/ Humphry Slocombe & Forever Land: A Michael Jackson Tribute
"Awaken the smooth (peanut butter) criminal in you as you indulge in Humphry Slocombe’s Peanut Butter Fudge Ripple ice cream and relive the MJ classics. PB&J has never tasted so good."

SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2015

2:30pm - 3:00pm
Dough Throw w/ DJ MoPo & Tony G
"It’s a Dough Throwdown with MoPo spinning tracks and World Pizza Cup Champion Tony Gemignani spinning dough and pizza bites."

3:50pm - 4:20pm
Food Fight w/ Pete Holmes - Ne Timeas vs Big Night
"Food Fight is not your average game show. Comedian Pete Holmes hosts an epic battle of the food world as Ne Timeas (Flour + Water, Central Kitchen, etc.) takes on Big Night (Marlowe, Cavalier, etc.). Only one survives!"

5:20pm - 5:50pm
Sexual Chocolate w/ Karl Denson & Guittard Chocolate Company
"The Sexual Chocolate band led by Karl Denson is going to take us back in time while Donald Wressell explores chocolate art. Look out for delicious Guittard chocolate bars!"