With world-class talent, national accolades and hearty local kudos, the 22nd San Diego Food + Wine Festival is gearing up for a November 1-8 return to downtown San Diego.
The festival’s Grand Weekend has been reimagined in a couple ways. The Grand Tasting (Saturday) and the Grand Fiesta (Sunday), both presented by Southwest Airlines, will be held at Embarcadero Marina Park North. That’s a first for the Fiesta at this bayside site.
On Friday, the inaugural Icons & Legends party presented by Blacklane will kick off the Grand Weekend. The official opening night promises an elevated tasting experience with award-winning chefs and exceptional wines and premium spirits.
Many of the festival’s most celebrated chefs will be on hand for the Icons & Legends opening night party, held on November 6 at the JULEP Venue (1735 Hancock Street) from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
AS A SAN DIEGO FOOD + WINE FESTIVAL media sponsor, The San Diego Sun has free tickets to award to readers. This week, we’re giving away pairs of tickets to the Icons & Legends party. To be eligible to win tickets, first, subscribe to The Sun’s free, weekly newsletter. Then, go to The Sun’s Instagram page and post about why you want to win tickets. FYI: We’ll notice if you tag friends and encourage them to sign up for the newsletter and post, too. ☀️
Stay tuned for more ticket offerings. And here’s a sampling of chefs who’ll be participating in the Grand Opening Weekend:
● Joe Sasto – Top Chef finalist
● Maynard Llera (Kuya Lord) – James Beard Award winner, Best Chef: California (2024)
● Kareem “Mr. Bake” Queeman – Award-winning pastry chef and founder of Mr. Bake Sweets; James Beard Award semifinalist, Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker (2023)
● Susan Bae (Moon Rabbit) – James Beard Award winner, Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker (2026); North America’s Best Pastry Chef (2025); Michelin Guide; North America’s 50 Best Restaurants
● Suzette Gresham – Two-Michelin-star chef (Acquerello, San Francisco); first female apprentice on the U.S. Culinary Olympic team; winner of the Antonin Carême Medal
● James Trees – James Beard Award finalist, Best Chef: Southwest (2020)
● Matt Vawter – James Beard Award winner, Best Chef: Mountain (2024)
● Gale Gand – Two-time James Beard Award winner (Outstanding Pastry Chef 2001;
Service 2007); inducted into the Chicago Chefs Hall of Fame; host of Food Network’s Sweet Dreams
● Javier Plascencia – Michelin-recognized chef and Baja culinary pioneer
● José Luis Hinostroza – Michelin-recognized chef
● Miguel Ángel Guerrero – Pioneer of BajaMed cuisine
● Marcelo Hisaki – Michelin-recognized chef; Bocuse d’Or Mexico competitor
● Sabina Bandera – Internationally acclaimed “La Guerrerense” street food icon; Michelin-recognized
● David Sim – Michelin Guide – Kingfisher
● Cha McCoy – Certified sommelier, wine educator, and television personality; James Beard Media Award winner (2026) for Wine Pairing for the People
● Roberto Alcocer – Michelin Star (Valle, Oceanside); Michelin-recognized (Malva, Valle de Guadalupe); James Beard Award semifinalist, Best Chef: California (2025) SAN DIEGO + BAJA | WWW.SANDIEGOWINECLASSIC.COM
● Eric Bost – Michelin Star (Jeune et Jolie, Lilo); James Beard Award semifinalist, Best Chef: West; New York Times 50 Best Restaurants (Lilo, 2025)
● Danny Romero + Dante Romero – Chefs and co-owners, Two Ducks (San Diego fine dining pop-up) and The Lion’s Share
● Aidan Owens – Culinary Director, Herb & Wood & Herb & Sea (San Diego); Food Network (Chopped Castaways, 2026)
● Tara Monsod – James Beard Award finalist, Best Chef: California (2024 & 2025); Michelin Plate (Animae); executive chef, Animae and Le Coq, San Diego
● Bernard Guillas – Maître Cuisinier de France; American Chefs’ Hall of Fame inductee; IACP Award-winning cookbook author (Flying Pans)
● Aron Schwartz – Chef-owner, Blank Slate
● Jonathon Sawyer – Chef-partner, Kindling; James Beard Award winner, “Best Chef: Great Lakes” (2015) SDSun
