Full plate: May food and drink events

Food and drink events during the month of May include Rhythm and Brews, the Chef-driven Bake Sale, San Diego Taco Fest and the 38th Annual Ethnic Food Fair.

5.3: Taste of Cardiff

Celebrating the culinary flavors and local libations that make Cardiff and Restaurant Row so spectacular, this tasting event highlights local restaurants, retailers, brewers and vintners.

Cardiff-by-the-Sea Town Center, Cardiff-by-the-Sea
cardiff101.com

5.4: May the Fish Be With You

Star Wars nerds and fish lovers unite for this second annual party that will feature a custom commemorative beer glass, t-shirt, hoodie and a chance to win a bottle of ACE Space (an unfiltered blood organge cider) all while the full series is screened at North Park’s Beerfish restaurant.

2933 Adams Ave., Normal Heights, beerfish.com

5.5: Second Annual Niigata Sake Festival

Sample several varieties of Niigata Sake, which has been described as “mellow and balanced with a clean, crisp finish.”

BeShock Ramen and Sake Bar, East Village, be-shock.com

5.5: Rhythm & Brews

The San Diego Brewers Guild‘s annual festival returns to the heart of historic Vista Village with live music and plenty of pours from more than 50 of the county’s best breweries.

Historic Vista Village, Vista, sdbeer.com

5.5: Seedling Soiree

Sam “The Cooking Guy” Zien is emceeing this event showcasing local chefs as they create dishes utilizing organic and sustainable ingredients grown right here in San Diego.

Olivewood Gardens, National City, olivewoodgardens.org

5.5: 18^th Annual Food & Wine Festival

Join the Junior League of San Diego as they host their biggest fundraiser of the year, dishing up the ultimate outdoor foodie experience to more than 1,200 guests at this Kentucky Derby-themed festival.

La Jolla Cove, La Jolla, jlsd.org

5.6: Tacos & Beer 5K

Kick off a fun and festive Cinco weekend with a 5K followed by tacos, beer and live entertainment including mariachi music, a mechanical bull and a piñata-bashing party.

Embarcadero Marina Park South, downtown, tacosnbeer5k.com

5.6: Chef-driven Bake Sale

Carb-lovers unite at this inaugural event showcasing signature treats from a baker’s dozen of San Diego’s top pastry chefs.

Herb & Eatery, Little Italy, friendlyfeast.org

5.11: 27th Annual Mama’s Day

This annual event held near Mother’s Day features more than 50 local chefs who will prepare bites for guests all while helping raise awareness about Mama’s Kitchen, a nonprofit that provides meal delivery services to patients with critical illnesses.

Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine, La Jolla, mamaskitchen.org

5.12: Taste of Julian

Explore some of Julian’s many hidden gems on this self-guided culinary tour of one-of-a-kind restaurants, wineries and breweries.

Throughout Julian, visitjulian.com

5.12: Vegan Street Fair

Treat yourself to incredible vegan eats at this one-night-only engagement that also includes drinking, dancing and live entertainment.

Anthem Vegan, North Park, facebook.com/anthemvegan

5.12: Fourth Annual San Diego Reader Tacotopia

Five dozen of the finest taco shops in San Diego, Los Angeles and Tijuana compete for the top prize at this event offering live entertainment, unlimited taco tastings and beer samples from 20 local breweries.

Golden Hill Park, Golden Hill, readertacotopia.com

5.12: Fourth Annual San Diego Paella Festival

Sixty local and international chefs will prepare 130 paellas to feed more than 3,000 attendees at downtown’s Spanish-style celebration that also includes live music, lots of booze and the largest paella ever cooked in California.

Embarcadero Marina Park South, downtown, paellawinefest.com

5.17: Ninth Annual Eat.Drink.Read: A Culinary Event for Literacy

Some of San Diego’s most popular chefs will create culinary pairings inspired by their favorite literary characters at this bookish bash that aims to celebrate reading through connection, consumption and commitment.

San Diego Air and Space Museum, Balboa Park, literacysandiego.org

5.17: Masters of Food & Wine

Engage in a master class tasting of Don Julio Tequila followed by a dinner prepared by several leading chefs from Mexico, including Javier Placencia (Tijuana) and Poncho Cadena (Guadalajara).

Park Hyatt Aviara, Carlsbad, mastersfoodandwine.com

5.19: San Diego Taco Fest

More than 30 of the city’s best Mexican restaurants offer a slew of top-notch tacos at this festival featuring chihuahua races, live lucha libre matches and headliners Salt-N-Pepa with Spinderella.

Waterfront Park, Little Italy, sdtacofest.com

5.19: Stone Liberty Station Fifth Anniversary

It’s already been five years since Stone Brewery opened its Point Loma location, and what better way to celebrate than by commemorating the occasion with specialty beers and other awesome offerings from Liberty Station’s beloved businesses.

NTC Park at Liberty Station, Point Loma, stonebrewing.com

5.19: Second Annual OMBAC OTL Beerfest

The Old Mission Bay Athletic Club — known for its infamous annual Over-the-Line Tournament — hosts this drinking event showcasing some of the city’s finest breweries and food trucks along with a mini tournament to get people fired up for the main event in July.

Mariners Point, Mission Bay, ombac.org

5.20: San Diego Donut Run

You donut want to miss this Pacific Beach fun run that includes 5K, 1-mile dash and kids dash options with proceeds going to GiGi’s Playhouse, a nonprofit that supports individuals with Down syndrome.

Crown Point Park, Mission Bay, gigisplayhouse.org

5.21: Meet the Makers

This intimate six-person dinner brings together a unique dining experience from chef Jessica Fisher and chef Logan Kendall of Two Seven Eight in Hillcrest with a cocktail pairing from Liberty Call Distilling as well as some education about the spirits. — Leslie Hackett

Two Seven Eight, 3687 Fifth Ave., Hillcrest, concepttwoseveneight.com

5.22: Ninth Annual I Love Poke Festival

Thirty-plus chefs from San Diego, Hawaii and beyond each provide tastings of their signature poke styles during this competitive cooking event where the attendees are the real winners.

Bali Hai, Shelter Island, onoyum.com

5.27: Vista Strawberry Festival

Once considered the “Strawberry Capital of the World,” Vista continues to celebrate the florid fruit during this day of live entertainment, local craft brews and several strawberry-centric events, including a Strawberry Run 10K and 5K.

Vista Chamber of Commerce, Vista, vistastrawberryfest.com

Vista Strawberry Festival. PHOTO BY NELVIN C. CEPEDA, SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE

(Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)

5.27: 38^th Annual Ethnic Food Fair

Sample culinary creations from dozens of diverse cultures, and enjoy spectacular acts performing in traditional costumes during this annual fun-filled feast.

House of Pacific Relations, Balboa Park, sdhpr.org

5.30: Butcher and Brewmaster dinner series

The mall isn’t the first place you think of for killer barbecue, but that’s exactly what’s being offered up at Smokeyard BBQ & Chop Shop at Westfield UTC. Join them for the kickoff of a new monthly dinner series, this month featuring former Top Chef contestant Giselle Wellman and Societe Brewing, highlighting inventive slow smoked creations and seafood selections paired with brews.

Smokeyard BBQ & Chop Shop, 4313 La Jolla Village Dr., University Town Center, smokeyard.com