Foodies: Encinitas has the perfect festival for you

The second annual Foodie Fest Encinitas returns to The Lumberyard in Encinitas, offering event-goers a taste of gourmet dishes and farm-to-table delicacies from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m on Saturday, May 21.

The event aims to celebrate the North County culinary chefs, bars and restaurants. Barefoot Bar will be on deck to provide samples of craft beers, wines and spirits throughout the fest with drinks from Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits, The Bad Stuff Tequila, Belching Beaver Brewery, Mason Ale Works, The Lost Abbey and Thorn St. Brewery.

Attendees can learn a thing or two at the live cooking demonstrations, featuring Phillip Esteban of The Cork and Craft, Erik Lobner of Urge Gastropub and Whiskey Bank, Samantha Parker of Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen and Stephen Reyna of Privateer Coal Fire Pizza.

The event will also feature a Best of the Fest Chef competition, showcasing some of the participating chefs who will go head-to-head for the title of best chef. Best chef competitors include:

-Daniel England of Solace and The Moonlight Lounge

-Steven Lona of Tasting Room Del Mar

-John Gonzalez of Botarro Wood Fired Pizza

-Gregory Krol of Green Dragon Tavern and Museum

-William Eick of Real Bar and Bistro

-John Miller of Bistro West

Several other food artisans and vendors will be present at the event including Brothers Provisions, FishBone Kitchen, Jake’s Del Mar, Living Tea Brewing Co., Local Tap House, Moto Deli, Frazier Farms and Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub.

Groove to live tunes from Ben Powell, West County, XANDRA, Perfect Strangers, Jimmy & Enrique. There will also be an art exhibit with pieces donated from local artists.

Tickets are $48 and include tasters from around 30 restaurants in North County. Wristbands will be available for pick-up at the festival’s will call booth.

This event is all-ages. Attendees must be 21-and-up to participate in the beer, wine and spirit tastings. Event proceeds will benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

For more information about the Foodie Fest Encinitas, visit foodiefestencinitas.com

937 S. Coast HWY 101, Encinitas

Source: DiscoverSD