Tomato Festival

Pic taken at Bacco restaurant

Tomatoes are in full effecty-wecty, and this weekend you can join CUESA in celebration of the tomato in all its forms. I'll be a judge in the Tomato Cooking Contest at 11am—I'm hoping they don't expect me to throw any tomatoes.

9am-11am: Tomato Tasting
Sample the diverse colors, shapes, and flavors of tomatoes at the peak of their season. Honey Bear, Bloody Butcher, or Hippy Zebra, anyone?

10am-10:45am: Tomato Grower Talk
Ben says toMAYto, Nigel says toMAHto--and they both grow some really tasty ones. Hear Ben Lucero of Lucero Organic Farms and Nigel Walker of Eatwell Farm discuss their experiences growing tomatoes for the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.

11am-noon: Tomato Cooking Contest
Two chefs--Kevin Koebel of Rogue Chefs and Rick Hackett of MarketBar--will face off in an Iron Chef-style cooking competition. Their challenge will be to craft an appetizer and an entree (and an optional dessert) using tomatoes and items from our mystery pantry, in just 45 minutes. Dave Stockdale, CUESA's Executive Director, will act as MC, and our panel of judges will include Jane Tunks of the San Francisco Chronicle Food and Wine sections and Marcia Gagliardi of Tablehopper. Come join the fun, taste the creations, and cast your vote!

These events will take place in the arcade north of the Ferry Building's clock tower in CUESA's Dacor teaching kitchen.  

Tomato Festival
Saturday, September 16, 2006

Ferry Building
San Francisco

9am-noon

free