California May 2012 Food Events to Whet Your Palate!
Out and About Food Festivals and Local Food, Beer & Wine Events in California
May is the time of year where everyone is out and about looking for that fun foodie event to whet their palates. Spring produce is abundant along with some amazing wines and entertainment. California offers a huge variety of food events, nothing short of foodtastic! Climb aboard and get ready to plan out your May foodie excursions as we share a listing of delicious events!
May 5, 2012 Cinco de Drinko – Bishop, California
http://mikrobierfest.com/
A craft beer and Mexican beer tasting event with unlimited tastings, street tacos, live homebrew demo and homebrew contest judging.
May 6, 2012 Taste of the Town – Santa Clarita, California
http://www.childfamilycenter.org/taste_of_town.php
Join us for the 24th annual Taste of the Town! Voted Santa Clarita’s Best Charity event two years in a row, over 2,000 attendees will enjoy tasty offerings from over 40 of Santa Clarita’s best restaurants, caterers, and wine and beer purveyors, all in the beautiful garden setting of Mann Biomedical Park. All proceeds benefit Child & Family Center.
May 11-12 , 2012 7th Annual Paradise Chocolate Festival – Paradise, California
http://www.chocolatefest.us/
Experience a chocolate paradise on the Paradise/Magalia ridge in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and overlooking the Sacramento Valley. Chocolate Queen pageant, Chocolate Chase fun run, Chocolate Cuisine Challenge and more. A benefit for non-profit youth organizations on the ridge.
May 12, 2012 15th Annual Great Petaluma Chili Cookoff, Salsa & Beer Tasting, Petaluma, California
http://www.cinnabartheater.org/chili/
Feel the heat as restaurants, businesses, clubs and individuals compete for the top chili and beer honors in Northern California. Sample gourmet, homemade, and veggie chili recipes, and stay for outdoor music, dancing and world class beers. This event benefits Cinnabar Theater Youth Program.
May 12, 2012 Wine & Art in the Park, Winters, CA
http://www.rootstowine.com
“Taste local wines from 11 members of “Roots to Wine” – Rotary Park (corner of Main Street & Railroad Ave) in Winters, Ca Roots to Wine is comprised of a group of small, mostly family-run wineries from Capay Valley, Davis, Dunnigan Hills, English Hills and Winters. $20 day of the event or $15 in advance
May 12, 2012 Armenian Food Fair & Fest – Montebello, California
http://www.armenianfoodfair.com/
Great entertainment all day long! While you enjoy delicious Armenian Food & Pastry, enjoy hours of Music and Fun. A food extravaganza featuring mouthwatering Armenian Food and Pastry prepared by community chefs.
May 18-20, 2012 Cooking for Solutions – Monterey Bay Aquarium, California
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/vi/vi_events/cooking/
Enjoy three days of remarkable culinary experiences with some of the finest chefs in North America. From our fabulous Friday Gala to small-group Food and Wine Adventures and the exciting Sustainable Seafood Challenge, you’ll have a weekend of fun opportunities to enjoy great chefs, fine food and wine, and to discover ways to save the oceans—one meal at a time. More than 70 Chefs & 60 Wineries. (also: http://www.cookingforsolutions.org/
May 18-20, 2012 15th annual Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival – Philo, California
http://www.avwines.com/anderson-valley-pinot-noir-festival/
Come experience Pinot Noir produced by some of California’s finest vintners, from grapes grown here in the beautiful and rugged Anderson Valley. To our knowledge, this is the only festival in the world that celebrates a single varietal from a single appellation. This festival is a three day event including a Technical Conference & social BBQ in the vineyards on Friday, Grand Tasting on Saturday with 40+ wineries participating, many elegant winemaker dinners on Saturday evening, and open houses at all area wineries on Sunday.
May 18-20, 2012 Orange County Greek Food Festival 2012 – Anaheim, California
Celebrate the best of Greek food, music, dancing and culture. Experience authentic Greek foods and homemade Greek pastries; traditional Greek dancing and Greek music; an outdoor marketplace, expansive Kidz Zone, and tours of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church.
May 19, 2012 20th Annual Oakdale Chocolate Festival 2012 – Oakdale, California
http://www.oakdalechamber.com/chocolate-festival-rootmenu-41
Ignite your palate with Chocolate samples and items for purchase on Chocolate Avenue. 150-200+ Quality and variety vendors in Arts & Crafts, Chocolate Avenue, Food, and Specialty Merchandise & Services. Amusement Park, Classic Car Show, and Western Show. Entertainment on: Chocolate Challenge Stage, Cowboy Cook’n Stage, and Main Stage. 3rd weekend in May.
May 19-20, 2012 53rd Artichoke Festival – Castroville, California
http://www.artichoke-festival.org/
Thistle Be Fun! Agro Art Competition, Parade, Live Music, Children’s Activities. Artichokes fried, sauteed, grilled, marinated, pickled, fresh and creamed in soup. Cooking Demos, Wine Tasting, Farmer’s Market, Arts & Crafts, Field Tours to the artichoke patch.
May 19-20, 2012 California Strawberry Festival – Oxnard, California
http://strawberry-fest.org/
29th Annual. Ranked among the top Festivals in the nation, the weekend celebration annually the 3rd weekend in May offers a spectacle of strawberry fun for everyone. Award-winning attractions, interactive exhibits, gooey contests, the hottest names in entertainment, the largest collection of Fine Arts & Crafts with 200+ booths, and an unbelievable assortment of delicious strawberry foods and beverages. The Strawberry Promenade offers cooking demonstrations and presentations, Strawberryland For Kids boasts free rides, puppet shows, and more. See also Strawberry Recipe Contest.
May 19-20, 2012 Annual Boogie on the Bayou – Campbell, California
http://www.campbellchamber.net/
This popular Cajun-inspired celebration draws attendees from all over the Bay Area to enjoy the authentic food, live entertainment, unique arts and crafts and the enormous family fun zone. Attendance: 60,000.
May 20, 2012 Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation – Santa Barbara, California
http://taste.strength.org/site/PageServer?pagename=TOTN_homepage
Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation is the nation’s premier culinary benefit, featuring top chefs and mixologists — all of whom are coming together to donate their time, talent and passion to end childhood hunger in America.
May 20, 2012 Flavors of Los Angeles – Los Angeles, California
http://www.liverfoundation.org/chapters/greaterla/events/
Flavors of Los Angeles spotlights premier local restaurants and chefs to create a high-end, exclusive, gourmet experience. We are proud these renowned chefs are working with the American Liver Foundation in our fight to promote awareness and raise money to promote liver health, disease prevention, education and research.
May 25-28, 2012 Garden Grove Strawberry Festival – Garden Grove, California
The Garden Grove Strawberry Festival celebrates its 52nd year, making it not only one of the largest community festivals in the western US, but also one of the oldest.
May 26-27, 2012 29th Annual Strawberry Festival – Arroyo Grande, California
http://arroyograndevillage.org/
As one of California’s largest festivals, this family-style event brings together thousands of visitors and residents to enjoy activities and entertainment, the Strawberry Stampede, hundreds of art, craft and display booths, ethnic foods, and of course, scrumptious strawberry treats of all kinds.
May 27, 2012 22nd Annual Larkspur Flower & Food Festival – Larkspur, California
http://www.teamproevent.com/events/larkspur.html
An exciting daylong schedule of colorful festivities surrounding the theme of flower related arts & crafts and gourmet food exhibitors. The event will feature the cooking demonstration stage showcasing Larkspur’s renowned Chefs and Restaurants.
May 31-June 3, 2012 Auction Napa Valley – Napa Valley, California
http://www.auctionnapavalley.org/
America’s first charity wine auction remains the premier celebration of wine the world over. After 31 years, this event still holds true to its origins: to create a vehicle to support the health and well-being of the community, held in the idyllic setting where the grapes are grown and hosted by the creative individuals behind America’s finest wines. It is an unparalleled four days of festivities celebrating the wine, the food and the heritage of this acclaimed region.