Rancho Santa Fe's Chino Farm will be honored at a multi-course dinner during the San Diego Food + Wine Festival, which runs Nov. 1–8.
The Legacy of the Land dinner on Thursday, Nov. 5, marks the farm's 80th anniversary. It takes place at the Grand Social at Fairmont Grand Del Mar, 5300 Grand Del Mar Court, with a reception at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. The event is presented by Napa Valley Vintners.
Chefs Tara Monsod, Matt Vawter and Aron Schwartz are confirmed to cook the dinner, according to Very North County. The Chino family will join winemakers from Napa Valley for an evening built around San Diego's seasonal harvest, according to the festival's event page.
The farm at 6123 Calzada del Bosque has deep roots. Founder Junzo Chino emigrated from the Japanese fishing village of Hashiguii in the early 1920s and first farmed in Los Angeles. After the family was forced into internment in Arizona during World War II, they purchased farmland in San Diego County, according to California Grown. Tom Chino now runs the operation alongside siblings Frank, Fred and Kay, growing hundreds of varieties of fruits and vegetables on roughly 50 acres. Alice Waters of Berkeley's Chez Panisse was the first high-profile chef to champion the farm's produce, according to the farm's website.
The Fairmont Grand Del Mar also hosts the festival's opening event. The fourth annual Día de Muertos Gala on Sunday, Nov. 1, honors Chef José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen. A VIP cocktail reception begins at 5 p.m., with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit Fundación Tijuana Sin Hambre.
Nick & G's in Rancho Santa Fe Village is on the roster for the Grand Tasting on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Embarcadero Marina Park North. Tickets start at $210.
The festival also includes a Passion + Favorites dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Blank Slate in Encinitas. That event reunites chefs Suzette Gresham of San Francisco's Acquerello, Bernard Guillas and Schwartz for a meal celebrating 20 years of collaboration. Reception begins at 6:30 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m.
The festival closes with the Grand Fiesta on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Embarcadero Marina Park North. Tickets start at $155. Prices across all events are scheduled to increase Thursday, Oct. 15. Full details and tickets are available at sandiegowineclassic.com.
Upcoming local festival events:
- Sunday, Nov. 1 — Día de Muertos Gala, Fairmont Grand Del Mar, 5 p.m. VIP reception, 6:30 p.m. dinner
- Wednesday, Nov. 4 — Passion + Favorites dinner, Blank Slate, Encinitas, 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner
- Thursday, Nov. 5 — Legacy of the Land dinner honoring Chino Farm, Grand Social at Fairmont Grand Del Mar, 6 p.m. reception, 6:30 p.m. dinner
- Saturday, Nov. 7 — Grand Tasting (featuring Nick & G's), Embarcadero Marina Park North, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., from $210
