After a spring debut in the Haight, San Francisco Sweet & Savory is preparing for a Hayes Valley installment of its local cooking contest series this weekend. Billed as the city's "first neighborhood cooking competition," the project aims to bring neighbors together while sampling food from the best and brightest of amateur local cooks and bakers.
On Sunday, October 19th from 6pm-8:30pm, entrants and eaters will convene at Zonal (568 Hayes St.) for the meet-and-greet and competition, which will be judged by chefs from local spots Souvla, Biergarten and Two Sisters.
If you're submitting a dish to the contest, here's what you need to know:
- Your dish should provide enough for 12-15 tastes
- Plates and utensils will be provided
- Hot dishes will be tasted first
- Winners in both the sweet and savory categories will be awarded based on flavor, presentation, and creativity
- Prizes will be awarded from local merchants, including Timbuk2, Flight 001, Hayes Valley Medical and Esthetics, Live Fit, Smitten, Christopher Elbow, Pläj, Klein Epstein & Parker and more
We reached out to the judges to learn more about what they're looking for in a winning dish.
"Things I'll be looking for include originality/creativity, visual presentation, quality of product, appropriate seasoning, balance of flavors and textural contrast," said Charles Bililies of Souvla.
"I'll be looking (as always) for sincerity over trendiness," said Alana O'Neal of Two Sisters. "That might mean family recipes, it might mean an intense focus on a particular technique or ingredient, but it has to show and create a personal connection to the food on the plate. Of course, the food has to work, too—there has to be balance, ingredients treated so that they complement and bring out the best in each other—but love is more important than polish."
Whether you've got a dish you simply must enter into the contest, or just want to stop by to sample the goods and meet your neighbors, earlybird tickets for both "eaters" and "compeaters" are still available at 50% off the regular price (full price is $10 for contest entrants, $30 for spectators/eaters). So grab a ticket, tie on your apron and pull out your cookbooks for what's set to be a unique neighborhood event.
