The Fall always brings with it a slew of major food and drink events, and here are some of the most interesting ones going down in the coming month and a bit beyond that. The docket for October includes Spain's premiere chefs congress (Gastronomika), the Chicago Beer Festival, Australia's largest food event (Crave Sydney), the New York adaptation of Italy's Identità, the always epic NYC Wine & Food Festival, and the book and dinner tour for author Charlotte Druckman's new book, Skirt Steak.
The Skirt Steak Book and Dinner Tour
When: October
Where: Throughout the U.S.
What: The writer Charlotte Druckman has embarked on a tour in support of Skirt Steak, her new book, which focuses on the experiences of female chefs in kitchens across the U.S. There are multiple events scheduled throughout the country, including dinners with chefs like Traci des Jardins, Jenn Louis, and Christina Tosi.
Crave Sydney
When: October 1 - October 31
Where: Sydney, Australia
What: The Sydney Morning Herald presents the country's largest food festival with a mind-boggling number of events, from talks with global food stars like Ruth Reichl and Jordi Roca, to a full-on hawker-style market in the city's Hyde Park.
Greenwich Food and Wine Festival
When: October 4 - October 6
Where: Greenwich, CT
What: Celebrate the arrival of autumn at this festival with a manageable number of demos and tastings hosted by talents like Ted Allen, Graham Elliot, and NYC restaurateur and wine expert Joe Campanale. Friday and Saturday nights will cap off with concerts from Big Head Todd & The Monsters and Gregg Allman, respectively.
Secrets of the Best Chefs Book Tour
When: October 6 - November 8
Where: Across the U.S.
What: A tour in support of Adam Roberts' new book, including a dinner hosted by Lidia Bastianich, talks with Amanda Hesser and Jonathan Waxman, and an after hours meal at San Francisco's Tartine.
Taste of Atlanta
When: October 5 - October 7
Where: Atlanta
What: This is the 11th year of Taste of Atlanta, a three-day event that showcased the restaurants of that city. This year over 80 local spots will be preparing bites for the event. Prices are gentle compared to most of the other listings on here.
Gastronomika 2012
When: October 7 - 10, 2012
Where: San Sebastian, Spain
What: Gastronomika is one of the great chefs congresses, a kind of UN for the world of food. This year the festival returns in October and not November, as is usually the case, with a focus on France and its chefs: included in the lineup are Pascal Barbot, Yves Camdeborde, Mauro Colagreco, Michel Bras. Non-French presenters include René Redzepi, Massimo Bottura, and most of the Spanish staples.
NYC Wine & Food Festival
When: October 11 - October 14
Where: New York
What: Lee Schrager's monstrous festival enters its fifth year with a slew of events scattered throughout the city, including a roast of Anthony Bourdain hosted by Mario Batali, a dinner collaboration between April Bloomfield and Bill Telepan, a $400 meal cooked by alums of Bouley Restaurant, and of course, the Burger Bash. Most of the hot tickets have been snatched up since June.
Identità New York
When: October 12 - October 14
Where: New York
What: This is a small but formidable adaptation of Italy's premiere gastronomic congress, Identità Golose. Held at Eataly, the Batali-Bastianich temple to all things Italy, the program brings in some of Italy's greatest talents (Massimo Bottura, Davide Scabin, Carlo Cracco) and pairs them with American chefs (Michael White, Anita Lo, George Mendes). The event also includes two dinners, one on Friday and another on Saturday.
Isthmus Food and Wine Festival
When: October 19 - October 20
Where: Madison, Wisconsin
What: The inaugural year of the Isthmus Food and Wine Festival, which is designed as a marketplace for tastings, exhibitions, and shopping. Local talents, like Beard winner Tory Miller of Graze, will make appearances. Tickets start at $40.
State Fair of Louisiana
When: October 25 - November 11
Where: Shreveport, Louisiana
What: Nearly half a million people will visit the Louisiana State Fair — which, by the way, is 106 years-old — to go to the circus, go on some rides, and pet the animals. Also: they'll be eating a hell of a lot of food, much of it delicious and terrible for you. For a look at some of the best offerings from last year's event, see this Serious Eats post.
Looking Ahead:
Music To Your Mouth
When: November 13 - November 18
Where: Bluffton, South Carolina
What: Films, bourbon tastings, demos, and even 5k races make up the program of Music To Your Mouth, which returns this year to the picturesque waterfront property Palmetto Bluff. The lineup skews southern, with familiar names like Sean Brock, John Currence, Linton Hopkins, John T. Edge, Hugh Acheson, and Ashley Christensen running much of the show.
Le Grand Fooding Los Angeles
When: Spring 2013, date TBD
Where: Los Angeles
What: The French alternative gastronomic publication Le Fooding, which puts on events in Europe and New York that bring together folks like James Murphy and Iñaki Aizpitarte, has announced that it will bring its show to Los Angeles at some point in the Spring. What to expect: "Something closer to what [they] originally did in New York. Something bigger, a big urban picnic with Le Fooding's touch — great musicians, DJs, graphic art."
Something missing? Email it in.
· All EventWire Posts on Eater [-E-]