August 11th through 13th, Outside Lands returns to Golden Gate Park for its 10th anniversary with more than 70 acts from such world-class headliners as Gorillaz, Metallica, and The Who. But even the most diehard music fans will attest that everybody's favorite way-too-big festival is also all about the food and booze. Here's the skinny fat on the fest's gourmet grub and craft sips.
(Courtesy of Outside Lands)
Nombe Izakaya's ramen burger.
This year, graze among 80 local restaurants, food trucks, and carts at A Taste of the Bay Area, curated by Big Night Restaurant Group empress Anna Weinberg. We're looking forward to lamb burger sliders, pastrami cheese fries, crispy sushi rice cakes, crispy chicken skins, stone fruit and wildflower honey melts, and, of course, Marlowe's smoky bacon burgers.
▲(Jorgensen Photography)
Dave McLean, owner of Magnolia Brewing Company, selected 28 craft breweries for this year's Beer Lands. Throw back brews from newcomers Altamont Beer Works, Alvarado Street, Black Sands Brewery, Laughing Monk, and Oakland United Beerworks. Returning fest favorites include 21st Amendment, Almanac, Local Brewing, and Speakeasy. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. will also be pouring their exclusive festival ale, Outside Lands Saison, in addition to a few new brews.
▲(Courtesy of Outside Lands)
This year's lineup brings 40 top regional wineries pouring more than 120 wines. Curator Peter Eastlake uncorks such newcomers as Sorrel, Rootdown Wine Cellars, Ravenswood, and Failla. SLO Down will decant their wildly popular Sexual Chocolate Red Blend; Hoxie Spritzer will be serving dry wine spritzers; and Bushido's Way of the Warrior sake will be on tap. Adjoining Wine Lands will be The Back Wine, where you can practice your mini-golf swing while sipping wines from Cannonball Wine Company. VIP ticket holders are welcome pop over to Palm Bay International's Rosé All the Way bar.
Note that Wine Lands accepts payments only via the RFID wristband you use to enter the fest. Since you must register your wristband anyway, take another minute to tie it to a credit or debit card. Unlike previous years, you don't need to pre-load your wristband with money; just tap it on a sensor at Wine Lands to make your purchase.
▲(Courtesy of Outside Lands)
Appropriately located next to Wine Lands, Cheese Lands—curated by Thalassa Skinner of Culture magazine—satisfies our picnic urges with freshly baked French bread, charcuterie boards, and a selections of dozens of cheeses. You can also feast on melty Swiss Raclette "nachos" on Rustic Bakery crackers.
▲(Jack Gorlin)
This crustacean-filled zone hosted by Woodhouse Fish Co. will offers raw and barbecued Tomales Bay oysters, Dungeness crab rolls, lobster rolls, and clam chowder. Head to nearby Wine Lands for convenient pairings.
▲(Jorgensen Photography)
Who needs food when there's a whole area dedicated to desserts? Guittard Chocolate Company will be pouring warm, liquid chocolate bars, and more decadent offerings will be available from Candybar Dessert Lounge, Epic Cookies, Kara's Cupcakes, and Sharona's Chocolate Shop.
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(Courtesy of Outside Lands)
Cocktail wizards from top Bay Area bars will create two drinks each while Magic Castle's Jon Armstrong and friends will mirror the sourcery behind each bar by performing mind-altering illusions for guests.
▲(Courtesy of Outside Lands)
A wild mashup of culinary throwdowns, DJs, breakdancing, cocktails, comedy, and live music, this year's Gastro Magic stage features a few annual favorites spiced up with some new nonsense. Bring your appetite and dancing shoes for the Breakdown Breakdance with Belcampo and Beatz 'n Pieces, a live battle of butchers breaking down an animal alongside a B-Boy dance crew. Get your sea legs at How to Make Your Yacht Rock, a seafood sampling party with Mustache Harbor and Woodhouse Fish Co. And warm up your booty for the perennially popular Bouncing' for Beignets with Big Freedia and Brenda's Soul Food. See the full line-up at sfoutsidelands.com/gastromagic.
▲Don't have tickets? There are still some packages and single day tickets available at sfoutsidelands.com/tickets.
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