Lamb burgers from a previous Lamb Jam
If you’re a lamb fan, don’t miss the 2nd Annual San Francisco Lamb Jam this Sunday, July 17, where you can taste lots of wine plus delicious lamb cooked by top local chefs.
The event, featuring many renowned Bay Area restaurants and chefs, will be held at Golden Gate Club (135 Fisher Loop, SF 94129) from 3-6pm. Participating chefs create savory dishes paired with wines from more than 30 wineries including Bianchi Winery, Estancia Estates, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Midnight Cellars, Opolo Vineyards, Tablas Creek Vineyard, and Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards. Breweries including Thirsty Bear, Speakasy Ales and Lagers, and Cherry Voodoo are also participating.
Attendees get to taste and then vote for their favorite selections in a “People Choice” competition, and awards will also be given for “Best in Show” and for each of four lamb cuts: leg, loin, shank and shoulder.
Chefs at the event include:
- Antelmo Faria (Tacolicious)
- Banks White (FIVE Restaurant & Bar)
- David Bazirgan (Fifth Floor)
- Dino Vazquez (Eastside West Restaurant & Bar)
- Eric Berg (Wente Vineyards)
- Jeffery Lunak (Morimoto Napa)
- Jessica Gorin (Thirsty Bear)
- Mattin Noblia (Cheftestant from Top Chef Season 6)
- Michael Koenig (Grand Café)
- Richard Hodge (Puccini & Pinetti)
It should be interesting to see all the dishes and pairings that the various chefs come up with. As The Wine Bible author Karen MacNeil has said, “American lamb is the quintessential accompaniment for a wide variety of wines from around the world – reds, whites, and roses” (as quoted on the American Lamb Board web site, which also includes lots of recipes plus nutrition and cooking information).
Lamb Jam tickets are $50; buy online and get more information at www.FansofLambSanFrancisco.com or call (866) 327-5262. Other fun aspects of the Lamb Jam: attendees get to create their own swag bags and have the opportunity to watch a butchery demonstration by sheep herder Don Watson and Chef Matthew Accarrino from the restaurant SPQR.
The SF Lamb Jam is part of a national “Lamb Jam Tour” with five festivals. Besides San Francisco, there are events in Boston, Washington D.C., Seattle, and New York City (New York is the “Master Jam” where finalists from the other cities go head-to-head in a final championship). The festival is hosted by the American Lamb Board, a 13-member board that’s an industry-funded research and promotions commodity board representing all sectors of the American Lamb industry including producers, feeders, seed stock producers and processors.
Can’t wait ‘til Sunday to get your lamb on? Try Mark Bittman’s recipe Grilled Lamb and Figs, featured in his recent New York Times grilling article.
Look forward to seeing all my fellow lamb lovers this weekend in SF!
On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.
The Details:
Sunday July 17, 2011 from 3-6pm
Golden Gate Club, 135 Fisher Loop, San Francisco 94129
Call (866) 327-5262 for more information or see festival site www.FansofLambSanFrancisco.com
Admission: $50 includes food and wine