It's Oktoberfest season, and the German festival is touching down in both Redwood City and Mountain View in September and October. Redwood City is also hosting its annual salsa festival on Sept. 26. For farm-to-table aficionados, don't miss a special pop-up dinner at Filoli in Woodside, the first-ever Facebook Certified Farmers Market and the last Los Altos Farmers Market of the season. Scroll down for more events.
Head to downtown Mountain View on Oct. 2 and 3 for the third annual Mountain View Oktoberfest. Above: Cody Van Houten, a bartender at Steins Beer Garden and Restaurant in Mountain View, pours a few of the many German beers on tap for Oktoberfest in 2014. Photo by Veronica Weber.
Los Altos Wine Walk
Stroll through downtown Los Altos with a glass of wine in hand from 18 different wineries that will be pouring samples as part of the first annual Los Altos Wine Walk on Friday, Sept. 18, from 5-9 p.m. There will also be live music and snacks. The cost of the ticket ($30 each, $35 at the event) includes a commemorative Wine Walk glass. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to downtownlosaltos.org.
Last Los Altos Farmers Market
This season's last day of the Los Altos Farmers Market is Thursday, Sept. 24. The market runs from 4 to 8 p.m. on State Street between 2nd and 4th streets.
Redwood City Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest season is upon us. Kick off the festivities at Redwood City's Oktoberfest ? its second ever ? on Friday, Sept. 18, through Sunday, Sept. 20. There will be "enticingly cold beer," German food, live music, games and more than 1,100 feet of "family style" bench seating, according to the event website. Tickets are on sale now for $18 ($10 for kids and designated drivers) or $20 on the day of. The ticket includes a commemorative stein and one drink ticket (beer or soda depending on ticket type). Additional drink tickets and food will be sold separately. The event will take place in Courthouse Square on Friday from 5-10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. or 5-9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to redwoodcity.org.
Pop-up dinners at Zola
Downtown Palo Alto French restaurant Zola continues its high-end pop-up dinner series in September and October. On Monday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m., the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra's "Haydyn Project" will perform at Zola for an "East of Paris" themed dinner. Tickets cost $165 per person, including tax and gratuity but excluding wine pairings. In October, the restaurant will serve a special three-course dinner paired with vintage wines from Napa's Mayacamas Vineyards. Get your fill for $195 per person, including tax and gratuity. To purchase tickets, go to eventbrite.com.
Filoli 'Farm to Table' dinner
Enjoy platters of local, farm?fresh food are served family?style in the Filoli garden at the Woodside estate's second "Farm to Table" dinner event on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 5 p.m. Guest chefs from the Left Bank in Menlo Park will prepare the food, which will be paired with wine. Tickets are $150 per person. The event is a fundraiser for Filoli. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to filoli.org.
Redwood City Salsa Festival
Spice it up at the Redwood City Salsa Festival on Saturday, Sept. 26, from noon to 8 p.m. in downtown Redwood City's Courthouse Square. Amateur and professional salsa creators will compete for prizes and "Salsa Glory" at the Salsa Tasting & Competition, during which members of the public serve as judges. Public tastings will be from noon to 5 p.m., but the event page urges people to come early to be sure to get a taste of the most popular salsas. There will also be local restaurants serving up their fare, tequila and microbrew tastings, live music, hands-on art projects and other children's activities. Most of the event takes place on Broadway Street between Middlefield Road and Hamilton Street and on Theatre Way. For more information, go to redwoodcity.org.
Mountain View Oktoberfest
Enjoy authentic German fare, food trucks, live music, entertainment and, of course, beer served in a 7,000 square-foot Oktoberfest-style tent at the third annual Mountain View Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The event will be located in the parking lot at the intersection of Dana Street and Bryant Street. Mountain View Oktoberfest is open and free to the public and is an all-ages event, but you must be 21 or older to drink. Those interested in imbibing must purchase a stein (1 liter for $15 or a half liter for $10) and drink tickets are $8 each. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to mvoktoberfest.com.
Facebook farmers market
Facebook is getting into the produce game with a new certified farmers market kicking off Sunday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Menlo Park. "The market, to be held every Sunday year-round, serves as an opportunity for locals in East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Redwood City and more, to have access to locally grown, organic fruits and vegetables," Corporate Communications Manager Jamil Walker wrote in an email. There will also be food trucks, cooking demos, a kids' zone and bike tune-ups. The market will be held in the parking lot at 1 Hacker Way.
'Meet the Street' in Palo Alto
Enjoy tastings, drinks and a cooking demonstration from downtown Palo Alto restaurant during the City of Palo Alto's "Meet the Street" event on Sunday, Oct. 8, 5-9 p.m. Tastings will be available at Zola, the Chocolate Garage, Pizzeria Delfina and Nola's. Patrick Kelly, chef of Lure + Till, will also give cooking demos at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Or, head to Timothy Adams to watch chocolatier Timothy Woods create handmade bonbons. For more information, go to cityofpaloalto.org.
Sourdough bread boot camp, and more
Learn how to bake sourdough bread, make your own kombucha, culture veggies and brew ginger beer at home with local zero-waste chef and food blogger Anne Marie Bonneau. Workshops are available throughout September, October, November and December. Go to zerowastechef.com to register and for more information.
Farm-to-Table Food Fest: Eating for a Sustainable Future
Make how to make kosher cheese, roll sustainable sushi and bake braided challah at the Oshman Family JCC's "Farm-to-Table Food Fest" on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2-5 p.m. The free Palo Alto event will include hands-on cooking workshops, demonstrations (including one by Calafia Chef Charlie Ayers) and more. For more information, go to hazon.org.
