SPECIAL PARTNER THE LODGE AT TORREY PINES

Every October, the manicured cliffs above Torrey Pines Golf Course give way to something delectable—the clatter of tasting stations, the pop of corks, the unmistakable buzz of a crowd falling in love with every bite. For 23 years, Celebrate the Craft has answered a simple question: What happens when you gather the West Coast’s finest chefs, farmers, and winemakers in one place and let them show off?

This year, on Sunday, October 18, the answer gets a rewrite.

A changing of the guard

Leading the festival for the first time are executive chef Eric Sakai and A.R. Valentien chef de cuisine Owen Beatty, two Michelin-trained talents whose résumés read like a tour of the country’s most exacting kitchens. Sakai grew up in Hawaii and spent the early part of his career at San Francisco’s Acquerello and Rubicon before leading kitchens at the Ritz-Carlton Las Colinas, Park Hyatt Aviara, and Four Seasons Jackson Hole. Beatty’s path journeyed through the three-Michelin-starred Quince, Napa’s La Toque, and most recently the Carlsbad restaurant Lilo, which earned its own Michelin star shortly after he helped it open.

Neither chef inherited a blank slate. The event is a regional legacy, and they’re treating it that way.

“Celebrate the Craft reflects everything that drew Owen and me to The Lodge,” Sakai says. “An extraordinary sense of place, meaningful relationships with local growers and producers, and a belief that the finest cooking begins with respect for the ingredient. We’re honored to become part of this beloved San Diego tradition.”

The lineup: a who’s who of SoCal chefs

The festival’s guest list reads like a regional culinary atlas, stretching from San Diego’s Juniper & Ivy alumni to the coastal kitchens of Baja California. Among this year’s more than 20 participating chefs are Benito Molina of Manzanilla; Brad Wise of Trust Restaurant Group,;chef, television personality, and cookbook author Claudia Sandoval; and Top Chef Amateurs winner Zuliya “Chef ZUZU” Khawaja. Michelin-starred chef Drew Deckman brings his Baja sensibility back across the border, while Golden Door’s Greg Frey Jr. represents the rare chef who’s also a working farmer.

Ingredients worth cooking

Behind them stands the backbone of the festival: California growers like Coleman Family Farms, known for proudly growing produce chemical-free since 1963; McGrath Family Farm, growers at the Rodale Institute California Organic Center in Camarillo; and Liberty Ducks, based in Sonoma County.

Raising a glass and introducing a new spirit

No Celebrate the Craft would be complete without its beverage program, and this year’s roster leans into serious pedigree: Silver Oak, Far Niente, Ridge Vineyards, and Orin Swift are among the sixteen participating wineries. But the afternoon’s most notable pour may be one that’s never been tasted before. Storyhouse Spirits will debut The Lodge at Torrey Pines Gin, a signature spirit infused with botanicals from the resort’s own namesake pines—rare trees found almost nowhere else on Earth.

More to explore

New VIP Enhancements open up a more exclusive side of the festival where guests can join a custom wine-blending session with Wine Militia, private tastings from OVID Napa Valley and Tequila Komos. There will also be a floral station where guests can build their own seasonal bouquet, and a growing roster of makers, including bootmaker Petite Paloma and ceramicist Michael Totah of The Wheel Stoneware, who will enhance the festival’s spirit of craftsmanship.

A festival with purpose

For the first time in its 23-year history, Celebrate the Craft is partnering with the San Diego Food Bank, with a portion of ticket proceeds supporting the organization’s work across San Diego County. It’s a fitting evolution for an event built on the idea that food grown well, cooked with care, and shared generously has the power to bring people together.

The Details

Celebrate the Craft takes place Sunday, October 18, 2026, from 11:30am to 3pm at The Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla. Guests must be 21 or older. Parking is limited, and rideshare is strongly encouraged.

For tickets and the latest list of participating chefs and partners, visit celebratethecraft.com.

The Lodge at Torrey Pines is a AAA Five Diamond resort in La Jolla set along the dramatic bluffs above Torrey Pines Golf Course and the Pacific Ocean. Blending Craftsman-era architecture with refined coastal hospitality, the resort is home to acclaimed dining, including A.R. Valentien, and has long served as a gathering place for San Diego’s culinary and cultural community.