As we celebrate our 9th Eat Drink SF, formerly SF Chefs, we are confronting a tumultuous time where we have witnessed a heinous display of bigotry, intolerance, and violence in Charlottesville, VA, and a horrific attack in Barcelona. On Saturday, August 26, an alt-right group is planning to hold a rally at Crissy Field the same day we’ll be celebrating San Francisco’s rich culinary heritage at Eat Drink SF nearby at Fort Mason Center. Our world-renowned culinary industry is one of the most diverse in the country and represents an array of cultures, cuisines, and flavors. We, the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, as the presenting sponsor of Eat Drink SF, condemn racism, sexism, violence, and bigotry and we are deeply saddened by the desire to bring hate into our midst. Earlier this year we joined the Sanctuary Restaurant movement which is predicated on the notion that everyone is welcome to have a seat at the table. Our industry is powered by immigrants, people of color, women, members of our LGBTQ community and more. Our culinary background is rooted in the diverse peoples that have inhabited San Francisco and how they have added to or introduced us to new cuisines.

We are thrilled to live in a country that honors free speech and respect the right of any and all to express their views publicly and peacefully. At Eat Drink SF we will be expressing our form of peaceful resistance to the messages of bigotry and hate by sheetcaking — a comical option presented by Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live. We invite all Saturday afternoon Grand Tasting attendees to join us in eating a sheetcake with an American Flag on it donated by Noe Valley Bakery, as we come together to celebrate our dynamic and diverse industry that thrives on inclusiveness.

We are working closely with Fort Mason, the Park Police, the San Francisco Police Department and others to ensure access and safety for our event. We are taking additional precautions and will keep attendees updated in real time on any street closures or other relevant details. We are aware that vehicular access to Crissy Field is being prohibited which may impact traffic. We have devised some additional transportation options to provide a smoother arrival to Fort Mason and will be sharing those options with our Saturday guests. As always, we encourage people to take public transportation and to not drink and drive.

We hope you’ll join us in celebrating peaceful resistance with the tastemakers that make our City and region great!