Celebrate the Craft is back for its 23rd year, and honestly, it just keeps getting better. This is The Lodge at Torrey Pines’ signature culinary festival, and it’s shaping up to be one of the best editions yet.

Between the ocean views, the chef lineup, and everything new this year, it’s easy to see why it’s held onto its reputation for over two decades.

Where Ocean Views Meet Great Food

Set on the resort’s picturesque grounds overlooking the iconic Torrey Pines Golf Course and the Pacific Ocean, this intimate outdoor festival brings together chefs, farmers, ranchers, vintners, brewers, and artisans for an afternoon built entirely around California’s food and drink culture.

Wander through thoughtfully curated tasting stations, meet the people behind each dish, and get a real look at the relationships between chefs and the growers who inspire their work.

Fresh Faces at the Helm

This year’s festival marks a fresh chapter, led by The Lodge’s Executive Chef Eric Sakai and A.R. Valentien Chef de Cuisine Owen Beatty.

Sakai brings more than a decade of luxury hospitality experience, with time in Michelin-starred kitchens like Acquerello and Rubicon, plus stints at The Ritz-Carlton Las Colinas, Park Hyatt Aviara, and Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole.

Beatty most recently helped open Carlsbad’s Wildland and Lilo, the latter earning a Michelin star shortly after opening, and previously led kitchens at Juniper & Ivy and the three-Michelin-starred Quince in San Francisco.

“Celebrate the Craft reflects everything that drew Owen and me to The Lodge: 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,” said Eric Sakai.

“We’re honored to become part of this San Diego tradition and look forward to welcoming our fellow chefs, producers and guests for an afternoon rooted in seasonality, collaboration and craft.”

A Celebrated Culinary Lineup

This year’s chef lineup pulls from some of the best restaurants and hospitality groups across Southern California and Baja California:

• Owen Beatty, A.R. Valentien
• Shihomi Borillo, Azuki Sushi
• Eric Bost, Lilo
• Drew Deckman, Deckman’s Restaurant Group
• Greg Frey Jr., Golden Door
• Eric Gallerstein, Mastiff Sausage Company
• Zuliya “Chef ZUZU” Khawaja, Top Chef Amateurs winner
• Esteban Lluis, Kaluú
• Juan Mesa, Mesa Agricola
• Jarrod Moiles, Moiles Culinary Consulting
• Benito Molina, Manzanilla
• Moumen Nouri, Kous Kous Moroccan Bistro
• Brian Redzikowski, Kettner Exchange
• Jojo Ruiz, Clique Hospitality
• Eric Sakai, The Lodge at Torrey Pines
• Claudia Sandoval, chef, TV personality, and cookbook author
• Vince Schofield, Small Barn
• Ronnie Schwandt, Blue Bridge Hospitality
• Alejandro Sicairos, Bianchi Pizza & Pasta and Dockside 1953
• Bryan Stuppy, Oceana Coastal Kitchen
• Travis Swikard, Callie
• Oscar Torres, Animalón
• Brad Wise, Trust Restaurant Group

The season’s best ingredients round things out, supplied by Coleman Family Farms, Dassi Family Farm, Golden Door Farms, K&K Ranch, Liberty Ducks, McGrath Family Farm, PureFish, Schaner Family Farms, and TAJ Farms.

Wine, Spirits, and Everything in Between

The food is only half the story. A serious lineup of wineries will be pouring throughout the afternoon:

• Chateau Montelena Winery
• Château Peyrassol
• Copper Cane Wines & Provisions
• DAOU Family Estates
• Dutton-Goldfield Winery
• Far Niente Winery
• Goldfield Wines
• LUX Wines
• The Mascot
• Navarro Vineyards & Winery
• Orin Swift Cellars and Winery
• PerUs Wines
• Ridge Vineyards
• Silver Oak Cellars
• Sinegal Estate Winery
• ZD Wines

On top of that, Phony Negroni and Storyhouse Spirits round out the beverage lineup, with Storyhouse debuting a new signature spirit: The Lodge at Torrey Pines Gin, infused with botanicals from the resort’s namesake Torrey pines.

Level Up With VIP

New this year, you can level up your afternoon with a VIP Enhancement add-on, which includes a custom wine-blending session with Wine Militia, private tastings from OVID Napa Valley and Tequila Komos, and an interactive floral station where you can build your own bouquet of seasonal blooms.

Beyond that, the whole festival is getting an upgrade this year with expanded interactive tastings, artisan demonstrations, new entertainment, and an enhanced poolside experience built around craft cocktails and desserts.

That artisan lineup includes Petite Paloma, showing off custom cowboy boots, and The Wheel Stoneware, led by ceramic artist Michael Totah, who’ll be doing live pottery demonstrations throughout the day.

Supporting the San Diego Food Bank

For the first time, Celebrate the Craft is partnering with the San Diego Food Bank, with a portion of ticket proceeds supporting its work to alleviate hunger and provide food assistance across San Diego County.

It’s a fitting partner for an event built entirely around the role food plays in bringing people together.

See you there!

Ocean views, some of Southern California’s best chefs, and a cause worth supporting while you eat. This is one fall afternoon worth splurging on.

📆 Sunday, October 18, 2026 | 11:30 AM – 3 PM
📍 11480 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla
🎟️ Secure your tickets here
ℹ️ Get more details here

See you there, San Diego!