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They call it a state fair, street food festival and block party all rolled into one.
You know it as Eat Real, the free-to-attend festival that’s taken over Oakland’s Jack London Square for a summery weekend each year for the last decade. This year, the festival takes place Sept. 14 to 16 at Broadway and Embarcadero and benefits the Food Craft Institute, an educational nonprofit that helps aspiring food entrepreneurs start their own businesses.
It’s still what you love — more than 50 of the Bay Area’s hottest food, craft beer, wine and cocktail vendors whipping up gastronomic goodies in a family-friendly setting — but this year organizers are stepping it up with a handful of affordable, new ticketed food experiences.
This is stuff you actually want to learn, like how to make Grocery Cafe’s Tea Leaf Salad with owner-founder William Lue, or a food and beer pairing featuring Dyafa and 21st Amendment, among others. Tickets cost $5-$35 and can be purchased here.
This year’s extensive Eat Real vendor lineup includes Gerard’s Paella, Southern Comfort Kitchen, Poki Time, Frozen Kuhsterd, Bombzies, alaMar Kitchen & Bar, Clove & Hoof, Jeepney Guy and Aburaya. Looking for vegan offerings? Try VegeNation, Core Kitchen and No Worries.
Eat Real runs from 3 to 10 p.m. Sept. 14, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 15, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 16. Admission is free, but bring cash or a credit card for the sips and bites. Find more information at Eat Real.
