Have you ever entered a contest that you were sure you would never win? I have. And I did about two weeks ago when receiving my weekly, food based e-column known as “tablehopper.” Written by the talented and extremely knowledgeable Marcia Gagliardi, tablehopper is a free San Francisco based e-column that goes out every Tuesday afternoon and updates its readers on the local dining scene, and sometimes even a bit more…
Upon excitedly checking my email one Tuesday afternoon to get the latest scoop on my favorite thing in the whole world, food, I noticed about half way through Marcia’s rambling that there was to be a give away to one lucky winner. The prize: two free tickets to Sunday Supper at the Fairy Building in S.F. Sunday Supper is a fundraising dinner held annually to bring chefs, local/ seasonal ingredients and the people who eat them together for one night of eating and drinking. The event is put on by a nonprofit organization called CUESA – The Center for Urban Education About Sustainable Agriculture. Along with putting on this fabulous eating extravaganza each year, CUESA is also responsible for the glorious Saturday Farmer’s Market also at the Fairy Building, educating those living in urban settings about the wonders of sustainable agriculture, and creating a union between city dwellers and local farmers and chefs.
I had previous knowledge of CUESA as I adore the their Saturday Farmer’s Market and thus could not resist the idea of winning two tickets (which were selling at $85 a pop might I add) to the beginning reception of the scrumptious event. Full of scepticism and doubt, I entered to win only to find out three days later that I had actually WON!
I knew immediately that I would be bringing my eating partner in crime, my boyfriend. Wanting to take full advantage of the evening, we dressed to the nines and made our way to the Fairy Building with growling tummies. Upon entering the establishment we were greeted almost immediately with a tequila cocktail (the exact ingredients I am not sure, but I certainly didn’t care at the time). Further movement into the building revealed table after table of tasty little bites including smoked heirloom tomato soup, quail egg and mushroom ravioli and halibut ceviche from restaurants like NOPA, Absinthe Brasserie and Bar, and Spruce. In all there were about thirty appetizers, four artisan cocktails and various wineries pouring wine by the glass, all at unlimited quantities. I’m sure you can image the kind of damage that was done.
It is safe to say that when we left we were not only stuffed but a wee bit tipsy as well. Thank you tablehopper for a wonderful evening and an even better memory.
Photography by Emma Uribe
