Hey guys it’s Troy.
I am blown away and humbled.
I can’t thank you guys enough. I want to pull out your chairs and pour you all the chamomile tea and hand-wash your cars. For all of you—attendees, chefs, volunteers, winemakers, drinks people, pro athletes, culture makers, celebrity friends, staff—who made Del Mar Wine + Food Festival a massive, massive success.
As I looked out at a Food Network chef driving a golf cart with one of San Diego’s chefs… through a sea of thousands of pretty happy and content people on that perfect grass… delivering ice to other chefs… all of them doubled over laughing… I think that’s when it hit me. This is what it’s about. That celebration, that community.
Two years in, Del Mar Wine + Food is beyond special. Because of you.
An entire culture came together across the city last week on that epic Narnia-like lawn of Surf Sports Park.
This is our big dream. It started with five of us, sitting in a little trailer next to that epic lawn. Almost all of us were (are) lifelong San Diegans. We’d worked for years to help build culture in this city in various ways. We figured if we all came together… if we pulled our friends and abilities into a giant glimmering mass of friends and abilities… we might be able to do something magic for the culture of San Diego.
The core idea was simple—gather the brightest parts of San Diego’s food and drink culture (from Michelin stars to mom and pops) plus the stars of SoCal’s active lifestyle culture. Bring in national and international media to see the magic we all feel about San Diego, about the people and the place.
We called the local chefs and drinks makers, they said yes. Drew Brees said yes. Alex Morgan and Rob Machado, too. We asked Food Network friends and some of the world’s best winemakers and drinks brands. All of them came.
And then we asked people from San Diego and across the country to show up. And you all did.
The best part is that we’re able to raise money for Feeding San Diego, one of the greatest hunger relief organizations in the country.
Stay tuned for the announcement of year three. We’ll be doing this for years and generations to come. Thanks to you, Del Mar Wine + Food has become an epic celebration of cultures and people and a place.
Of our San Diego.
On behalf of our partners—Pioneer Sports, Chris Finn, Ernie Hahn, my wife Claire Johnson and myself—thank you, thank you, thank you.
The Del Mar Wine + Food Festival is SoCal’s newest not-so-guilty pleasure!
Located in one of Southern California’s most iconic beach communities and travel destinations, the Del Mar Wine + Food Festival boasts six days of jam-packed unique culinary experiences featuring an all-star lineup of culinary talent, curated wine experiences from top-notch producers, walkaround tasting adventures, immersive lifestyle events, and more!
The Cause
We’ve chosen Feeding San Diego as our partner for Del Mar Wine + Food Festival. Feeding San Diego is.. amazing. They rescue perfectly good food that would otherwise be tossed, and help get it to San Diegans who are facing hunger. A portion of proceeds from Del Mar Wine + Food Festival will be donated to help their efforts. We invite you to join the cause by donating directly to FSD, contributing to our North Country Feeding San Diego Food Drive, or just googling them, and helping them however you are able.
