But it also happens in California. Except people in this part of the country – in particular in the northern part of the Golden State – must always put their own special touch on things. So when they host a crab festival, they not only include beer, but wine.
And so, welcome to the Mendocino Crab and Wine & Beer Festival!
This 10-day event, which in 2013 celebrates its 14th anniversary from Jan. 18-27, involves a Crab Cake Cook-off & Wine Competition, Crab Tasting Menus, Crab-catching Excursions, Winemaker and Brewmaster Dinners, Cooking Demonstrations and Cioppino Dinners, and it’s topped off by the signature event, the Crab Cake Cook-Off and Wine Tasting Competition. That takes place Saturday, January 26th in Fort Bragg.
That’s where Mendocino County chefs and wineries compete for the “Professional’s Choice” award (chosen by food, wine & travel editors) and the “People’s Choice” award (chosen by festival attendees). For those in attendance, they get to taste the chefs’ crab dishes, along with beer from two local craft breweries and wine from 20 Mendocino wineries.
All this food and fun costs $75 for three hours, so if you go, it’s kind of speed dating with your crabs, beer and wine. You can get tickets by clicking here.
Another cool event is the John Bogner Memorial Crab & Wine Fest on opening weekend. This is an all-you-can-eat crab feast, with wine of course, held on Saturday, January 19th at 6 p.m., at Barra of Mendocino in Redwood Valley.
And how about a Sunday champagne brunch for just $25 at the Elk Cove Inn & Spa south of Fort Bragg?
Mendocino County is a gorgeous area of California. It’s north of San Francisco and the Napa and Sonoma wine country areas, and has an extensive wine-growing region itself. It also has five craft breweries. Here’s a review of those breweries on PubClub.com.
To check all the events of the festival, click here.
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