SAN MATEO COUNTY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The San Francisco Peninsula, the region’s travel and tourism board, today announced an ambitious multi-year initiative to showcase the region’s exceptional culinary talent and diverse dining offerings through a series of signature food and beverage events beginning in spring 2026.
The Peninsula has become one of the most dynamic culinary destinations in the Bay Area, with everything from innovative farm-to-table concepts to internationally recognized chefs representing cuisines from around the world.Share
The announcement was made at the organization’s annual Peninsula Fresh event at Skyline College, which connects local farmers, fishers, chefs, and restaurateurs as part of San Mateo County’s “As Fresh As It Gets” farm-to-table program. The Peninsula is home to more than 50 working farms and fisheries, forming a strong community rooted in fresh, locally sourced food.
“The Peninsula has become one of the most dynamic culinary destinations in the Bay Area, with everything from innovative farm-to-table concepts to internationally recognized chefs representing cuisines from around the world,” said Maggie Lang, Chief Marketing and Sales Officer at The San Francisco Peninsula. “This initiative positions our region as a year-round culinary destination while driving meaningful business to our restaurant partners and their communities.”
The programming kicks off with Taste of the Peninsula, a 10-day restaurant celebration featuring prix-fixe menus throughout the Peninsula. Scheduled for late April through early May 2026, the event will showcase restaurants throughout San Mateo County, from Bayside dining destinations to Coastside culinary standouts. Participating restaurants will offer specially curated menus, making the Peninsula’s culinary excellence accessible to both residents and visitors across multiple price points. The Taste of the Peninsula opening events will also benefit the Slow Food Movement and Second Harvest, combating food insecurity in our local communities.
Building on this momentum, the San Francisco Peninsula will bring two additional culinary experiences in 2026:
Heritage Fire (July 2026) – This nationally touring flagship culinary experience will make its Peninsula debut at Coyote Point in San Mateo, featuring top local chefs and pitmasters who will celebrate live-fire cooking and craft culinary techniques.
Whiskeys of the World (August 2026) – This stop on the national Whiskeys of the World tour combines world-class whiskey tastings with locally crafted culinary experiences from Peninsula chefs and distillers.
“These aren’t one-off events – they’re the foundation of a sustained strategy to elevate the Peninsula’s culinary profile regionally and nationally,” added Lang. “We’re creating reasons for food enthusiasts to visit throughout the year while supporting the diverse restaurant community that makes this region so special.”
The San Francisco Peninsula has partnered with the region’s Chambers of Commerce to deliver the program, with marketing and PR support from af&co., the hospitality consulting firm behind Visit Oakland and Visit Tri-Valley’s restaurant weeks.
For more information about The San Francisco Peninsula, visit https://www.thesanfranciscopeninsula.com/.
