Off the Grid

What is Diwali? Diwali, or the “Festival of Lights,” is a  holiday celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains, symbolizing the spiritual victory of light over darkness. The five-day festival involves lighting oil lamps (diyas), decorating with colorful lights and rangoli (floor designs), exchanging gifts, and feasting with family and friends. It typically falls between late October and mid-November.

Let’s be honest, a lot of holiday food gets by on nostalgia alone. We compiled a list of places that go above and beyond on eggnog, prime rib, ham, and turkey. They’re dedicated to the craft of holiday cuisine. Some keep it traditional, but others incorporate creative twists. Eggnog Trick Dog (San Francisco): This cozy bar is best known for its hot dogs and creative cocktails. Around the holidays, they introduce the Egg Dog — it’s crafted with Appleton Estate Reserve rum, brandy and eggnog.

As Hispanic Heritage Month wraps up, we wanted to highlight a creator that honors his Mexican heritage through his cuisine while incorporating a twist of California flavors. Sergio Albornoz and Karen Gonzalez started Cochinita as a food truck in 2007. They wanted to share the food of Yucatán with the Bay Area.

Nancy Cordero started Tamale Fiesta to bring people together and share her family’s recipes. She won 1st place at the 8th Annual Tamale Festival in Atascadero for her red mole beef filling which features a blend of dried chiles and spices. She also offers a variety of sweet tamales made with corn or pineapple. Aside from the hot-and-ready tamales, she also offers them refrigerated so you can take a batch home and eat them fresh. Tamale Fiesta has been featured on KTLA, NBC, and KCAL.

The most difficult part of planning any event is picking the right food. Thankfully, Off the Grid has you covered with a huge selection of fun, experienced creators for any celebration. If you’re ready to book your meal or are interested in learning more, contact us through our catering form. Appetizers We can’t think of a better way to start a party than with Barya’s birria lumpia. It’s the perfect finger food to greet guests with as they arrive.

Treasure Island’s food scene is often overlooked, especially since it’s out of the way of where most people are stopping for a bite. However, there’s a solid selection of restaurants with unique bites worth the detour. There’s also solid places to get a drink or pick up a meal to go. Off the Grid: Treasure Island From September 13th to November 1st, we’re hosting a Mediterranean-themed coastal getaway at Cityside Park.

Most bar food ranges from acceptable to decent, but these bars go above and beyond just serving the typical wings and fries. These places have innovative menus that include croquettes, Detroit-style pizza, mushroom fritters, calamari, sushi, and margarita popcorn. These are spots you would actually want to visit for dinner even if there wasn’t a game. Splash at Thrive City (San Francisco) A huge bar (30,000 sq ft across two levels) with an outdoor deck at the Chase Center.

There are lots of foods we remember fondly (and some not so fondly) from the school cafeteria. Fan favorites typically include mac & cheese, sloppy joes, and PB&Js. If you’re craving a bite of nostalgia with a unique twist, there’s a wave of exciting reimaginations of these dishes across the Bay Area. We’re talking Thai mac & cheese, PB&J cheeseburgers, and Cajun sloppy joes.

What is Diwali? Diwali, or the “Festival of Lights,” is a  holiday celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains, symbolizing the spiritual victory of light over darkness. The five-day festival involves lighting oil lamps (diyas), decorating with colorful lights and rangoli (floor designs), exchanging gifts, and feasting with family and friends. It typically falls between late October and mid-November.

From San Francisco’s Mission District to San Jose’s Eastside, there’s a ton of fantastic taco spots highlighting regional styles from across Mexico. We’re talking tacos loaded with al pastor and extra piña, smoky carne asada, and melty shredded cabeza. It’s not easy being a newcomer to a well-established scene, still new taquerias continue to pop up and draw customers in with their fresh takes. Here are five new taco spots you should know.