South Lake Tahoe’s Sample the Sierra farm-to-fork festival is going digital for the 11th annual event due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The virtual celebration from Sept. 10 to 20 will continue to highlight the bounty and heritage of the region.
On Sample the Sierra website, Facebook and Instagram, watch a variety of food-related entertainment typically found at the event, including cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, musical performances, giveaways and shopping.
Special menus curated for the 10-day event will be available for take-out and outdoor dining throughout the region. In keeping with the theme of the festival, participating restaurants will create a dish with a local ingredient provided by regional producers and pair their dishes with a complementary beverage, including beer, wine or distilled spirits.
On Sept. 12, the original date of the event, Sample the Sierra will stream a live Sierra Chef Challenge featuring local talent working with mystery ingredients to earn the coveted title, currently held by Chef Dean Hiatt of Poor Red’s Bar-B-Q in El Dorado. The event will be accessible for a small fee; a portion of the proceeds go to the South Tahoe Restaurant Association to support businesses impacted by the pandemic. | samplethesierra.com
