California Kicks Off 2017 With Seventh Annual California Restaurant Month

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Golden State invites visitors to start off the new year by exploring its culinary bounty during the seventh Annual California Restaurant Month in January 2017. For 31 delicious days, participating destinations will offer various discounts, specialty menus and events that showcase the state's diverse range of culinary offerings.

Cities and towns throughout the state are inviting foodies and food lovers to dig in to the best of California cuisine paired with a memorable vacation experience.

"What began as a simple initiative to promote local businesses has grown into an annual statewide collaboration promoting culinary tourism in California," said Visit California President and CEO Caroline Beteta. "We are proud to enter our seventh year of this program as it continues to grow and position California as a top foodie destination."

California's varied destinations are home to a diverse group of Dreamers and Dream Eaters including chefs, restaurant owners and tastemakers. Truly putting the "farm to fork" philosophy into practice, these innovators have developed pioneering menus and restaurant concepts, creating culinary experiences that are exclusive to the Golden State.

Below is a listing of celebratory culinary happenings in Northern, Central and Southern California during California Restaurant Month 2017. For destination updates and a list of all participating destinations, visit: www.DineinCA.com.

Northern California/Bay Area

• Mendocino – Mendocino County Crab, Wine & Beer Festival
  Jan. 20-29

If January leaves you feeling crabby, there's no better place to be than at Mendocino County's Crab, Wine & Beer Festival. Mendocino County is home to fishermen who harvest delicious Dungeness crab, and to winemakers and brewmasters who produce fine beverages that pair exquisitely with seafood. Held midway through winter, the 10-day countywide festival is an opportunity to shrug off the seasonal blues and indulge in fine seafood, wine and beer. Enjoy dozens of events, family-style crab and cioppino feeds, gourmet crab-themed dinners, crab and wine pairings, crab fishing adventures, a wine competition, and the ever-popular Crab Cake Cook-off that highlights the talents of the county's chefs.

• Yuba-Sutter – Yuba-Sutter Restaurant Week
  Jan. 23-29

As part of California's Farm to Fork Capital, Yuba-Sutter agriculture and its access to local ingredients play a large role in the area's food story. During Yuba-Sutter Restaurant Week, individuals will be able to experience this firsthand through special menu items as chefs tell the story of the local region by creating special menu items that spotlight their version of Yuba-Sutter on a plate.

• Yolo County – Taste of Yolo
  Jan. 1-31

In Yolo County, Farm to Fork is a way of life. Here you'll find too many agricultural delights to count, including wine, tomatoes, berries, honey, meats, cheeses, nuts and flowers.

• El Dorado County – El Dorado Epicurean
  Jan. 1-31

El Dorado County celebrates California Restaurant Month by rolling out the epicurean carpet with numerous unique food and wine experiences. The El Dorado Epicurean is a month-long celebration with a collection of culinary adventures packed with exclusive seasonal offerings , cooking demonstrations with amazing and innovative chefs, special discounts, wine-pairing specials, and more.

• Downtown Sacramento – Dine Downtown
  Jan. 12-22

Named the "Next Great American Food City" by Southwest: The Magazine, Sacramento is quickly becoming an industry leader in the fine dining scene. Dine Downtown 2017, the 12th annual edition of the Dine Downtown Restaurant Week program, returns to Sacramento from Jan. 12-22, 2017 to highlight the best fare on the grid. For 10 days, more than 30 of Downtown's finest restaurants offer special three-course dining experiences for $35. In addition, one dollar from every Dine Downtown meal is donated to social services and food literacy programs. This annual programs serves more than 15,000 meals and contributes to a whopping $3.5 million week of sales for downtown restaurants.

• Vacaville – Vacaville Restaurant Week
  Jan. 13-22

Vacaville Restaurant Week was created to highlight the diversity of the Vacaville culinary scene and celebrate a week of fabulous dining. It provides local foodies and families the opportunity to enjoy specialty pricing and menus from participating restaurants throughout Vacaville.

• Napa Valley – Napa Valley Restaurant Week
  Jan. 22-29

Napa Valley Restaurant Week allows locals and visitors to dine and delight throughout the valley and experience legendary food and wine culture. Through multi-course prix-fixe menus for lunch ($20) and dinner ($36 or $46), guests can try out the latest culinary hot-spots or revisit old favorites all week long. Farm-to-table practices and Michelin-starred restaurants make the Napa Valley an epicurean's destination, and there's no better time to enjoy it all than during Restaurant Week.

• Sonoma Valley – Sonoma Valley Delicious
  Jan. 1-31

Throughout January, explore the region's dining highlights during Sonoma Valley Delicious, featuring restaurants, wineries, olive oil producers, cheese producers and more from throughout Sonoma Valley.

• Suisun City Waterfront District – Suisun Waterfront Restaurant Week
  Jan. 20-29

The seventh annual Suisun City Historic Waterfront Restaurant Week will return on Friday, Jan. 20 through Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017. Suisun Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to experience some of the best food at a value you can't get any other time of the year! Participating restaurants will offer a prix-fixe menu with three-course meals for dinner or a two-course meal for breakfast or lunch.

• Downtown Benicia – Benicia Restaurant Week
  Jan. 17-23

Downtown Benicia celebrates California Restaurant Month from Sunday, Jan. 17 through Saturday, Jan. 23. Discover historic Benicia's culinary offerings with a dining passport offering a 15 percent discount at participating eateries.         

• Stockton – Stockton Restaurant Week
  Jan. 20-29

Stockton Restaurant Week gives local foodies and families the opportunity to explore unique, fixed-price specialty menus from participating restaurants throughout the city. Stockton is stocked full of restaurants from corner to corner, and now is the time to unite food lovers with incredible restaurants and eateries at a price that won't break the budget.

• Berkeley – Berkeley Restaurant Week
  Jan. 19-29

Visit Berkeley invites visitors to come experience food culture at its best in the epicenter of California Cuisine. Berkeley Restaurant Week will take place Jan. 19-29, offering some of the best in culinary dining at a special prix-fixe menu starting at $20 for lunch and $25 or $35 for dinner.

• Oakland – Oakland Restaurant Week
  Jan. 19-29

The highly anticipated Oakland Restaurant Week returns Jan. 19-29, 2017. The week features more than 100 restaurants with prix-fixe dining deals starting at $20.

• San Francisco – San Francisco Restaurant Week
  Jan. 18-29

San Francisco is at the top of its culinary game, recognized as one of the best dining destinations in the world. SF Restaurant Week returns with a celebration of San Francisco's world-class dining community. More than 125 restaurants across 26 neighborhoods will offer special two- and three-course prix-fixe menus to showcase their passion for sharing great food with diners.

• Tri-Valley – Eat Tri-Valley
  Jan. 1-31

Set amidst rolling hills, vineyards and grand oak trees, the cities of Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin and the town of Danville invite you to eat, drink and play on the sunny side of the bay this January during Eat Tri-Valley.

• San Jose – #DTSJ Restaurant Week
  Jan. 16-26

Where Silicon Valley meets the Valley of Heart's delight, #DTSJ Restaurant Week offers the perfect chance to try innovative chef's specials made with local produce at special prices. San Jose's range of restaurants – spanning from Farmers' Union, a comfy tavern with sustainable fare, to Nomikai, a trendy lounge serving Asian fusion – makes it appealing to dine out more than once this week.

Central California

• Madera County: California's Gateway to Yosemite – Visit Yosemite Madera County Restaurant Week
  Jan. 9 – Jan. 15

Located at the South Gate entrance to Yosemite National Park, Madera County is home to both views and dining options that are breathtakingly delicious. Visit Yosemite Madera County Restaurant Week is an opportunity for foodies to dine at popular restaurants at the South Gate of Yosemite National Park, Bass Lake and Madera County at one of the best places in the nation to experience farm to table dining from one of the richest agricultural hubs in the U.S.

• San Luis Obispo County – San Luis Obispo County Restaurant Month
  Jan. 2-31

Indulge in San Luis Obispo County Restaurant Month, starting Jan. 2-31, 2017. Participating restaurants will offer special prix-fixe menus of three courses at $30-$40 per person or other special offerings. Go Local Wine Deals will also return at various Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo wineries.

• Santa Ynez Valley – Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Week
  Jan. 22-28

Bring an appetite for exploration to the Santa Ynez Valley, the heart of Santa Barbara's Wine Country. Returning for its seventh year, Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Week is set for Sunday, Jan. 22 through Saturday, Jan. 28. Restaurants throughout the Santa Ynez Valley are offering special three-course tasting menus starting at $20. A number of Santa Ynez Valley wineries will also be offering wine and small bite pairings while special lodging deals are available at numerous properties throughout the Valley.

• Santa Barbara – The Spirit of Santa Barbara: A Search for Santa Barbara's Signature Drink
  Jan. 2-31

Visit Santa Barbara joined forces with the Santa Barbara Independent to designate an official signature mixed drink for 2017 that celebrates the distinctive attributes of The American Riviera®. The Spirit of Santa Barbara competition calls upon local businesses to craft their libation interpretation of Santa Barbara's one-of-a-kind sense of place. Qualifying entries will be posted on www.Independent.com in January during which time the public is encouraged to vote for their favorite. The winning recipe will be determined at an event in January where the finalists deliver their pitch and mix their concoctions for an esteemed panel of judges. The finalists' drinks will be served along with small bites. After the official signature drink of Santa Barbara is declared, it will be available for public consumption at the winner's place of business throughout 2017.

• Downtown Ventura – 20 Under $20
  Jan. 22-29

Restaurant Week is returning to Ventura and more than 20 restaurants in Downtown and the Harbor will provide special local fares under $20. 

• Oxnard – Dine & Discover Oxnard Restaurant Week
  Jan. 20-31

Oxnard's multicultural influences are evident in the abundance of international restaurants. Dine & Discover Oxnard Restaurant Week is an ideal time to experience the city's blend of worldly cuisine and local international flavors including fresh seafood and fine kosher foods, at to-go eateries and historic downtown bistros, as well as Oxnard's monthly Gourmet Food Truck event at specialty pricing.

Southern California

• Lancaster – Dine Local, Eat Global / On the BLVD
  Jan. 22-28

Dine local, eat global! Lancaster's first restaurant week will showcase menus from downtown's best eateries, bars, brewery and weekly farmers markets.

• City of Moorpark – Moorpark Restaurant Month
  Jan. 1-31

With over 70 places to eat in Moorpark, put down that frying pan and take your friends and family out to dine. This January, enjoy a celebration of Moorpark's wide range of dining opportunities.

• Conejo Valley – Conejo Valley Restaurant Month
  Jan. 1-31

Conejo Valley welcomes visitors to celebrate Restaurant Month with a weekly chef's table event featuring a local restaurant, winery and brewery! Each week will feature different local partners so visitors have the opportunity to experience all the incredible flavors of Conejo Valley.

• Pasadena – Cheeseburger Week in Pasadena
  Jan. 8-13

Celebrate the cheeseburger in the home of the cheeseburger, Pasadena. Forty of Pasadena's favorite restaurants, lounges and burger joints offer their signature burgers along with some special creations and deals during Pasadena Cheeseburger Week.

• Claremont – Claremont Restaurant Week
  Jan. 16-29

The fourth Claremont Restaurant Week, the city's annual showcase of its talented chefs and international cuisines, will take place from Jan. 16-29, 2017. The event runs for 14 days, including two weekends, to encourage foodies to relax and unwind in Claremont. Claremont Restaurant Week will feature locally sourced specials and prix-fixe menus at participating restaurants and specialty food boutiques. Discover local favorites, inspired seasonal dishes, housemade desserts, and lunch and dinner menu specials.

• Los Angeles – 2017 Winter dine L.A. Restaurant Week
  Jan. 13-27

DineL.A. is a 14-day culinary event that takes place twice a year and showcases Los Angeles as a premier dining destination. Participating restaurants offer special lunch and dinner menus introducing diners to diverse culinary experiences in various neighborhoods throughout the city.

• Santa Monica – Santa Monica Restaurant Week
  Jan. 9-15

As healthy resolutions re-emerge in January, Santa Monica is set to pay homage to the city's healthy lifestyle and culinary scene with Santa Monica Restaurant Week, formerly called Eat Well Week. From Jan. 9-15, 2017, Santa Monica Restaurant Week will highlight participating restaurants throughout the city that will each craft healthy, custom dishes, all centered around this year's ingredient – the radish. No matter the style, all specially-created Santa Monica Restaurant Week offerings will be prepared to harness the ample health benefits of the radish and emphasize Santa Monica's commitment to fresh, local and organic ingredients.

• Redondo Beach – Redondo Beach Restaurant Week
  Jan. 13-27

Redondo Beach Restaurant Week will showcase Redondo Beach as a diverse dining destination where participating restaurants will offer special prix-fixe menus for lunch and/or dinner OR VIP cards consumers can download for special discounts.

• Garden Grove – Garden Grove Restaurant Week
  Jan. 15-22

In January, the City of Garden Grove will feature delicious tastes of prized Vietnamese and Korean specialty cuisine. One of Southern California's most popular Vietnamese food destinations—Little Saigon—will offer a sampling of Garden Grove's favorite restaurants during two-day food crawls and culinary tours. Other "taste of" events during the month will include the acclaimed Chateau Brodard, Garlic & Chives, and Garden Grove's Historic Main Street. Rare opportunities to "Cook with the Chef" will be available from some of Garden Grove's top masters. Restaurant Week, Jan. 15-22, will offer specialty menus and pricing from several diverse restaurants throughout the city.

• Newport Beach – Dine Newport Beach Restaurant Week
  Jan. 16-29

Newport Beach Restaurant Week takes place Monday, Jan. 16 to Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017. The event showcases Newport Beach as Orange County's premier dining destination, offering diners a wide variety of culinary experiences. Participating restaurants offer special prix-fixe menus during Restaurant Week, with lunches available starting at $10 and dinners starting at $20.

• Temecula Valley – Temecula Valley Restaurant Month
  Jan. 1-31

Temecula Valley Restaurant Month will feature an iconic menu of burgers during the month of January. Participating restaurants will feature burgers or locally inspired burger combos for diners to sink their teeth into. Visitors are encouraged to join the conversation and share their meals using #dinetemecula for their fare to be featured.

• Dana Point – Dana Point Restaurant Week
  Jan. 21-28

During Dana Point Restaurant Week, participating restaurants in Dana Point will provide a $15, $20 or $25 prix-fixe menu.

• Escondido – Dine Out Escondido!
  Jan. 22-28

Savor the diverse culinary flavors of Escondido by taking advantage of this fantastic opportunity to visit local favorite restaurants and create new experiences. Enjoy a showcase of artisanal foods and the creativity of fantastic chefs and restaurateurs. This year, Escondido will partner with San Diego Food Bank to support their new North County Food Bank location. Each restaurant will make a donation for every Dine Out Escondido special.

• San Diego – San Diego Restaurant Week
  Jan. 15-22

More than 200 restaurants in San Diego County participate in San Diego Restaurant Week offering prix-fixe menu options at a discounted rate to diners.

SOURCE Visit California

Related Links

http://www.visitcalifornia.com