It’s the final weeks here at the Eat Real Festival – the months of tasting and seeking out the very best street food the Bay Area has to offer has come to a close. We’ve now got an incredible roster of over 40 street food vendors, 40 farmers and food purveyors, and 30 microbreweries. When we counted it all up, we realized there were over 200 small, Bay Area businesses participating in this event.

These small business owners take tremendous pride in growing the sweetest tomatoes or watermelons; or serving their patrons the best plate of food that incorporates fresh, local ingredients; or designing the most colorful posters that showcase the vibrancy of the event; or working tirelessly to ensure that everyone has affordable access to Good Food. And they have shown us how committed they are to connecting with one another.

This dedication to Good Food couldn’t be more evident in the effort going behind the August 24^th fundraising dinner we’ve planned for Civil Eats at Camino Restaurant — which will donate a percentage of the night’s proceeds. With a menu featuring paella made right in Camino’s fireplace, and organic, local summer produce and cheeses from Andante Dairy and Harley Farms, it’s an inspirational example of small businesses working synergistically to benefit organizations fighting for fair access and economic opportunity when it comes to Good Food.

The Camino/Civil Eats dinner is one of several fundraising dinners happening the week of August 23-30^th. Many of the dinners will take on the street food theme of the Eat Real Festival and will incorporate locally foraged foods or produce from the non-profits themselves. And like Camino, each of the restaurants will donate a percentage of the proceeds to the nonprofit they are working with. Just check out the full schedule:

• Sunday, August 23, Brown Sugar Kitchen and City Slicker Farms: a five-course tasting of the seasonal flavors of the South and the Caribbean featuring fresh herbs and produce from City Slickers’ West Oakland farms. The $45 per person ticket can be purchased online through www.brownpapertickets.com.
• Monday, August 24, Camino and Civil Eats: a four-course family-style feast featuring paella made in the Camino fireplace, beautiful, local, organic summer produce and cheeses from Andante Dairy and Harley Farms. The meal is $75 per person and includes organic/biodynamic wine. Reservations can be made at (510) 547-5035.
• Tuesday, August 25, Miss Pearl’s Jam House and People’s Grocery: a four-course Caribbean-street-food inspired menu featuring organic produce from People’s Grocery’s Sunol farm. Tickets are $50 per person and reservations can be made directly through the restaurant at (510) 444-7171 or online through OpenTable.
• Tuesday, August 25, Pizzaiolo and Community Alliance with Family Farms: 3-course, family style Italian meal will be served on the Pizzaiolo back patio at 7:30. Tickets are $75 per person and are available online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/77759.
• Wednesday, August 26, Radio Africa and Kitchen with forageSF and La Cocina: Coffee Bar is the location for a five-course street food-inspired menu featuring wild foraged ingredients donated by Forage SF. Tickets are $50 per person, and are available online at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/77371.
• Wednesday, August 26, Doña Tomas and TransFair USA: a percentage of the evening’s dinner sales will go to TransFair USA. Reservations can be made at (510) 450-0522.
• Thursday, August 27, Flora and Meals for Change: Happy Hour from 3-6 pm features free street-food-inspired snacks including housemade french fries, corn dog bites, caramel popcorn, mixed olives and roasted nuts. A portion of the night’s dinner sales will benefit Meals for Change. Reservations can be made at (510) 286-0100.
• Saturday, August 29, Bocanova and California Food and Justice Coalition: a three-course Pan-American dinner including a talk by chef and author Laura Stec beginning at 6 pm. Tickets are $55 per person, and are available online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/77497.
• Sunday, August 30, Bocanova and Marin Organic: a four-course brasserie style Pan-American dinner incorporating and featuring Marin producers, Allstar Organics, La Tercera, Clark Summit and Mt Barnabe. This local and organic meal starts at 6 p.m. and is $65 per person. To reserve your space at the table please email info@bocanova.com or call 510-444-1233.

We are extremely proud of, and humbled by, this festival, and the enthusiasm and excitement of all of the participants. We salute our burgeoning regional food system and the example it sets for the rest of the country. And we encourage all of you in the Bay Area to get in on one of these amazing meals.