Sample the Sierra moves to digital format for 2020

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The popular farm-to-fork festival, Sample the Sierra, is moving to a digital format this year due to the current pandemic.

The 11st annual event will still include a variety of food-related entertainment typically found at Sample the Sierra, including cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, musical performances, giveaways, and shopping. Instead of only having these things during the day of the traditional in-person event, this year's will be spread out throughout August and September (a more detailed schedule is coming later).

The digital events will be posted on the Sample the Sierra website, Facebook and Instagram.

Sample the Sierra will continue to support the bounty and heritage of the area with the Farm-to-Fork Restaurant Week, Sept. 10-20. Special menus curated for the ten-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 the Sierra Chef Challenge title is currently held by Lonny Huot, Executive Chef at Edgewood Tahoe. The event will be accessible with a small fee, with a portion of proceeds going directly to the South Tahoe Restaurant Association to support businesses impacted by the pandemic.

“While we can’t be together to celebrate the Sierra Nevada and all of its delicious food and drink, the virtual format of this festival will help highlight and support the local businesses we love so much,” said Emily Abernathy, director of operations at the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce (Tahoe Chamber).

Restaurants, wineries/breweries/distilleries, producers/farmers, and artists/artisans are encouraged to sign up to participate by Aug. 14 to be included in online events, including Elevate Your Palate Restaurant Week: https://www.samplethesierra.com/participate/.

Sample the Sierra is produced by the Tahoe Chamber in partnership with El Dorado County, the Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority, the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, and the City of South Lake Tahoe. The event is supported by ADVANCE and the Tahoe CulinaryAcademy, as well South Tahoe Alliance of Resorts and Bentley Heritage Estate Distillery.

Additional information about Sample the Sierra can be found at www.samplethesierra.com.