For those not in the know, SFChefs stands as our weeklong homecoming of all things food in the Bay Area, culminating around two big tent nights in Union Square on Friday and Saturday. (Friday being packed with more service industry people and imaginative insiders; Saturday stocked more with the general public types and festive yet budding new kids to the food scene. More or less.) Produced by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, SFChefs is one of the best ways of trying out some of the city's choicest fare without having to make a reservations or hand over your firstborn child. You can find grub from Michael Mina, Tyler Florence, Jason Berthold (RN74), Lizzie Binder (Bar Bambino), Perry Hoffman (étoile at Domaine Chandon), Tacolicious, NOPA, and more. Much much more.

We're going to go ahead and say that, with full confidence, this is the food event of the year. Period. It just is. And though it started on Monday, we're going to give you a breakdown of things you simply must attend moving forward. Let's begin.

Thursday, August 4
Sugar & Spice Party: Over at the Westin St. Francis, gastronomes will be guided on "culinary tour de spice" by some of the Bay Area's favorite chefs and pastry chefs. Chefs include: David Lawrence (1300 on Fillmore), Bill Corbett (Absinthe Brasserie & Bar), Mourad Lahlou and Melissa Chou (Aziza), Terri Wu (Farallon), Pascal Rigo (La Boulange), Luis Villavelazquez (Les Elements), Scott Soule & Nancy Pitta (Mayfield Bakery), Lincoln Carson (Michael Mina), Alan Carter (Mission Beach Café), Ethan Howard (Murray Circle), Ranjan Dey (New Delhi), Gonzalo Guzman and Jose Ramos (Nopalito), Leena Hung (The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards), Jean-François Houdré (The Westin St. Francis), Hoss Zaré (Zaré at Flytrap) and Joseph Humphrey. ($65)

Friday, August 5
Friday Night After Party: Late Night Affair: Basically? This is where--after the tent closes--chefs, industry workers, and you get royally fucked up. And we mean that in the best way possible. "Private rooms will feature various indulgences including luxurious chocolates, coffee, the finest cigars and great wines from Wente Vineyards as well as cocktails and beer." If you're still hungry, Pastry Chef Leena Hung (The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards), Chef Josh Birch (Da Bettina) and host Chef Michael Munez (The City Club of San Francisco) will have loads of fare for you to taste. Did we mention Chef/DJ Hubert Keller will be spinning at the decks? Yo, DJ pump this party, indeed. ($65)

Saturday, August 6
The Real Restaurant Wives of San Francisco: Get the searingly-hot gossip and shade tossing from some of the city’s most respected restaurateurs' wives. Leslie Gibin (Perbacco), Chantel Keller (Fleur de Lys), Amy Wong (E&O Trading Co.), Cameron Hirigoyen (Piperade), Emily Mitra (Dosa), and Lindsay Tusk (Quince) will give you the wives take on the restaurant scene in San Francisco. Tablehopper's Marcia Gagliardi hosts the festivities. Cocktail party to follow, of course.

More events, tastings, courses, tent parties, and other sweet and savory loveliness will take place throughout the week. Check out SFChefs entire schedule for more details.