Long before cannabis was legalized for recreational use in California, intrepid Bay Area chefs were proving that artisanal food and weed make the perfect pair. For almost a decade now, cannabis-infused dinner parties, brunches, and other edible events have popped up on the reg.
While the pandemic forced some of those fledgling tastemakers out of business, culinary cannabis events are once again on the rise from Napa to San Francisco and Oakland. From the travel-centric Cannescape to the womens-only club Big Bad Queens, here’s where to get a seat at the weed-friendly table.
Big Bad Wolf + Big Bad Queens
(Courtesy of @bigbadwolfsf)
Kick-ass, cannabis-consuming woman, this one’s for you. Big Bad Queens developed out of Big Bad Wolf, the beloved herb-infused pop-up dinners chef and Food Network cannabis consultant Haejin Chun has been hosting since 2016. Those events, which bring together Bay Area connoisseurs of all genders for great weed and even better food (think pork belly and tomato kimchi, oxtail kimchi dumplings, and miso cheesecake) have become a springboard for something greater: a members-only space created by women for women that revolves not just around cannabis but the power of collaboration. Join the club for just $30 a year to get in on their panels, smoke sessions, mixers, and co-working luncheons—plus first access to Chun’s famously fabulous dinner parties. // Sign up at bbwsfmembership.splashthat.com
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Cannescape
(Courtesy of @wecannescape)
Cannescape, a collaboration between Solomon Johnson, Chopped 420 champ and co-owner of Oakland’s The Bussdown, and local journalist Chelsea Davis, combines culinary cannabis excellence with Northern California’s best getaways. At their events, Johnson’s weed-infused feasts are just the start. Overnight experiences also include CBD happy hours, expert panels, and a CBD breakfast.
For its 2023 4/20 party, Cannescape takes over Calisotga’s Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs for a two-day event with a five-course dinner at its center. The meal will feature dishes like ubora tart with crab and king salmon with seared brassicas. Tickets for some of the festivities are still available, but definitely keep an eye on their Instagram for their next brilliant showing. // cannescape.com
Cannaisseur
(Courtesy of @herbweedandfire)
Chef Coreen Carroll, author of Edibles: Small Bites for the Modern Cannabis Kitchen and winner of Netflix’s Cooked With Cannabis, has been hosting curated events with her cannabis entrepreneur husband Ryan Bush since 2015. With Cannaisseur, the pair does everything from communal meals to educational opportunities in both public and private formats. Check out their four-course seasonal brunches complete with a mimosa bar and dishes infused with flower, extracts and leaves, or a workshop pairing an edible education with curated tastings. If you’re planning a private event, they’ll set you up with a tailored menu and infused hors d’oeuvres based on rotating themes. // For more info, go to cannaisseurseries.com.
