Like a Comic-Con for foodies, food lovers of all types, from celebrity chefs to microwave mavens, will flock to the downtown area through Sunday, Nov. 16 for the annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival. The star, however, is the wine, abundant in quantity and quality. Last year, more than 700 different wines were poured at the Grand Tasting event alone. “This is our fifth anniversary, and we’re really excited to see how it has progressed each year,” said Michelle Metter, festival producer. Southern California’s largest and poshest culinary festival will feature a weeklong line-up of all things gourmet, including hundreds of wines and dozens of San Diego’s top fine dining establishments and food exhibitors. Featured this year are several events and classes throughout the Downtown area. On Nov. 14, the Celebrity Chef Luncheon & AIWF (American Institute of Wine and Food) Big Bottle Wine Auction will be held at the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina, hosted by Chef Bernard Guillas of the Marine Room and artist Thomas Arvid, whose wine-inspired paintings have gained notoriety. Luncheon guests will be treated to a spectacular spread by Guillas, Gavin Kaysen of Café Boulud in New York City (formerly of El Bizcocho at the Rancho Bernardo Inn), Sondra Bernstein of Girl & A Fig in Sonoma and Jimmy Schmidt of Rattlesnake. A different winemaker, who will showcase wines from his or her portfolio, will host each table of ten. Single tickets and table sponsorships are available for the luncheon. A silent auction during the event will raise money for AIWF scholarships. Ted Allen, best known for his new Food Network Show “Food Detectives” and his role as the food authority on “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” will host two events at this year’s festival. On Nov. 14, he’ll teach a daytime cooking class at the Macy’s School of Cooking in Mission Valley, followed by a reserve and new release wine tasting aboard the Hornblower Inspiration yacht. Always a favorite at the festival is the Grand Tasting Event at the Embarcadero Park North behind Seaport Village, to be held Nov 15. In addition to its food and wine in abundance, the event will feature an olive oil competition and tasting, a celebrity chef cookbook signing and a chef of the fest competition, wherein chefs vie for thousands of dollars of prizes and bragging rights. Last year, Gary Thompson of Viejas was named Chef of the Fest. The festival also features a variety of cooking classes and wine tasting opportunities. On Nov. 13, Chef Michael Antonorsi of Chuao Chocolatier will present “Arousing the senses with Chocolate and Vino,” followed by a World’s Best Sake Tasting course hosted by Young’s market. On Nov. 14, “Surf, Turf and Cocktails with Sam the Cooking Guy” await, as well as a “Top Chef All-Stars” demonstration featuring a panel of chefs from the Bravo television series “Top Chef,” hosted by Brian Malarkey. Malarkey is a former series contestant and executive chef at the Oceanaire seafood room. Learn how to taste and classify wines with Master Sommelier Joseph Spellman, who will host a blind tasting with a panel of local sommeliers. The festival ends with a Sunday morning champagne tasting brunch bay cruise on a Hornblower yacht. Cooking classes take place at the San Diego Wine and Culinary Center, 200 Harbor Drive, and at the Macy’s School of Cooking at Mission Valley Mall. Prices for events vary. Packages are available and the preferred route for those wishing to take part in more than one event. For full event information or to purchase tickets, visit www.worldofwineevents.com. You must be 21 or older to attend.