Foodies and gourmands alike will delight in the return of one of the top gourmet events in Southern California: The San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, hitting America’s Finest City Nov. 16-20. The eighth annual festival will offer an array of cooking classes, wine tastings and banquets hosted by top chefs from across the country.  “Our lineup of culinary and wine tasting classes this year is truly exceptional,” said Michelle Metter, a partner in Fast Forward Event Productions, organizers of the weeklong celebration of all things food and wine. “The festival brings the wine country into the backyard of San Diego, giving close access to celebrity chefs, legendary winemakers and sommeliers.” Metter said the festival drew more than 10,000 people last year from every state in the U.S. and some visitors from Canada, Europe, Australia and Mexico, highlighting San Diego as a food and wine destination on par with other major cities. The festival’s cooking classes, held during the week downtown and in Mission Valley, provide opportunity to learn from leading food and wine talent from across the country. Classes this year include instruction on Belgian beer tasting and pairing, an Italian Master Class by chef Suzette Gresham of Acquerello in San Francisco, a Super Chef All Stars seafood class featuring former contestants from Bravo’s “Top Chef,” and a taste of the Mid East by chef Billy Strynkowski, executive chef of Cooking Light Magazine and a veteran of the festival. Strynkowski is an East Coast chef whose cooking classes are as entertaining as his food is delicious. A 1930s/40s vintage jazz-themed reserve wine tasting will be held at the San Diego Air and Space Museum Nov. 18. Also new this year is a day excursion to Rancho La Puerta Resort and Spa in Mexico. The package includes round-trip transportation, use of spa facilities, a culinary class and dinner.  The Grand Tasting, the festival’s culminating event, will be held Saturday, Nov. 19 at Embarcadero Park North behind Seaport Village. It will feature 170 wine and spirit purveyors, live entertainment, food from dozens of San Diego’s leading restaurants and a “Chef of the Fest” competition, where chefs compete live for $50,000 worth of cash and prizes, as judged by a panel of celebrity and professional chefs. Last year’s winner was chef Robert Ruiz of Harney Sushi. Following the Grand Tasting event is the All-Star Mixologist after-party to be held at the US Grant Hotel from 8 p.m.-midnight — another new addition this year. Featuring the city’s top mixologists from Grant Grill, Prohibition and Nobel Experiment to name a few, the party will benefit the San Diego Bar Guild, a member organization of mixology professionals. Bartenders will donate their time and talent for the evening, the proceeds of which go toward “making better bartenders and increasing the standards of the industry in San Diego,” said Jeff Josenhans, who directs food and beverage at the US Grant. “It’s the only time that you will be able to see the best bartenders in the city working at the same bar helping each other out. It’s really an incredible pool of talent and they will all be doing their own style.” The festival concludes on Sunday, Nov. 20 with the Celebrity Chef Luncheon and American Institute of Wine & Food (AIWF) Big Bottle Auction, a six-course luncheon and wine pairing held at the Marriot Marquis. Proceeds from the event, including live and silent auction items, go toward AIWF scholarships. To date, the festival has raised more than $180,000 to help culinary students in San Diego advance their education. Tickets for the Grand Tasting event range from $125-$175 and can be purchased in advance online. The event sells out so presale is strongly encouraged. Cooking classes range from $45-$85 and are held at the San Diego Wine and Culinary Center, 200 Harbor Drive, and the Macy’s School of Cooking located in the Macy’s Home Store in Mission Valley, 1555 Camino De La Reina. Tickets for the All-Star Mixologist after party at the U.S. Grant will be sold at the door. Weekend getaway package deals are available with several participating hotels downtown and in other areas of San Diego. For more information about the festival lineup or to purchase tickets, visit www.worldwineevents.com.