Living Coast Discovery Center to Host Farm to Bay Food & Wine Classic on Saturday, Aug. 2 Culinary Chair Joe Busalacchi, dozens of San Diego’s top restaurants, wineries, breweries and other purveyors team up to support coastal wildlife, conservation and education programs.

The Living Coast Discovery Center, a nonprofit zoo and aquarium on the southern edge of San Diego Bay in Chula Vista, will host its fifth annual Food & Wine Classic on Saturday, Aug. 2 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Farm to Bay culinary celebration brings together some of San Diego’s finest names in food, wine, craft beer and spirits to support the center’s coastal wildlife conservation and education programs in its largest fundraiser of the year. The culinary chair for this year’s event is Chef Joe Busalacchi of the Busalacchi family of restaurants, which includes many of San Diego’s favorite Italian-inspired eateries, including Busalacchi’s A Modo Mio, Po Pazzo Bar & Grille, Via Lago Trattoria, Café Zucchero, Trattoria Fantastica and Zia’s Bistro. “Joe has been a tremendous supporter of the Living Coast Discovery Center for many years and we’re thrilled to have him be the face of this year’s celebration,” said Executive Director Ben Vallejos. “This is our biggest and most important fundraiser of the year and a truly fun way to support everything we do here at the center. Where else can you sip, sample and mingle with amazing animals all from inside a national wildlife refuge on San Diego Bay?”

Guests will enjoy sampling from an estimated 30 to 40 hand-selected restaurants, wineries, breweries and spirits, as well as live musical performances on multiple stages, live and silent auctions, and up-close animal encounters with the Living Coast Discovery Center’s beloved animal residents (including sea turtles, sharks, rays, hawks, eagles, owls and more). Tickets are on sale now for $75 at www.thelivingcoast.org.