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Sacramento’s tourism bureau announced on Wednesday the lineup of chefs who will headline 2026’s Tower Bridge Dinner, a yearly event which highlights the region’s farm-to-fork culture.
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At Visit Sacramento’s annual “State of Tourism” luncheon, the organization presented this year’s featured chefs: Kate Sutherland of Waterboy, Giancarlo Zapata of Chicha Peruvian Kitchen, Francisco Rivera of Hawks Public House, and Joe Pruner of Bocce, which is slated to open later this summer in East Sacramento.
Since 2013, the dinner has taken place on the circa-1935 Tower Bridge connecting Sacramento and West Sacramento. The bridge, closed to traffic for a night, is transformed into an elaborate outdoor gala dining space, where chefs serve cuisine highlighting local agricultural products. According to Kari Miskit, chief communications and marketing officer for Visit Sacramento, proceeds from ticket sales will be used to fund farm-to-fork events such as Terra Madre Americas and scholarships for the children of migrant farmworkers. Ticket prices and availability will be announced later in the summer, she added.
This year’s Tower Bridge Dinner, said Pruner, will occur on September 6. He said the chefs began planning months ago, “Ever since we got the invitation we’ve been working really closely together to make sure the menu’s cohesive [and] to highlight what we do best.” Chefs, like Zapata, often bring their specialties to the table. Zapata said he plans to open the menu with something strongly Peruvian, such as ceviche. “For me, it’s very important to try to use Peruvian techniques in this menu.”
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The event is one of several yearly experiences held by Visit Sacramento to promote the region’s agriculture and farm-to-fork lifestyle. Others include Legends of Wine, a tasting on the steps of the California State Capitol featuring regional vintages, as well as the Grand Tasting, where local restaurants serve up small bites of their best offerings.
While the Tower Bridge Dinner, Legends of Wine, and the Grand Tasting are ticketed events, in past years Visit Sacramento has hosted the Farm-to-Fork Festival, a street fest with free admission featuring cooking demonstrations, local vendors, and performers. Terra Madre Americas, a culinary gathering with roots in Italy, replaced the Farm-to-Fork Festival in 2025.
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