With 65 restaurants, 16 breweries, and 49 wineries on the grounds this year, Outside Lands has expanded to be one of the biggest food festivals in San Francisco. At the festival, you can visit Beer Lands, Wine Lands, Choco Lands, Lamb Lands (!), food stands from critically acclaimed restaurants, food trucks, and more. There's so much good stuff it's almost overwhelming -- you could make an eating and drinking schedule to accompany your list of music acts to hit -- but we're here to help. All weekend, we'll be reporting on the good, the bad, and the unmissable. (Update: Find Day 2 coverage here.)
Pickle Chips from the Fabulous Frickle Brothers
If there's one thing you should eat at Outside Lands when you're drunk, it's the pickle chips from the Fabulous Frickle Brothers. Resist the siren song of tater tots from Q Restaurant, which, though tempting and conveniently located near the main stage, were overseasoned and unremarkable -- instead, walk up the hill to McClaren Pass and you'll see the green Frickle Bros. cart on the right. You'll be rewarded with large, luscious coins of dill pickles; battered with a combo of tempura, panko, and Lagunitas ale; deep-fried them in canola oil; and serve with house-made ranch and other sauces. The breading is perfect: just light enough to not overpower the salty vegetable, but substantial enough to contain its warm succulence. We've heard the fried green tomatoes are good too. -Anna Roth
Sierra Outside Lands Saison (and others) at Beer Lands
Beer is $9 a cup at the festival. Allow yourself a moment of outrage, and then just give into it (what are you going to do, not drink beer?). It's tucked away near the main entrance, but Beer Lands is way worth the slight detour -- if you're spending that much on suds, you might as well be drinking something better than the Heineken they're serving at tents across the grounds. The special Outside Lands Saison from Sierra Nevada is lightly floral and quenching, and once it got colder at night we enjoyed the bracing Black IPA from Pacific Brewing Laboratory. The only thing that's kind of a hassle is you have to get in a separate line to buy special Beer Lands tickets, sold in books of 10 -- the breweries don't take cash. But do it once and you're done for the weekend. (Also check out our list of the top 5 beers to try at Outside Lands.) -Anna Roth
