​What: Open House/Par-tay

Where: Txoko

When: Wed., January 11, 6-8 p.m.

Cost: Free with RSVP

The rundown: Txoko co-owners Ryan Maxey and Chef Ian Begg are hosting a party and we're all invited. Deal? Deal!

We'll enjoy complementary bites, St. George drink specials, and groovin' beats by DJ Jon from Sweater Funk. The evening will feature cocktails such as The Self Starter, The 20/20 Collins, and The Yuzu Smash. We have no idea what any of those are, but we're sure they're delicious. We're also pretty sure you'll find our Lou Bustamante at the bar swilling a few. What? It's for work!

It's free to attend but you must RSVP. Have fun!

​What: 1,000 free burritos

Where: Pancho Villa Taqueria

When: Mon.-Wed., November 21-23

Cost: Free

The rundown: Thanksgiving comes early to the Mission this year, as the folks at Heard About are offering free burritos to the first 1,000 people who sign up for the food-related social media site.

Keeping with the holiday spirit, redeemers are encouraged to donate to the SF Food Bank to help fight hunger. Donations will be collected on-site all three days of the promotion -- and Visa will match every donation, dollar for dollar. Get a free burrito, help those in need, and make Visa do something decent. It's really win/win/win.

Yelp/ Michael C.

​What: Free soup and grilled cheese!

Where: The Melt at 345 Spear

When: Tue., November 15, 3-7 p.m.

Cost: Free!

The rundown: The Melt, the T-1000 of grilled cheese joints, is giving giving away free "Melt and Soup combo"s today. Like, right now. Right now until 7 p.m. so if you enjoy cheese gratis, we suggest busting out of work right now. What? It's 5 p.m. somewhere!

Update: The free sammies are only at the 345 Spear location.

Hat tip, SF Appeal!

​What: Cakespy and FREE CAKE at Omnivore Books

Where: Omnivore Books

When: Sun., October 30, 3-4 p.m.

Cost: Free

The rundown: CakeSpy's cake-fueled leader, Jessie Oleson, will be at Omnivore to talk about her new book, Cakespy Presents Recipes for a Sugar-Filled Life. One of the greatest things about that blog is the first rate photography, and thankfully, the book is filled with it. Honestly, I've been known to stare at the pictures of cinnamon rolls stuffed with chocolate chip cookie dough for longer than is not insane. And who doesn't love googley eyed cupcake stuffed cupcakes? Nobody who's gonna be at this reading, that's who!

Need extra incentive to get over to Noe Valley? Perhaps you'd care for some FREE CAKE. That's right, they'll be cake for the taking -- have at it, you glorious fatty!

--

​Introducing Ourtisan, a new website that allows members to find local higher-end brands, share their discoveries with friends and family, and then shop online. Online shopping, woohoo! Love never having to leave the house, it's the best. Ourtisan's membership is free, so there's no cost to check it out. It's launching with a curated list, featuring about 100 brands, including TCHO Chocolate, Mission Minis, and Shachi's Sweets & Savories.

Jonathan Chin, one of the gentlemen leading the Ourtisan charge, says the idea originated from their daily lives -- picking up olive oil from one local vendor, chocolate from another, and chai from a third. They wanted to build a central platform that would allow users to use their social graph from Facebook and Twitter to discover these great merchants in one place, connect with them and ultimately, purchase their products.

More >>

Baker and Banker's XXX Chocolate Cake, a SF Weekly Favorite.

​This Saturday, Oct. 8, Baker and Banker is making a large sheet birthday cake to celebrate their bakery's first anniversary, and giving everyone who visits the bakery a free (FREE!) slice. It's a Guinness chocolate cake with Bailey's buttercream frosting, and I can't imagine it'll be there for long, what with sounding so delicious and all.

Lori Baker also let us know that their bakery, which is usually special order only, will be selling a couple different kinds of cupcakes that day. Then, in the evening, everyone who dines in the restaurant gets a mini cupcake with a candle in it after dessert. Pretty damn cute. Isn't it nice when someone/thing celebrates their birthday by giving you stuff? Let's make this a new tradition. Happy Birthday, Baker and Banker's bakery!

Erin Kunkel/New York Times

​ Free Scream Sorbet
Where: Ferry Building
When: Wednesday, Sept. 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Cost: Free!

Scream Sorbet is a favorite of farmers' market denizens throughout the Bay Area, and on Sept. 7, you can get it free.

The Cooking Channel's ice cream truck will make a stop on its national tour to provide SF foodies "a scoop or two of Scream Sorbet."

More >>

​16th Chocolate Festival
Where: Ghirardelli Square
When: Sept. 10-11, noon-5 p.m.
Cost: General events free; tastes $20 for 15 samples

When I first came to San Francisco in high school with my family, Ghirardelli Square was one of my favorite stops, tourist noob that I was.

I've always been a chocolate fan, and seeing chocolate made and buying "local" premium chocolate from California appealed to me. I was so dedicated to chocolate I bought a container of cacao to use for the rest of the trip as a condiment in lieu of salt. I don't recall it working too well on my entrees, but I tried it anyway on just about everything.

More >>

Happy Girl's dry-farmed tomato juice

​Happy Girl Kitchen Grand Opening Party
Where: Ferry Building
When: Friday, Sept. 2, 4-8 p.m.
Cost: Free

Even though it has been open for a few weeks in its dedicated Ferry Building location, Happy Girl Kitchen is having its "Grand Opening Party" on Friday: all the better for you since you haven't missed it yet.

First item on the invite, and likely first in the interests of many 21 and over, is "complimentary cocktails (including bloody marys made with our delicious tomato juice!)"

More >>

www.brownsugarkitchen.com

​

Preview of the Bayview's new Brown Sugar Kitchen and Limon Rotisserie

Where: 5800 Third Street (at Carroll)

When: Today, Thursday Aug. 25, 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Cost: Free

The rundown: It's a reception to celebrate the Bayview's 5800 Third Street condo project. Free eats will be provided by the two soon-to-be-open on-site restaurants, Brown Sugar Kitchen and Limon Rotisserie. Local artists from the S.F. Artist Guild will show their works at the event. And in case you're looking for a condo, they will be open for touring.

Register for the event here.