Chef David Cruz, who used to run the kitchen at Ad Hoc, Thomas Keller’s Yountville restaurant, will be popping up a few times this summer while he looks for a permanent location for a new restaurant. First up, he’ll be working with S+S Gastro Grub at an undisclosed location in Oakland on Sunday May 19th at 5:30pm (the Sunday night was added after two Saturday seatings sold out). The dinner features five courses, including a spider steak (with eight legs? no, it’s just an unusual French cut of beef) with calçot onion and potatoes, and pork belly with gigante beans and clams. Take a look at the full menu and get your tickets here. The dinner is $85 per person, including tax but not tip, and drinks are BYO.
Then on Saturday June 8th, he’ll be at THE TRAPPIST in Oakland roasting a whole spring lamb on the courtyard. There will be lots of lamb, obviously, plus side dishes like potato salad and corn on the cob. You can get your lamb on starting at 4pm, and the cost is $25 per person for food (beer can be purchased separately). All seating is first come, first serve.
He’ll be at the Trappist again on Sunday June 9th, with a four-course family-style dinner with beer pairings from the Trappist’s many sudsy offerings. There’s a barley and beet salad with grilled Little Gems, beef short rib with succotash and marble potatoes, and a stone-fruit tart for dessert. The dinner, with food and beer pairings, is $67 per person, including tax but not tip. Reservations can be made here. 460 8th St. at Broadway, Oakland, 510-238-8900.
For some food truck pop-up action, check out East Bay Express’ suggestion BITES OFF BROADWAY in Oakland. The food truck gathering is every Friday, from 5:30pm-8:30pm and includes lots of East Bay food trucks, like the Blue Saigon Truck, Streatery, and Doc’s of the Bay. In front of the Studio One Arts Center, 365 45th St. at Manila, Oakland, 510-654-6346.
Here on the city side of the bay, check out the first in a new pop-up series at RADIO AFRICA & KITCHEN, called Bayview Underground Food Scene. Each dinner will be held at Radio Africa, featuring a different guest chef, and all proceeds will benefit a Bayview nonprofit organization. Up this month is Jiwon Park, the sous chef at Boulevard. On Sunday May 19th, he’ll be serving a three-course menu, with a choice of entrée, for $50 per person. Wine pairings are available for an additional $20. The menu, which is Asian-inspired, includes grilled asparagus with tatsoi and quail egg, and a bavette steak with snap peas and kimchi fried rice. Check out the full menu and get your tickets here. Proceeds for this month’s event will go to BMAGIC. 4800 3rd St. at Oakdale, 415-420-2486.
And Tuesday May 14th (that’s tonight!), from 6pm-10pm, catch HAPA RAMEN as they pop up at ~WING WINGS~. Look for black pepper-black sesame tonkotsu ramen (made from trotters); vegetarian white miso and gigante bean ramen; a lacinato kale salad with miso, mustard, and avocado; and a grilled teriyaki chicken bento box. Oh, bonus: you can BYO.
On Tuesday May 28th, don’t miss this multicourse pop-up dinner at ~BAR TARTINE~ from Sonoko Sakai of Common Grains in Los Angeles and Myoho Asari of Saiki Kojiya in Oita, Japan. The dinner will focus on koji, the fermented Japanese product that shows up in soy sauce, sake, and miso. There will be housemade soba noodles, koji-inspired goods from Bar Tartine, and lots of information about the koji-making process. The dinner costs $85 per person and includes abundant family-style courses. Beer, wine, and sake will be available for purchase. Seatings are available from 6pm-10pm and reservations can be made by calling 415-487-1600.
The picnic scene at Bites Off Broadway. Photo from Facebook.
