tablehopper

letter from the tablehopper: November 18, 2008

2008-11-18T15:12:00.000-08:00

I don’t even know where to begin with this weather—like, when did I move back to LA? And whoa, my convertible actually makes sense in San Francisco right now. It was truly magnificent to be up in wine country this weekend during such a bizarre heat wave. Spring fever in mid November, woot! Healdsburg is one of my favorite places in the 707, especially with all the fall color. Get up there now if you can—and if you need to know where to go, look here at my past Healdsburg jetsetter pieces for some guidance and ideas.

This week, we have the next installment of the hardhat, from guest writer Erin Archuleta, and now, a bookish giveaway! This week’s giveaway is courtesy of Chronicle Books: Baking for All Occasions by Flo Braker (I know, her last name has just one superfluous consonant). The odds for this drawing are good because there will be three lucky winners (you also get a Chronicle tote bag). To enter to win, please forward this week’s tablehopper newsletter to a buddy (or more, you star!!), telling them why they would dig a subscription to the tablehopper e-column (if you call it a blog, you are disqualified, and I am so not kidding), and CC or BCC luckyme [at] tablehopper [dot] com so I know you sent it—I promise I won’t use anyone’s email address. Deadline to enter is midnight on Sunday November 23rd. I’ll notify the three winners soon thereafter!

Oh, and I have to do a shout to reader Jillian C., who wrote in a question, but my email to her keeps bouncing. Jillian, can you send me your phone number instead? Or another email? Didn’t want you to think I was ignoring your question. That would be rude.

Chow ciao,
~Marcia

the chatterbox: November 18, 2008

2008-11-18T15:02:00.000-08:00

So, let’s get to some news around town. I heard that Jessica Gorin is no longer the executive chef at ~BAMBUDDHA LOUNGE~, and is now at Thirsty Bear in SoMa. She will be launching a new menu there shortly, stand by. In the meantime, I didn’t hear back from the Bambuddha folks in time, but will let you know who the new chef is, or what their plans are once I get the details. 601 Eddy St. at Larkin, 415-885-5088.

And literally just before my deadline, I got word that Ryan Scott is leaving ~MISSION BEACH CAFÉ~ on December 1st to focus on his catering business, Ryan Scott 2 Go, and is reportedly “weighing several compelling job offers.” Things are on good terms between Scott and proprietor Bill Clarke—Scott is planning to return to MBC for special events throughout the rest of the year and into 2009. Clarke has hired a new executive chef, Thomas Martinez, age 22, to head up the kitchen—Martinez actually worked previously at MBC, and left to try private cheffing, so now he’s back (and will be keeping things seasonal). He has also worked at Soluna, Greens, Aziza, Roots, and Foreign Cinema, as well as with Heirloom Organic Gardens, where he worked directly with the produce and restaurant chefs as a purveyor. 198 Guerrero St. at 14th St., 415-861-0198.

Who doesn’t love grilled cheese sandwiches? I guess you lactose intolerant types aren’t big fans, but as for the rest of you… I had a tablehopper reader tip me off to a cool project that recently started up in the Chan Chan Cafe Cubano space, tucked up off Market Street near the Castro. During the day Monday through Friday, ~FEELGOOD CAFÉ~ takes over and cooks up a variety of grilled cheese sandwiches, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to The Hunger Project and to programs ending hunger. In case the name is familiar, the FeelGood Cafe is normally on university campuses, but this is the first non-campus location. You can get organic breakfast items, like Greek eggs or huevos rancheros or egg sandwiches, and their unique spin on grilled cheese sandos include the Cheese Louise! (cheddar, brie, apple, Dijon mustard) and the Sexy Mexy (mozzarella, beans, avocado, pico de gallo, mango, jalapeños). There are also coffee drinks available, made with organic coffee grown by a women’s cooperative in Costa Rica. At night, Chan Chan’s Cuban menu returns (Tue–Sat)—oh, and they also do weekend brunch. So do your part in helping the FeelGood Cafe with their mission to “end world hunger, one grilled cheese at a time.” And support Chan Chan, who so kindly offered to host the project! The café opens at 6:30am. 4690 18th St. at Danvers, 415-864-4199.

~TROPISUEÑO~ is opening this Saturday in Yerba Buena Lane, serving taqueria fare during the day to the lunch and daytime crowd, and will start dinner service in December. Modern renditions of tequila-based cocktails are also available, made with fresh ingredients, arriba! Starting December 1st, dinner service will begin, and the restaurant actually has a physical transformation as well: the taqueria line will disappear, and other touches will happen to make it more restaurant, less taqueria. During the switch to dinner, the menu will expand to include antojitos and Jaliscan seafood specialties—there will also be two signature moles, eventually four. The food is geared toward authenticity, but is not high end like some other SoMa Mexican places. The chef is Antelmo Faria, most recently at La Salette in Sonoma, and Montrio in Monterey. Hours are 10:30am–5:30pm daily, and dinner will be eventually 5:30pm–10:30pm. 75 Yerba Buena Ln. at Market, 415-243-0299.

Time to dial up your heat tolerance: I got a call from the ~HENRY’S HUNAN~ folks, and their Noe Valley location is opening this Saturday the 22nd in the former Pescheria spot. This will be the fifth Henry’s location, and will have a similar menu (gotta love the meat pie and Marty’s special, oh yeah)—they said delivery will eventually be available, just not right now. Hours are slated to be 11:30am–9pm. 1708 Church St. at 29th St., 415-826-9189.

I learned the former chef of Moose’s, Travis Flood, is back from his trip east helping to open Laurent Gras’s L20 in Chicago, and is now the executive chef at ~PICCOLO TEATRO~ in Sausalito, focused on Venetian cuisine. Flood also mentioned he’s making most of the charcuterie on the menu. Chris Whaley of Picco in Larkspur was the opening consulting chef, and now Flood, who started as chef de cuisine, has assumed the role as executive chef, and is rolling out his own fall menu. 739 Bridgeway Blvd., 415-332-0739.

Here’s an update on a few Mission spots: ~GEORGE'S BBQ~, the affordable rotisserie and carved meats place I mentioned last month, is due to open this week. A hofbrau-style lunch and dinner will be served daily. This place might scar vegetarians for life, so take note. 3231 24th St at Mission, 415-550-1010.

And awwww hell, the one week I was finnnnnally going to be able to hit ~MISSION STREET FOOD~, and now they are closed until December. From their site: “We apologize for the inconvenience, but Mission Street Food will not be at Lung Shan this week (or next week, which is Thanksgiving). We are working out the logistics of a new prep location and hope to re-open in December. We're still accepting proposals from guest chefs/cooks and at this point, we also want to hire a part-time prep or line cook. The bottom line is that we want to keep doing Mission Street Food, but we're outgrowing our current kitchen and staff.” Le sigh.

Meanwhile, ~PHAT PHILLY~, the authentic cheesesteak place, is delayed until early December, and ~ZAYTOON~, the Mediterranean wraps and falafel spot, will be opening soon thereafter. Phat Philly: 3388 24th St. at Valencia. Zaytoon: 1136 Valencia St. at 22nd St., 415-824-1787.

Thrillist has some deets on ~MIDPOINT~, the restaurant that is opening in the former O’Reilly’s Holy Grail space on Polk. The new owner turned the design around pretty quick, so I’m not expecting a massive transformation, but reportedly the Gothic church elements have gone the way of the Inquisition. The opening is slated for this Thursday. 1233 Polk St. at Bush, 415-924-2493.

This is always fun for me: some rock star tablehopper readers wrote in some insider info in relation to a few of my recent reviews. First, for those of you who were salivating over the dim sum descriptions at ~S&T HONG KONG SEAFOOD RESTAURANT~, and were wishing you had your very own Eddie to take you there and translate the menu, well, check this out! A regular who been going since it opened about 20 years ago (and said, “They are at the top of their game right now, I think, both for dim sum and dinner.”) had this to share: “If you ask at the front desk, they'll give you a supplementary checklist with the English translations of the un-translated part of the regular dim sum checklist. The Salt and Pepper Tofu that you mentioned is on that list along with one of my favorites, braised stuffed tofu skins—they are stuffed with pork and are absolutely delicious. Also on that list are shrimp-stuffed eggplant and shrimp-stuffed green peppers and some bargain items, many of which are really quite good.” Okay?! Already plotting my return. And you? 2578 Noriega St. at 33rd Ave., 415-665-8338.

And then another fab reader, Cara, had great suggestions for fellow downtown desk-less fans of ~THE SENTINEL~ who wonder where to eat their delicious sandwich. Here’s more from her entirely helpful email: “I recommend one of the two lovely public rooftop gardens accessible from Crocker Galleria across Market. The nice one on the corner of Post / Montgomery / Market (over the gorgeous old Wells Fargo bank) has a prominent entrance from the top floor of Crocker Galleria. If it's raining, you can snag a table inside Crocker Galleria. Or go to the inside public space around the corner from Sentinel at 55 Second St. There's a smaller, more hidden rooftop garden that faces Sutter and the historic Halladie building. From the top floor of Crocker Galleria, go to the unmarked staircase in the NW corner of the building and go up. It's also accessible from the Galleria Park Hotel. Excellent for good weather days when everywhere else is busy. If you want to explore for a couple of hours, a great SF City Guides tour to many of the public spaces in downtown (including more rooftop gardens) is offered twice every Friday.” Thanks ladies—brownie points to both of you!

And one more tidbit I plan to put to use: the groovy folks at REBAR have even created an interactive map of downtown privately owned public open spaces, check it out here.

Executive chef Richard Corbo of ~DUCCA~ has prepared a special five-course squash menu paired with regional Italian wines imported by Stefano Biscotto of Trilussa Wines. The dinner will be held in the private dining room this Wednesday November 19th. 7pm, $79 per person, and includes the wine. The squash menu will continue to run for the next couple months while squash is in season (but without Wednesday’s nice wine deal). 50 Third St. at Mission, 415-977-0271.

Slow Food Nation wanted to host a few more events before the Victory Garden closes up December 6th. This Saturday November 22nd there will be a ~COMMUNITY EAT-IN~ from noon–3pm. Here’s more: “An Eat-In is a group of people gathering in a public space in order to share a meal. Come to the Victory Garden in front of City Hall to represent your community and break bread with others who want to make sure everyone has access to good, healthy, real food. The meal is a potluck and free of charge. Please bring your own plate, cup, and silverware, and some home-cooked food to share with your neighbors. It is free of cost and open to the first 200 who register. Organizers will provide tables and chairs.” I heard there are still some seats remaining, get on it! And no, don’t show up with a bucket of KFC.

I swore I was not doing any more Thanksgiving coverage, but I had to let you know about one more thing, because it really sounds that good. Well, really bad for you good. Yats, the New Orleans-style po’ boy shop in Potrero Hill will not only be selling ~LOUISIANA FRIED TURKEYS~ for Thanksgiving, but they will be doing an open fry on Wednesday November 26th from 7am–10pm and Thanksgiving morning from 7am–12pm! Which means you bring your own turkey, choose your marinade, and they fry it for you, so you don’t have to deal with a vat of scary hot oil. Read the details on the site, and if you’re interested, be sure to call and reserve your spot! $32, cash only. At Jack’s Club, 2545 24th St. at Utah, 415-282-8906.

More bird news: ~THE LARK CREEK INN~ is doing Southern Fried Chicken Sundays for $19.95, which includes three pieces of sesame-crusted fried chicken, mashed potatoes, braised organic greens, and a buttermilk biscuit served with sides of honey butter, house-made red chili jam, and chili vinegar for the greens. Leave the gun rack at home. Served for dinner from 5pm–9pm. 234 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur, 415-924-7766.

This one is a bit out of city limits, but it’s your chance to visit the gorgeous grounds of McEvoy Ranch during harvest (the ranch is usually closed to guests)! Sunday, December 7th is the ~COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE~, with guided ranch tours, music, refreshments, and your chance to stock up on some olio nuovo in the gift shop. The event is free, but reservations are required. 5935 Red Hill Road, Petaluma.

Down in San Mateo, ~ESPETUS CHURRASCARIA~, the Brazilian restaurant known for its parade of meat on skewers, has opened its second location. Turn your dial to green, and try 12–14 different types of meat that will be brought and carved directly on your plate. The menu is offered on a set-price basis ($49.95 for dinner, $23.95 for lunch Monday–Friday, $32.95 for lunch Saturday–Sunday) and includes access to the Brazilian-inspired salad and hot plate bar with rice, beans, and a varied choice of fish, chicken, stroganoff, lasagna, sushi (hmmmm—how’d that get in there?), and other dishes, plus many vegetarian selections. Dessert is served a la carte. My best advice is don’t bother eating the entire day before going there. There is also a full bar and lounge area. 710 South B St. at 7th St., San Mateo, 650-342-8700.

the regular: Bar Tartine

2008-11-18T14:59:00.000-08:00

Hey player. So, date one has gone really well (nice work), but now you want to step it up to the perfecto spot for date number two or three? Okay. Or maybe you have some cool out-of-town friends coming to visit, and you want to feed them some très San Francisco cuisine while impressing them with a place sporting some hip instead of hippie atmosphere. Or perhaps you’re a solo diner, looking for a friendly counter to perch at. ~BAR TARTINE~ is a good answer to all three situations, and let’s not forget those seeking a sophisticated weekend brunch.

Bar Tartine really is the picture of gentrification (I gotta call it), located on a grubby stretch of Valencia next to Arinell Pizza and La Cumbre that is usually teeming with 20-somethings. You could blaze right by it, actually—there’s no sign proclaiming its existence. Just look for the cool antler chandelier near the front. It’s a chic space with an authentic artsy vibe, with wood floors that have letters scattered here and there in the planks, a nod to one of the space’s previous incarnations as a letterpress (as I was told). There’s also a long marble bar, and I especially enjoyed the gentle lighting, with the backlit bench seats along the wall casting a soft glow. It’s romantic, but not at all in a way that would give most straight guys the heebie-jeebies.

I’m a fan of sitting at the bar, but larger groups will like the cozy round table in the back, and there’s a slew of two-tops along the wall, full of couples on date night. It’s like date HQ, straight and gay—it’s a nicely mixed room, from gender to age. Quite a few ladies out on B.F.F. dinner dates as well. The space feels sexy, comfortable, and there were even fresh, fragrant white lilies in the bathroom—classy.

I hope all this swish ambiance has prepared you a little for what’s to come: tasty but spendy vittles. Yes, everything is made with top-notch seasonal ingredients, and chef Jason Fox crafts some refined Cal-Med dishes, but dag, you are not getting out of here for cheap, 94110 zip code or not.

Then again, the smooth and silky corn custard ($16), a brilliant take on chawan mushi, was so deliciously impressive… After one bite, we deemed it worth every penny. It was topped with sea urchin, plus the custard contained culinary surprises of beech mushrooms, scallions, and some unexpected heat from sliced jalapeno and chunks of chorizo—I actually wondered if the chorizo was one ingredient too many, and it was weirdly not salty enough. No matter, this dish was a champ.

Hey, are you filling up on bread? Watch it, because you will, even without meaning to. This is what happens when the owners of Tartine Bakery (Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson) open a restaurant: evil bread. Muaah huah huah!

The foie gras mousse ($15) piped into two petite and crisp “cannoli” was a clever execution, and the salad on top with fresh greens, figs, walnuts, and the drizzle of saba (reduced grape must) on the plate all lent harmonious flavors, but in the end, the dish didn’t have a lot of punch. It was like a nicely mannered but mousy lady—inoffensive, pleasant, but not all that memorable.

What I really wanted to return to was the house specialty of the bone marrow ($13). But, we had decided on beef as one of our main courses, so it would have been a double play of beef. Moo. But marrow fans, take note: the execution rocks here.

Oh, and the salads offer some interesting ingredient medleys, but salad is not one of my first choices. My waistline says, “Oh really? Perhaps it should be.” Pfffft.

It’s a little tough to decide on the mains—there are all kinds of intriguing touches on the menu, from pumpernickel cream here to black olive jus there… We ordered the beef cheeks ($26), but it was ultimately too nouvelle of a presentation for our taste: three bouncy cheeks were plated in a line, one two three, with salsa verde, chanterelles, a topping of fresh-grated horseradish, and a base of Jerusalem artichoke puree (tasty) and broccoli rabe (too bitter). I dunno, but when I order beef cheeks, I want them to be luscious and luxurious, a veritable hot tub of tender beef bodaciousness—these were a bit too composed.

The gnocchi ($19) here have legions of fans, and not just vegetarian ones: these plump pan-seared potato babies were all about the transition of late summer into fall, mixed with hen of the woods mushrooms that were a touch crispy at the edges, corn (pretty ballsy to add another starch, but it worked), a cloud of parmesan cheese, sage, and some black truffle oil (grrrrr, but oh well). It’s a good dish.

The restaurant certainly has a more refined service style—it’s also really attentive, and friendly. My dining partner and I agreed that based on the price point here, and the elevated service, having the parmesan cheese or horseradish grated tableside would be a nice touch. Hey, it’s the little things!

Chef Fox is number four in a rotating series of chefs since the restaurant opened, and has been leading the helm now for a couple years. He was formerly the chef de cuisine at Scott Howard, another place where I enjoyed some unique and playful twists with ingredients. So while the pricing can feel a bit dear, especially in this current economy, it’s the kind of menu I’d like to keep returning to, to see what’s next. Kind of like Conduit, just down the street.

If there’s room, the bar at Bar Tartine is also a good spot to visit for a glass of something good off their wine list, some cheese, and maybe that wicked custard. Or for dessert, natch. Both desserts that we tried were lovely, like a roasted fig napoleon ($8) with a baklava crisp that I weirdly thought had a hint of tobacco to it, plus huckleberries, and goat cheese ice cream that struck that magic balance of tartness, but not iciness. Mmmmmmaple flan ($8) was also scrumptious, topped with cubes of caramelized apple and pomegranate seeds, and came with a side of black walnut churros that were almost like streusel—tasty.

And about that brunch: all I can say is pork belly open-faced sandwich ($14) with egg salad. And fries. Hold on.

Bar Tartine
561 Valencia St.
Cross: 17th St.
San Francisco, CA 94110

415-487-1600
website

Dinner
Sun, Tue–Wed 6pm–10pm
Thu–Sat 6pm–11pm
Closed Mon

Brunch
Sat–Sun 11am–2:30pm

Apps $9–$16
Entrées $19–$30
Desserts $8

the lush: November 18, 2008

2008-11-18T14:56:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, Wednesday November 19th, is the eighth annual ~WINES TO GO WITH YOUR THANKSGIVING MEAL EVENT~ at William Cross Wine Merchants. The wines to be poured are: 2005 Josmeyer Les Folastries Gewurztraminer Alsace; 2007 Isarco Kerner Sudtirol-Alto Adige; 2007 Domaine Amido Les Amandines Tavel; 2007 Domaine de Colette Beaujolais-Villages; 2006 Soter Pinot Noir North Valley Oregon; and 2006 Palmina Barbera Santa Barbara. Ruggiero from Antica and Pesce will be cooking some turkey to see which wines go best with the edible guest of honor. Gobble. $15. 6pm–9pm. 2253 Polk St. at Green, 415-346-1314.

If this gorg weather holds up tonight, I’d suggest swinging by the spacious patio at ~CHEZ PAPA RESTO~ for their new happy hour: all “special” cocktails are $6 (normally $10), draught beer is $3, and there are some small plate specials, like baked goat cheese ($6), a lamb chop with ratatouille ($7.50), tuna tartare ($8), and fried halibut and lemon aioli ($8). Happy hour is Mon–Fri 5pm–7pm. 414 Jessie St. at 5th St., 415-546-4134.

~EL RAIGON~ is offering half off all wine on Monday nights from now through December, with the purchase of one entrée per person. Yup, that malbec just got downright cheap. 510 Union St. at Grant, 415-291-0927.

I heard that Fabrizia Lanza is coming to ~BIONDIVINO~ next Monday. She comes from an amazing family, and has a cooking school in Sicily. She will be preparing a dish to bring with her from Sicily (rumor has it that it might be some focaccia) to pair with wines from her family estate of Tasca d’Almerita. $5 tasting fee, 6pm–8pm. 1415 Green St. at Polk, 415-673-2320.

And in case you were wondering who won the ~THREE ON FIVE~ wine, beer, and cocktail pairing competition at Fifth Floor, Camper English has the deets over at his Alcademics blog. (Hint: the winner’s name has the word win in it.) The next event is scheduled for Wednesday December 17th. Hotel Palomar, 12 4th St. at Market, 415-348-1555.

the socialite: Truffle Mania

2008-11-18T14:54:00.000-08:00

White truffle-topped tortino from Farina.

~WHITE TRUFFLE SEASON~ is in full effecty wecty, and it’s reportedly a good year with cheaper prices, cheers to that. (I wish I could make my tablehopper column scratch ‘n’ sniff, wouldn’t that be cool?) I have rounded up a few restaurants offering special menus this week in honor of the season.

Acquerello is doing a special menu from Tuesday November 18th–26th, offering several dishes like poached duck egg on creamy leeks with shaved white truffle, rich egg tagliolini with burro fuso and shaved white truffle, and risotto Carnaroli with a hint of Parmigiano Reggiano and white truffle. There is also a special truffle tasting menu during that time for $190. 1722 Sacramento St. at Polk, 415-567-5432.

Perbacco is doing “Four Nights of Tartufi Bianchi,” from Tuesday November 18th–21st. During these four evenings, executive chef Staffan Terje will offer special à la carte dishes during dinner service. White truffles will be offered by the gram, shaved over dishes that may include local porcini trifolati with a sunny-side-up duck egg, hand-cut tajarin with veal polpettine, or risotto in bianco finished with Castelmagno cheese. 230 California St. at Battery, 415-955-0663.

Oliveto is running their special truffle menu from Tuesday November 18th–21st (please note Friday night is sold out). It’s also when Oliveto runs their mushroom dinner, too. All I can say is check out these menu items: pan de mie crostini with wild snails, wild mushrooms, and leeks; warm salad of lamb sweetbreads, artichokes, cauliflower, and black truffles; and polentina of Savoy cabbage and leeks with polpettine of McGruder Ranch milk-fed vitello tongue, jowls, and pork liver. Whoa! The truffle dinners are great to pair with special wines, so Oliveto is offering a unique list of wines by the glass for the truffle dinners, and verticals of moderately priced and aged Barolos and Barbarescos. A special corkage fee of $25 will apply during those nights. 5655 College Ave., Oakland, 510-547-5356.

Truffle Mania
Tue. Nov 18th–Wed. Nov. 26th, 2008

Various locations

the socialite: Say Oui or Non to Beaujolais Nouveau

2008-11-18T14:50:00.000-08:00

NOT gamay grapes

Love it, hate it, there are all kinds of events surrounding the release of ~BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU~ this Thursday—here’s a round up of events around town and beyond, celebrating it, or not!

Grand Café is throwing a Beaujolais Nouveau party from 5:30pm–7:30pm. It will be the 26th anniversary of its arrival in America—and Grand Café is offering a complimentary glass of Georges Duboeuf's Beaujolais Nouveau served straight from the barrel. Complimentary tastes from Grand Café’s fall menu will also be provided by chef Mauro Pando. 501 Geary St. at Taylor, 415-292-0101.

The Sir Francis Drake is going nuts and hosting two events on the same night: Beaujolais Nouveau and Día de la Revolución, commemorating the Mexican Revolution, hence their special night of ¡Viva Gamay! There will be a cocktail competition at 4:30pm that will feature Sir Francis Drake Hotel bartenders using Centenario Añejo Tequila. The winning cocktail will be featured at Bar Drake until the end of the year. Following the contest, guests will proceed to the mezzanine at 5:30pm as gamay enthusiast and winemaker Andrew Lane pours his Gamay Nouveau. You can meet the winemaker, sip, and eat a selection of hors d’oeuvres. There is then a pre-Thanksgiving winemaker’s dinner by chef Jen Biesty at Scala’s Bistro at 7pm. Cocktail contest and Gamay Nouveau party: $30; cocktail contest, Gamay Nouveau party, and winemaker’s dinner: $75. Purchase tickets online here. 450 Powell St. at Sutter.

Down in San Mateo, things are getting crazy: chef Roland Passot (La Folie, Left Bank Brasseries) is uncorking the 2008 Beaujolais Nouveau at a big ole soiree at Left Bank at 6:30pm. The extravaganza includes chef Passot delivering an inaugural case of 2008 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau via a vintage red fire truck, accompanied by Liam Mayclem, the host/producer of Eye on the Bay, plus firefighters from San Mateo’s Station 21, can-can girls, live music, and a weekend of Moulin Rouge-style entertainment that will help benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. From Thursday November 20th through Saturday November 22nd, the Left Bank Brasserie, San Mateo, will feature a menu inspired menu by the Beaujolais region. 1100 Park Place, San Mateo, 650-345-2250.

Please note: there are additional parties at the other Left Bank locations—read all about the what and the where here.

And then 18 Reasons is hosting The 18th Hour: Beaujolais Not Nouveau on Thursday, November 20th from 7pm–9pm. From their press release: “We'll celebrate the annual release of Beaujolais Nouveau by not drinking any. Instead, we'll taste a selection of quality wines from the Beaujolais region that treat gamay with the respect it deserves. Featuring no less than three selections from the Morgon area, come celebrate with wines from Marcel Lapierre, Domaine Dupeuble, and more. As always, we'll have small bites of great food to go with the wines, and great company to wit.” $5–10 suggested donation to benefit 18 Reasons. 593 Guerrero St at 18th St.

Say Oui or Non to Beaujolais Nouveau

Thu. Nov. 20th, 2008

Various locations

the hardhat: November 18, 2008

2008-11-18T14:47:00.000-08:00

Curious about what goes into opening a restaurant? Each month we’ll be checking in on the build-out process of flour + water, a new restaurant project that is underway in the Mission. The hardhat will highlight the unique coups and complications when opening a restaurant in San Francisco. This section will be written by Erin Archuleta, tablehopper intern and half of the talent behind local outfit Ichi Catering.

Peeking in through the plywood construction facade at flour + water, you wouldn’t expect that there’s much going on. But, after checking back in with owner David Steele and chef-owner David White, they’ve had their hands full with the permitting process.

The drawing and permitting process can be very nuanced. And in this case—they’ve got a completely custom-designed kitchen by David W. himself—it can be an extremely complex process. For each part of the design, whether it’s the venting for the custom wood-fired oven (which took a month’s research on its own), or the height of a door, many permitting experts have to be consulted. And, since they’re all experts in their own respective areas (Health Department, Fire Department, oven manufacturers, HVAC, mechanical engineers, and electricians), this can mean that they won’t always agree.

David W. told me that each time he’s heard the word “impossible” during the restaurant design process, it has only made him want to find the way to execute the idea. He has found “learning on the job” to be a critical asset. Now, after their final revision, the Davids have submitted the final design plan to the city for approval. Fingers crossed on all your hard work and endless consultations, gentlemen!

Other preparations are taking place before the commencement of the build: gastronomic ones! David S. is set for a research trip to New York where he will taste and sample the menus at ápizz, Covo, `inoteca Lupa, Pala, and Otto. Both Davids told me that they have been eating pizza and pasta at virtually every meal for the last couple of weeks. They are excited by the ideas they’re developing, but are starting to get just a little bit sick of eating the same thing every day. David S. and I laughed about the impending weight gain, but he didn’t sound worried at all, confessing that he’s “workout obsessed.”

David W. has been making different pastas at home, getting a feel for what things excite the palate. He’s also been up in wine country, exploring the fruit and experiencing the harvest. With his background in wine menu development, his mind is definitely on the wine.

And, in my most favorite twist of research, one that doesn’t exactly involve the charge card and discreetly undoing that top button for breathing room: David W.’s been out boar hunting! I picture some kind of Hunter S. Thompson backpacking trip, but he fills me in that boars have actually become a nuisance to farmers, and hunting and eating the pesky boars is actually welcomed. He’s excited by the prospect of getting his own boar, and then curing the meat for tasting and experimenting at home.

We’ll be back next month with more news and an update on the restaurant’s progress! And perhaps some boar recipes!

the starlet: November 18, 2008

2008-11-18T14:46:00.001-08:00

Tiffani Faison of Top Chef was spotted hanging out at Elixir.

More Top Chef-related news (’tis the season): Sandra Oh came into Absinthe on Saturday, and had the frisee with duck egg, the baby romaine with white anchovies, and the wild mushroom pappardelle—she told the server she loved it all. Which is exactly why executive chef Jamie Lauren is on this season of Top Chef—good food, yo!

the matchmaker: C.H.E.F.S Program internship sites

2008-11-18T14:39:00.000-08:00

Internship Sites Needed

A large class of trained culinary students from the C.H.E.F.S program is graduating on December 4th. We are desperate for restaurant kitchens (all kinds of kitchens, really) so the students are lined up with locations for their three-month internships.

Internships are for 12 weeks at 20 hours a week for a total of 240 hours. The CHEFS program will pay for insurance, etc., and provides the intern with a weekly stipend to cover uniforms, bus fare, etc. Please note they are required to come to class at CHEFS every Thursday for living skills, resume assistance, and job interviewing classes.

The really good students usually put in more hours then required because they realize the benefits. We have some really good students right now, and of course because of the size of the class, we don't have enough intern sites.

Please help train the chefs of the future. This program is an effective and direct way to give back to the community, with an 80% success rate.

Email Bill Taylor at btaylor [at] ecs-sf [dot] org or call 415-487-3747 with any questions or inquiries.

letter from the tablehopper: November 11, 2008

2008-11-11T14:34:00.000-08:00

What a week last week, eh? I was definitely on party patrol this past weekend. Friday was the Red Tie Gala at Neiman Marcus, truly offering some of the best people watching of the year (gotta love the Italian old ladies in their sunglasses, minks, and heels—mixed in with the Little Sisters of the Poor, yup, it’s a contrast), followed the next day with a trip out of town to Petaluma for one of my favorite parties of the year: the McEvoy Ranch harvest party. I couldn’t leave without buying a bottle of olio nuovo—have you ever poured some over soft-boiled eggs, and mixed ‘em up in a bowl with Maldon salt, cracked pepper, and toasted ciabatta? You should! It’s the unofficial Gagliardi family’s favorite breakfast.

And on Sunday, the tablehopper did not rest, because that night was the Zen Hospice One Night, One Heart fundraising event with Elizabeth Falkner and Ryan Scott, who prepared a special meal paired with Murray Street Vineyards wines in the back of Stable Café (such a great venue!); I was invited to give a little tablehopper talk about what’s new in SF to the guests.

This week’s docket includes a preview of the new seven-course beef dinner at Bong Su (more on that soon), checking out one of the events at SF Wine Week (you can read more here, and please note they are offering $35 single-event/day tickets now), and then heading up to Healdsburg this weekend for the sold-out Michel Schlumberger annual Wild Pig Party (plus finally going to Scopa for dinner, and hopefully Diavola for pizza the next day!). I’ll be sure to update my Healdsburg jetsetter pieces with details for you! And I will also be working out at least two hours a day to keep up with all this.

In the mood to play? Well, this week I am giving away two pairs of tickets to the St. George Spirits open house next weekend (read all about it in the socialite)! To enter to win, please forward this week’s tablehopper newsletter to one friend or drinking buddy (or more, you star!!), telling them why they would dig a subscription to the tablehopper e-column (if you call it a blog, you are disqualified, no joke!), and CC or BCC luckyme [at] tablehopper [dot] com so I know you sent it—I promise I won’t use anyone’s email address. Deadline to enter is midnight on Friday November 14th. I’ll notify the two winners soon thereafter and get you and your guest on the list! You even get complimentary tastes of the absinthe and Tequila!

Cheers,
~ Marcia

the chatterbox: November 11, 2008

2008-11-11T14:21:00.000-08:00

Okay, first things first: make room on your TiVo because this week is the first episode of ~TOP CHEF—SEASON FIVE~! Tune in this Wednesday night at 10pm on Bravo and watch our sole SF contestant, Jamie Lauren of Absinthe, who is in it to win it! Go Jamie!

Another thing to keep your ears on for: Molly Watson of Sunset magazine and co-host Emily Wilson are airing their pilot show of ~I'D EAT THAT~, a new half-hour food-oriented show on KALW (91.7 FM) in San Francisco. The first show is about the ethics of being a carnivore, with guests Bonnie Powell of Clark Summit Meat CSA and Ethicurean.com and chef Paul Canales of Oliveto. It airs on Sunday November 23rd at 2:30pm, and again on Wednesday November 26th at 7pm. KALW streams its shows online at kalw.org, so you don’t even have to live in SF to listen. Check it out!

A tablehopper reader wrote in to tell me that Sumi of ~MA TANTE SUMI~ is retiring and closing her petite restaurant after 24 years of business in the Castro. I spoke with the kind Sumi Hirose, and she confirmed that it’s true. She said, “I am over 65 and need to retire from the restaurant.” Her retirement is well earned, to say the least. Her last day at SUMI is December 6th, so be sure to swing by and say thanks and farewell between now and then. As for the new tenant, the folks from Sushi Ko in Berkeley will be remodeling the space, and then reopening in late December or early January as the 30-seat Sumi Sushi, the name paying homage to Sumi’s quarter century in the neighborhood. Sumi Sushi will be open for dinner to start, then weekend lunch, and eventually lunch during the week. 4243 18th St. at Diamond, 415-626-7864.

I got a chance to check out the new ~GITANE~ (opening tonight!) at a preview dinner last week, and let me tell you, there is nothing in the City like it! I went nuts for the colorful, sexy, retro décor by Charles Doell of Mr. Important—I felt like I was in Barcelona, or a hip Parisian boîte. (You can check out pics of the swank décor and more here.) Highlights include chef Lisa Eyherabide’s bacon bon bons (prunes stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in smoked bacon) and sardines en escabèche (sardines on puff pastry with tomato jam), plus the Belmont Breeze cocktail by Dominic Venegas with Four Roses bourbon, amontillado sherry, and orange and pomegranate juices—a bunch of the drinks have little touches of sherry. This place is built for a chic date night out (but not cheap and chic—the little dishes and drinks will add up), and with the open-until-midnight kitchen hours, it will be the perfect spot for a late-night pizza and a drink, or glass of wine off of Sean Diggins’ list. There will also be some outdoor seating in the alley, but the interior is where it’s at. Dinner will be served Tue–Sat from 5:30pm–midnight; the bar will stay open until 1am. 6 Claude Ln. between Bush and Sutter at Kearny, 415-788-6686.

Meanwhile, over in SoMa, ~MEDICI LOUNGE~ has moved out of their soft opening mode, and are now officially up and running, serving a rotating menu of Italian dishes and hand-crafted cocktails under the direction of Sierra Zimei (Seasons Bar), like the Under The Tuscan Sun (limoncello, Grand Marnier, basil, grapefruit juice, sea salt, prosecco). Happy hour is Tue–Sat 4pm–6pm, with discounts on beer, wine, cocktails, and there’s a special appetizer menu. Lunch and brunch will be coming in the next month. Open Tue–Sun at 4pm, closed on Mondays. 299 9th St. at Folsom, 415-863-MEDI (6334).

~CRAVE~ has opened in the Upper Polk, in the former Teavana space. The quick-casual spot is from John Lamkin and Lynn Ramsey of Street, serving breakfast, lunch, and an early dinner, all made with seasonal and quality ingredients. To recap from one of my earlier reports, the menu will include breakfast faves like egg sandwiches, house-made scones, and breakfast burritos, and lunch will bring some soups, salads, and tasty sandwiches (hello Reuben) that will highlight slow-roasted meats and fish. Dinner will be heartier, and some vegetarian fare will also be available—dishes will span from New American to Latin flair. Coffee is from Ritual Roasters. They’re still in soft opening mode, so things aren’t exactly at 100% yet. Hours are 7am–7pm. 2164 Polk St. at Vallejo, 415-440-3663.

Eater has been tracking the closure and potential new locations for ~CAFÉ PRAGUE~, most recently located at 584 Pacific Avenue. According to permits, Café Prague is planning to reopen in the Financial District at 424 Merchant Street AND is also listed on a permit in the old Country Station Sushi space at 2140 Mission St. Will see how this maps out, literally.

Quick update on the ~WASHBAG~: looks like they hit some building department snags, so now we’re looking at 2009 for the opening. Stand by… 1707 Powell St. at Columbus.

Meanwhile, when I was visiting my buddy John at Area on Jackson and Columbus, we noticed work is finally underway at ~PICKLES~, the old Clown Alley. Tom Duffy (of Myth) is behind the project—the 50-year-old restaurant is currently getting remodeled (the outdoor patio is getting tricked out with an outdoor fireplace and a retractable awning), and very optimistically opening in mid-December. The final menu isn’t worked out just yet, but gourmet burgers, Chicago-style hot dogs, and frozen custard are in the plans. I also remember when I originally spoke with Duffy about the project earlier in the year that late nights on the weekends were also in the works. Looks like Jackson Square is undergoing its own little renaissance: Zinnia, Taverna Aventine, and in 2009, Quince. 42 Columbus Ave. at Jackson.

Oh, and it’s time to clarify a few things about the ~MELISSA PERELLO MONDAY NIGHT DINNERS~ at Sebo. First, they are not every Monday: the specific Monday dates will be announced via the mailing list, and only after the dates are announced is when you can then ask for a reservation. You can find out about future Monday dates by signing up for the mailing list at monday_night [at] me [dot] com.

So, I’ve got (some) of your Monday nights covered. But what about Sunday night? Well, starting at ~LOCAL KITCHEN & WINE MERCHANT~ is Neighborhood Night, with all-you-can-eat pizza for $12.95 (kids 12 and under for only $6.95) on Sunday nights. There’s always all-you-can-eat at Goat Hill Pizza in Potrero on Mondays, in case you want even morrrrrre pizzzzzzzza, oinkety oink! 330 1st St. at Folsom, 415-777-4200.

More deals around town: ~SOUTH~ has launched a Recession Concession prix-fixe menu, running from now until December 1st. There is a $24 lunch menu, and dinner is $34, and either meal includes a glass of sparkling wine. You can read up on the menu specifics here. 330 Townsend St., Ste. 101 at 4th St., 415-974-5599.

Vegetarians, meanwhile, can head to ~MILLENNIUM~ for the Frugal Foodie menu, a three-course prix fixe menu available Sunday–Wednesday for $38 per person (excludes tax and gratuity), with your choice of dishes off the regular menu, plus there’s a $12 optional wine pairing. 580 Geary St. at Jones, 415-345-3900.

And now, it’s time for your exotic ingredients update!

First up, I got word that ~AME~ restaurant in The St. Regis San Francisco is featuring Kona Coast abalone (Japanese Ezo), a rare delicacy shipped live—Ame is the only restaurant in the U.S. to get this fresh abalone straight from the big island of Kona. Executive chef Greg Dunmore is currently offering sautéed Ezo abalone in yuzu kosho butter sauce with shimeji mushrooms and shishito peppers for $17. 689 Mission St. at 3rd St., 415-284-4040.

Then at ~FIFTH FLOOR~, chef Jennie Lorenzo has put together a special November game menu that includes cheuvreuil (loin of venison, fennel, and venison "croustillant," roasted salsify, juniper berry-citrus jus), pintade (truffle-braised hen in "fata" paper, Brussels sprouts and cranberries confit, truffle bouillon), and sanglier (wild boar "pot pie" with a mélange of mushrooms, celeriac remoulade). Dishes range from $28–$40. Hotel Palomar, 12 4th St. at Market, 415-348-1555.

~BAR BAMBINO~ is hosting a wild fowl dinner this Sunday November 16th. For $95 per person, you can feast on their house-made duck breast prosciutto, a rich game bird sugo over fresh pasta, and wild fowl involtini. The wines will be rich and earthy to match. Email reservations [at] barbambino [dot] com or call 415-701-8466 to reserve your spot. 2931 16th St. at South Van Ness.

Over at ~INCANTO~, starting this Thursday November 13th through December 20th, every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night you can order the Battle Offal dinner, the menu chef Cosentino recently featured on Iron Chef: America. Are you ready for some lamb heart tartare, and turf & surf (tripe and clam)? You can read the entire menu here. Just be sure to note a minimum of one week's advance reservation is required. 1550 Church St. at Duncan, 415-641-4500.

I thought this sounded cool: ~MASA’S RESTAURANT~ is running a “Young Chefs” event, featuring a nine-course menu crafted by executive chef Gregory Short’s up-and-coming kitchen team. The Young Chefs menu will be available from Tuesday November 18th through Saturday November 22nd. The cost for the nine-course menu will be $150, and will feature wine pairings by Master Sommelier Alan Murray for $99. Contact the restaurant to learn all about the beast of a menu—it reads like quite the tour de force. 648 Bush St. at Stockton, 415-989-7154.

fresh meat: The Sentinel

2008-11-11T14:19:00.000-08:00

I’m a big fan of working from home—not only is every day casual Friday, but there’s no line to get my morning macchiato—and if the barista happens to be copping attitude, maybe it’s because she was out late and is feeling a little cranky. And when it’s lunchtime, I get to make my sandwiches just how I like ‘em (yes, I have a panino press and I know how to use it). And I get to eat lunch in my slippers. (Only my UPS guy and I know what color they are.)

So when I find myself occasionally downtown at high noon, it’s a big whirlwind of lunch-getting activity I forgot about. Heck, it’s been eight years since my ad agency job on Spear Street. In those days I occasionally made runs to the spendy salad bar at Lightening Foods, but I preferred to make my sandwiches instead, like spicy coppa with melted provolone and artichoke hearts on rosette rolls from Il Fornaio. My boss even offered to pay me each week to make sandwiches for him, but I was trying to be known as a copywriter around the office, and not the sandwich maker.

Prior to that, I remember working on Maiden Lane, and being a broke-ass 20-something, I’d suffer the multitude of sandwich abuses at Lee’s (both ordering and consuming abuses)—but I will say my custom combo of egg salad and olive salad was pretty rockin’. Just the same, those were the dark sandwich years.

And now, the light. I have tried to make my way to Dennis Leary of Canteen’s ~THE SENTINEL~ at least four times. It has been shining its beacon for months, but either the line was way too long, or my lunch date had to cancel, and finally, finally, I was downtown last week and got to try the famed sandwiches with a pal.

Since this place is take-out only, and I don’t have an office desk around the corner where I can sit and eat, I had to hunt down a sunny little spot to scarf my sandwich. On a rainy day, maybe someone will rent me his or her desk for ten minutes?

The menu is posted online daily for those of you who want to start salivating early, or call your order in. It definitely reads like food porn: smoked trout with fennel, apple, horseradish cream cheese, or how about turkey meatloaf with cranberries and chipotle? You know you want the chocolate chip walnut cookie.

The line was about ten people deep, but moved impressively quickly. Some folks try to get there early to beat the line, and get their pick of the litter before anything runs out. Inside, the staff is hustling. Dennis Leary, the powerhouse for this outfit, is behind the counter daily, moving intently like the prizefighter of sandwiches. I just hope he doesn’t give himself a coronary before he’s 40—the guy is like a downed power line, rippling around with an intensity that makes you keep your distance. I’ve never seen him stand still.

I do say bless him: not only is he supplying the city with some of the tastiest breakfast treats and sandwiches, but he’s also taking a stand on sandwich preparation, stating on his menu that “all of our sandwiches have mayonnaise, please specify if you don’t want it,” and “no more tomatoes until next summer, sorry!” So fuhgettaboutit! Love it.

While you’re waiting outside, the smell of baking bread starts tempting you. No, it’s not from a ubiquitous Subway, with its tacky bread smell. This is more like mmmmm mmmmmm good bread smell. Real bread.

The flatbread on my corned beef sandwich ($8.25) was most definitely mmmmm mmmmm good—perfect texture and flavor, just-right oiliness, and it held up like a champ. Now, the corned beef is not like a mountainous deli sandwich from Millers East Coast West that you can hardly get your mouth around, or finish eating. This is more like a classy California sandwich, with just enough meat. Juicy meat, too. The kick of Gruyere, crisp shreds of cabbage, and bright Russian dressing made this sandwich an ace. You can taste everything, and you can taste it all come together. Oh yeah, and the pickle on the side had a good homemade tang, but wasn’t too sour.

At first, I thought the sliced pork loin ($8) with fig jam, frisee, and manchego was too sweet—I wanted something to counter it, like some mustard vinaigrette on the frisee. But that’s just because I was still immersed in my corned beef sandwich—there was no competition. Once that half was done, it was time for meat dessert, which the half of pork loin sandwich fulfilled.

Unfortunately, the yellow lentil curry soup was a disappointment—I couldn’t detect any curry, and it was thin and watery. It was like having expensive gruel ($5.50). Not a good soup day. Although the little wedge of bread was a nice touch. Wasn’t super thrilled with the pomegranate-lemonade ($3) either, it was just kind of meh—it’s like the flavor was still asleep and hadn’t woken up yet.

I did appreciate the little touch of the complimentary Andes mint in the bag (totally brought me back to my childhood—we used to have a bowl of these at the counter of our deli), and the eco-friendly packaging and silverware is right on. A friend who works in the area is all cracked out on the homemade muffins that come with fresh fruit in them—she also likes the coffee a lot.

And then there’s the look! It’s vintage cigar shop (its previous incarnation) meets sandwich shop, with an on-point 1940s East Coast vibe, an old school cash register, cigar boxes for napkins and tips, gleaming subway tile, and the biggest pepper mill I’ve ever seen. Not sure about that—maybe it’s a totem pole for a sandwich shop that kicks butt?

The Sentinel
37 New Montgomery
Cross: Jessie St.
San Francisco, CA 94105

415-284-9960
website

Mon–Fri 7:30am–2:30pm

Sandwiches $8–$8.50
Desserts $2.50

the lush: November 11, 2008

2008-11-11T14:15:00.000-08:00

~ELIXIR~ in the Mission is getting rowdy. Now every Wednesday is the Flowing Bowl Happy Hour, with a batch of punch getting ladled until it’s gone. This Saturday November 15th, the bar is hosting a 5/150 party, celebrating five years of H’s current proprietorship, and 150 years of serving San Francisco from the corner of 16th and Guerrero. There is going to be some BBQ from neighborhood chefs Scott Youkilis of Maverick and Justin Deering of Conduit, a visit by Emperor Norton and the Yerba Buena No.1 Clampers (1pm), a Blue Blazer cocktail demonstration at 2pm (watch your hair!), and contests, a charity raffle, and games (all day). You can also ask about the Elixir Economic Stimulus Plan, with crazy deals on some premium liquors. Cheers. 3200 16th St. at Guerrero, 415-552-1633.

More booze news: ~CASK~, the liquor store from the Bourbon & Branch chaps, has opened. Well, it’s kind of their soft opening this week, but they’ll take your money if you want to buy something, so go for it. You’ll be able to buy all kinds of spirits, many obscure, hard to find, and artisanal, plus some Cali small-production and boutique wines (90% of the wines are from Napa or Sonoma), and there will also be a few bubblies, including some high-end bottles from Krug, Dom, Veuve, and Moet. There is a selection of barware (great holiday presents for the boozehound in your life), books, bitters, glassware, and here’s what I’m really excited about: there’s an engraving service, so you can really dedicate that bottle of bourbon or bubbles or both to the one you love. Downtown delivery begins this Thursday on a 1920s tricycle, and when the website goes live Friday morning, you can have items shipped (where it’s legal to, of course). Open 11am–7pm daily. 17 3rd St. at Market, 415-424-4844.

Macy’s Cellar Union Square is hosting some ~FOOD AND WINE HOLIDAY DEMOS~: this Wednesday November 12th is Perfect Pairings Part 2−An Elegant Holiday Dinner Party, with executive chef Bruno Tison of The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa and winemaker Margo Van Staaveren of Chateau St. Jean. Next Wednesday November 19th is Perfect Pairings Part 3–A Decadent Hors D’Oeuvres Fête is with J Vineyards & Winery’s executive chef Mark Caldwell and winemaker George Bursick. Admission to either event is $10 and entitles you to a taste of the pairings. Proceeds benefit the San Francisco Food Bank. 6:30pm. Tickets available online at ticketmaster.com, at all Ticketmaster outlets, including Ritmo Latino and select Macy’s, Frye and Save Mart stores. To charge tickets by phone, call 415-421-TIXS.

Now, this is what I call a clever event: this Thursday November 13th, Fifth Floor is hosting a wine, beer, and spirits pairing battle called ~THREE ON FIVE~. Executive chef Jennie Lorenzo will prepare a five-course dinner, and the competitors will pair their bevvies with each course—you, dear diners, will decide who did it best. The competitors are Master Sommelier Emily Wines (doing the wine pairings, duh, just read her name); Jacques Bezuidenhout will pair the cocktails; and Dave McLean of Magnolia Brewpub and The Alembic will “head” the beer pairings, har. Tickets are $125. Reserve your space by calling 415-348-1555. The contest will take place in the Chef's Room, so seats are limited. Hotel Palomar, 12 4th St. at Market.

This Thursday November 13th, Foreign Cinema is hosting a wine tasting called ~NG: THE NEXT GENERATION IN WINE~, comprised of young family members from Napa Valley. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Edible Schoolyard, a non-profit program founded by Alice Waters. You’ll be able to taste wines from Ahnfeldt Wines, Broman Cellars, Fisher Vineyards, Frias Family Vineyard, Hill Family Estate, Judd’s Hill, Long Meadow Ranch Winery, Madonna Estate, Marston Family Vineyard, Spelletich Cellars, Viader, and Yates Family Vineyard. There will also be bites, music from the Bay Area’s Jazz Mafia Trio, and a silent auction. 6:30pm. $100. For tickets and additional info, visit www.ngwine.com. 2534 Mission St. at 21st St., 415-648-7600.

East Bay winos: this Sunday November 16th, ~EIGHT ARMS CELLARS~ is having an event to celebrate the release of their first vintage. They are asking guests to help reduce global warming by participating in their Go Green Drink Red campaign. This free event is open to the public, and will be held at Riva Cucina in Berkeley, with chef Massi Boldrini offering an assortment of foods that will pair well with Eight Arms Syrah. 1pm–4pm. 800 Heinz Ave. at 7th, Berkeley.

Saturday November 22nd is the tenth annual ~PINOTFEST 2008~ at Farallon. This extensive tasting of pinot noirs from over 50 of Oregon and California’s best producers will be held from 3pm–6pm. There will also be hors d’oeuvres and an opportunity to meet the winemakers. Participating wineries include: Adelsheim, Argyle, Au Bon Climat, Byron, Bonaccorsi, Brewer-Clifton, Calera, Cambria, Chehalem, Costa de Oro, Domaine Drouhin, Domaine Serene, El Molino, Etude, Fiddlehead, Flowers, Fort Ross, Foxen, Freestone, Gloria Ferrer, Greenwood Ridge, Handley, Hartford Family, Hendry, Hitching Post, Iron Horse, J Vineyards, Keller Estate, Kosta Browne, Littorai, Londer, Lynmar, Marimar Torres, Melville, Merry Edwards, Michaud, Morgan, Patz & Hall, Paul Hobbs, Peay, Pey-Marin, Ponzi, Radio Coteau, Rex Hill, Robert Sinskey, Saintsbury, Sea Smoke, Siduri, Skewis, Soter, Talisman, Talley, Testarossa, Thomas Fogarty, Whitcraft, and Williams Selyem. $100 per person. Call 415-956-6969 for tickets or click here to access the ticket form. 450 Post St., 4th Floor, at Powell.

the socialite: St. George Holiday Open House

2008-11-11T14:12:00.000-08:00

I think I am finally going to be able to make it to this event this year! St. George Spirits is hosting their annual ~HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE~, and the stills will be running most of the day, allowing you a rare opportunity to see the process up close with a live distillation. Entrance will include three lil’ cocktails, tastes of their spirits, and the iced vodka luges. Music and food will be supplied throughout the day to keep everyone upright.

Some specialty food companies will be there to sample and sell their wares, including Recchiuti Confections with truffles and chocolates; June Taylor Jams, with jams, preserves, and syrups; Boccalone with salumi, cured meats, and all things pork; and La Cocina, with a variety of sweet treats made with organic ingredients.

Spirits and holiday gift packs will be available for sampling and sale, including the St. George Absinthe Verte. Tasting tickets to try both the Absinthe Verte and De Profundis (20-year aged Pear Brandy) are $10. You will also be able to taste the upcoming release of Agua Azul (Spirit of Agave), a spirit made in the distillery from 100% blue agave. A tasting flight of the Cristal, Reposado, and the Añejo is $10.

St. George Spirits founder and master distiller Jörg Rupf will be hosting a discussion and tasting on eau-de-vie at the staff bar on the 2nd level of the distillery. Try some old favorites from the Aqua Perfecta line with a new understanding, along with some unusual and unavailable eaux-de-vie. There will be two sessions at 1:30pm and 3:30pm: you may only sign up for one session when purchasing open house tickets. Limited to the first 15 people for each session.

There will be free shuttle service between the West Oakland BART station and the Alameda Main street ferry building to and from the distillery. This is a 21 and over event. Please bring your picture ID!

Will-call tickets will be available in the distillery store and by phone for $30. Call 510-864-0635 to reserve your spot. They sold out last time, so don’t wait! Entry, if not sold out, will be $40 at the door.

St. George Holiday Open House
Sat. Nov. 22nd, 2008

St. George Spirits/Hangar One Distillery
2601 Monarch St.
at Alameda Point
(the old Naval Air Station)
Alameda, CA

510-769-1601
website

1pm–6pm

$30 in advance
$40 at the door

call 510-864-0635 to reserve your spot

the socialite: Thanksgiving

2008-11-11T14:06:00.000-08:00

~THANKSGIVING~ is coming up quick, and there are a variety of things to mention, whether you are cookin’ at home or eating out that night.

For those of you cooking your Thanksgiving meal this year, chef de cuisine Ron Boyd of AQUA will demonstrate ~THANKSGIVING COOKING—SLOW FOOD STYLE~. Learn how to prepare some delicious dishes using local seasonal ingredients, plus some tricks on how to make the feast come together smoothly and make it an impressive event for your guests. Free. Saturday November 22nd, 2pm, The Cellar at Macy’s Union Square.

Always wanted to try a ~TURDUCKEN~, but too overwhelmed to try to make it? Ryan Farr of Ivy Elegance (most recently the chef de cuisine at Orson) is making and selling turduckens for Thanksgiving that will be stuffed with a cornbread and chicken sausage stuffing. The turkey, duck, chicken and all other products will be fresh, free range, and organic. There will be two different sizes available, a 15+ pounder for $200 that will happily feed 14, and a 20+ pounder for $250 that will feed 18. Cash and check only. There is a limited amount available, so once they are sold out, you will have to wait until next year. Every turducken will include a thermometer and an aluminum roasting pan with instructions on how to cook it fully. Pick up for the turduckens will start on Tuesday the 25th; a more specific place and time will be arranged on an individual basis. Email Ryan at ivyelegance [at] me [dot] com with any questions or concerns. (I’d like to ask what sound does a turducken make? Cheep gobble quack?)

For those heavy in the wallet but who don’t want to cook or go out, ~FORK AND SPOON PRODUCTIONS~ will create and cater a homemade Thanksgiving feast for you, but it comes out to something like $71.43 per person. If you want to know more, contact Fork & Spoon for details. 2161 Third St., 415-552-7130.

Want to do something helpful besides baste the turkey? Chef Ryan Scott is hosting his ~SECOND ANNUAL THANKSGIVING BAG LUNCH CHARITY GIVEAWAY~. This year, Scott is doing it at Mission Beach Café, delivering 1,500 bag lunches to San Francisco shelters with a team of volunteers. Those interested in helping should email thanksgivinglunch [at] gmail [dot] com or call 209-613-3420. Help is needed from 11pm on Wednesday November 26th until 11am Thursday November 27th.

Don’t want to wait until Thanksgiving, or perhaps you want a double play of turkey? ~MELISSA CLAIRE’S KITCHEN~ at the Velo Rouge Café is hosting a turkey-themed dinner Thursday November 20th. The four-course prix-fixe menu will be a “Whole Turkey Dinner,” featuring dishes like local mixed chicories salad with turkey cracklings, pomegranate seeds and a Katz Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc vinaigrette, and turkey soup with turkey-stuffed wontons. The $45 four-course menu includes an appetizer, mid-course, entrée, and dessert. The menu is served at two seatings: 6:15pm and 8pm. Ideal for singles, couples, or groups, each seating accommodates up to 24 guests at three communal tables. To make reservations, call Melissa at 415-786-3777 or email reservations [at] melissaclaire [dot] com. 798 Arguello Blvd. at McAllister.

~EPIC ROASTHOUSE~ is serving a southern Thanksgiving this year! Co-owner and executive chef Jan Birnbaum will prepare a four-course, prix-fixe menu featuring chive buttermilk biscuits with house-made ham and Hook’s Wisconsin farmhouse cheddar; lobster cakes with radish-cucumber salad and lobster hollandaise; potato, leek and Champagne soup with caviar; wood oven-roasted Branigan turkey with cornbread dressing, parsnip, and potato puree, and black pepper cranberry sauce; and chanterelle mushroom risotto with butternut squash and black truffle vinaigrette. DUDE. Can we have access to that menu all week, plllllllllease? Desserts include milk chocolate pumpkin crème brûlée; pecan cranberry tartlet with Bulleit bourbon ice cream and caramel sauce; and apple tart with a hint of saffron and a Tahitian vanilla ice cream. $85 per person (12 and under: $40). Early seatings: 1:30pm, 2pm, 2:30pm. Late seatings: 4pm, 4:30pm, 5pm. 369 The Embarcadero at Folsom, 415-369-9955.

At ~AMERICANO~, chef Paul Arenstam will serve a traditional, family-style Thanksgiving feast featuring holiday dishes such as Sausalito Springs watercress salad with Fuyu persimmon, ricotta salata cheese, and pomegranate vinaigrette; a family-style Thanksgiving platter, including all-natural heritage turkey from Frank Reese Jr. Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch (Lindsborg, Kansas); Brussels sprouts with lemon confit and chestnuts; Hog Island Oyster and fennel sausage; spicy braised Swiss chard with garlic and pine nuts, and more. Americano guests will finish with a seasonally inspired dessert sampler of pumpkin pie, chocolate pecan pie, and ginger cake. There are three separate seatings on Thanksgiving at 2/2:30pm, 4/4:30pm, and 6/6:30pm. The cost is $75 per person and $25 per child (under 12). 8 Mission St., 415-278-3777.

The new ~AUREA~ at the Stanford Court will be serving a special multi-course Thanksgiving menu from 3pm–9pm. The menu includes an amuse of pumpkin soup with crème fraîche, your choice of an appetizer (Dungeness crab and avocado tower or butternut gnocchi with porcini and sage), salad, a risotto course, and either turkey with all the fixins, salmon, or beef, plus dessert. Adults $75, children 6–12 $35, children five and under eat free. 905 California St. at Powell, 415-989-3500.

~BALBOA CAFE SAN FRANCISCO~ is hosting an all-American Thanksgiving dinner and dessert menu from 11:30am–11pm. The a la carte menu includes butternut squash soup, turkey with cornbread stuffing, blue lake beans, mashed potatoes, fresh cranberry sauce, and giblet gravy, or halibut or steak for you turkey haters. 3199 Fillmore St. at Greenwich, 415-921-3944.

~MILLENNIUM~ is hosting a vegetarian Thanksgiving Supper. Yup, tofu turkey! It’s five-course prix-fixe dinner, $60/person, $30/child under 12 years old, 2:30pm–7:30pm. 580 Geary St. at Jones, 415-345-3900.

~XYZ~ is hosting a special a la carte Thanksgiving menu with a unique twist on the holiday fixings, including sugar pie pumpkin soup and sage and olive oil roasted turkey. W Hotel, 181 3rd St. at Howard, 415-777-5300.

Here’s an interesting one in the East Bay: ~MONSOON MASALA~ in Pleasant Hill is offering a Thanksgiving dinner menu for the entire week of Monday November 24 through Saturday November 29th (closed Thanksgiving Day). Chef Kumar will blend flavors and aromas of his native India in a traditional dinner of soup, roasted turkey, pumpkin side dishes, and dessert, for $19.95. Reservations recommended and families welcome. 2375 Contra Costa Blvd. at Boyd, Pleasant Hill, 925-685-9100.

For those who want to bail on the supper entirely, ~VITRINE~ at The St. Regis San Francisco will be offering an extended brunch menu with some Thanksgiving faves from 11am–2pm. Take your pick from some classic egg brunch dishes, pancakes, French toast, a burger, some sandwiches, and yes, turkey with stuffing, cauliflower, and potato au gratin. 125 3rd St. at Howard, 415-284-4000.

Oh, and just because I’m crazy: did you ever see Quentin Tarantino’s Grindhouse? He did these brilliant “trailers” in between the two horror flicks, and the one he did for Thanksgiving just kills me, har. The trailer is totally R (gory violence, adult content), but for the fellow sick minds out there, this sh*t is so funny. Best voiceover ever: “White meat, dark meat, all will be carved.” Enjoy! (Aw hell, while you’re at it, watch the one for Machete, equally brilliant.)

the starlet: November 11, 2008

2008-11-11T14:05:00.000-08:00

Now, this is what I call a star sighting. And it even happened twice! On Friday, Sinbad braved the long lines at Mama’s on Washington Square, and had a low-fat egg white scramble, and he also ordered the Swedish cinnamon French toast topped with raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries. He must have had breakfast at Mama’s on the brain, because he was spotted there again on Monday, this time ordering the (high-fat) shrimp Benedict and French Toast again. Seems he loooooved the homemade jam, because he even got some to go.

According to Mission Mission, Chuck D was spotted at Muddy’s. In fact, the writer said, “he asked me to watch his laptop (a Mac) while he got a cup of coffee.” No word if he drank his coffee with Flavor Flav or Splenda.

Al Gore dined at Spruce Sunday night with his wife and daughter (and possibly her hubby).

letter from the tablehopper: November 4, 2008

2008-11-04T14:16:00.000-08:00

Hey there, thanks everyone for the nice birthday wishes—as hoped, I had quite the swell weekend. Actually, my entire week was pretty mind-blowing, starting with the Milk premiere party on Tuesday, tablehoppin’ with a friend to a cocktail event and then dinner at Bar Tartine on Wednesday, and let’s not gloss over Thursday, a really memorable night with a couple friends, touring kitschy bars and locations in San Francisco for a vintage photo shoot concept we came up with—we uncovered some total gems, I’ll share some pics later...

One thing I gotta report back on: our first stop Thursday night was at the Elk’s Lodge No. 3, an impressive building dating back to 1924 that you can usually only access by being a guest of an Elk. This event I am mentioning is absolutely not food related, but here goes: this Wednesday November 5th, the Lodge is hosting SF Elks Fight Night, an amateur and charity boxing night, and anyone can attend! So depending on how this election goes, maybe you can release some pent-up stress or aggression in a second-hand fashion by watching seven bouts. At a minimum, you can check out the amazing space. ($50, doors at 6pm, 450 Post St., 3rd floor, call 415-421-5231 for more.)

OK, back to my wild and wooly week: Halloween was fun, of course, and for my rainy day birthday on Saturday, I went to the Moss Room for lunch with a friend, caught the opening of the YSL exhibit at the de Young, hosted a Chinese banquet dinner for 12 dear friends at Five Happiness that night (more on our amazing meal soon!), and then out dancing all night, woot! (Gotta love that extra bonus hour on the dancefloor.) Am I tired? Uh, yeah. Quite. I am draggin’. And this election is wracking my nerves—check out where you can watch results around town with your fellow stressed pals in the socialite. Funny, most of the events involve booze. Huh. I wonder why.

So, let’s get hoppin’.
~ Marcia

the chatterbox: November 4, 2008

2008-11-04T14:04:00.000-08:00

Freelancers, mid-week flakes, and folks with weird work hours will be pleased to know ~MISSION BEACH CAFE~ is now offering its weekend brunch menu on weekdays. The menu includes pastry chef Alan Carter’s quiche, and executive chef Ryan Scott’s soufflé pancakes with orange cranberry compote; the MBC egg sandwich with a house-made English muffin, fried egg, oven-roasted tomato, caramelized onion, white cheddar, and potatoes; or the Prather Ranch beef brisket hash and eggs. Breakfast is now available Mon–Fri from 8am–2pm, and of course weekend brunch continues as is. Mission Beach Café is also launching a new community outreach program, hosting quarterly dinners benefiting a Mission district nonprofit organization. This month’s dinner, on Wednesday November 19th, honors Creativity Explored, a nonprofit visual arts center that gives artists with developmental disabilities a place to create, exhibit, and sell art. Original works of art will be on display at the restaurant at the event on the 19th, and 25% of food sales will go to the charity (the dinner is $75 per person, exclusive of alcohol, tax, and gratuity). For those that can’t make it that evening, the Café is donating 15% of food sales every Wednesday from 5:30pm–7pm to Creativity Explored. 198 Guerrero St. at 14th St., 415-861-0198.

Another restaurant that is expanding its hours: ~BARAKA~ in Potrero Hill has started serving lunch Tue–Sat from 11:30am–2pm, offering a casual and approachable lunch menu. Executive chef Chad Newton will be cooking lunch, so take advantage of the easy parking over there, and enjoy! The menu includes: a daily soup, a variety of salads, either grilled cheese or ahi tuna salad sandwiches (they come with your choice of soup, mixed baby lettuces or Spanish fries, all for only $9–$10), or there are flatbreads, too, like four cheese or chicken, with the same deal regarding the side of soup, salad, or fries ($8–$9). A few mains include roast chicken, skate wing, or bavette steak. 288 Connecticut St. at 18th St., 415-255-0370.

I was so bummed I couldn’t make it to the ~AMUSE COCHON/COCHON 555~ event this weekend (birthday dinner with my cute family trumps everything), but here are some highlights from the Bunrabs for those who wondered how it went down.

More pig patrol: the Thursday night ~MISSION STREET FOOD~ truck is finito, and the renegade solution was to move indoors into Lung Shan, a Chinese restaurant that has agreed to share their kitchen. The PB&J (Kurobuta Berkshire pork belly and jicama flatbread, $5.50) will remain, but look for some rock-the-wok action, including this week’s dish of Burmese coconut-curry soup (a recipe from chef Anthony Myint’s grandmother, $6) and either vegetable or MSF rice (Meated-Smoked-Fried rice, $6–$7). Hours will be Thursdays, 6pm–midnight, and they will now offer beer and wine. Cooks: they are still looking for guest cooks, whatcha waiting for, apply here. 2234 Mission St. at 18th St.

Things continue to percolate over at ~ORSON~, including the launch of Monday Night Pizza starting at 5pm (usual dinner hours start at 6pm), with about six kinds to choose from, like braised broccoli rabe, chili, egg, and guanciale. Man, last night they had a Philly cheesesteak pizza with flank steak, provolone, peppers, onions, steak sauce, and love. Uh huh, I want some of that! The monthly cocktail pairing dinner (Gin & Game) is coming up on Thursday November 13th (check out the menu here, which includes cassoulet with pheasant, boar, and pork belly, plus cippolini, turnips, and Wild Turkey sauce). 508 4th St. at Bryant St., 415-777-1508.

Chef Arnold Eric Wong, known for his past chef-owner history with Eos Restaurant & Wine Bar and Bacar, is the new executive chef of ~E&O TRADING COMPANY RESTAURANTS~. His new modern Asian menu will be implemented in March.

Chef ~RUSSELL RUMMER~ has left Roots, and has joined the team at Sellers Markets.

~THE CARNELIAN ROOM~ has a new executive chef, sous chef, and pastry chef. The new executive chef is Rick Huking, who is going to integrate a more seasonal and organic menu (his history includes Le Mouton Noir in Saratoga), the executive sous chef is Charles Hechinger, and Cassandra Struss is the pastry chef. The Carnelian Room is also launching a special prix-fixe Sunday menu, Sunday Supper Club 52, for $39 plus tax and tip, running from 6pm–9:30pm, in case you’ve always wanted to check out that view without paying too much for it. There will also be live smooooooth jazz with the Black Pearl Project. 555 California St., 52nd Floor, at Montgomery, 415-433-7500.

Sorry hot dog lovers, I lagged announcing this one: ~WHAT'S UP DOG!~ has opened a SoMa location, in the former Tamal space. What's Up Dog! “The Diner” is serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and has 40 seats. And beer! Open daily 7am–9pm. 1599 Howard at 12th St., 415-861-5366.

~CHILL~ dessert café opened up in the Financial District, so now you can get soft-serve vanilla custard or black sesame frozen yogurt, drizzle it with exotic syrup flavors like açai or dulce de leche, and toppings like crystallized ginger. Also on the menu are shaved ice concoctions, blended drinks, cupcakes, Vietnamese-style coffee, rooibos red tea drinks, floats, and “frozen hot chocolate.” This week, from Wednesday November 5th–Friday November 7th, there will be “1-2-3 CHILL OUT” grand opening specials, with $1 organic Americano coffee, $2 frozen yogurt and soft serve custard with gourmet toppings, and $3 crispy filled sugar or coconut crepe cones. Hours are Mon–Fri 11am–7pm, and Sat noon–5pm. 125 Kearny St. at Post, 415-433-1233.

More café news: things are picking up for Café du Nord’s café project, which they are simply calling ~THE CAFÉ~, which is slated to open on November 17th. The 49-seat café will offer Ritual coffee, plus sandwiches, salads, and pizzas, and free WiFi. There will also be rotating musically themed art shows (the first show will feature paintings by famous musicians). Hours will be 7am–8pm. 2168 Market St. at Church, 415-861-5016.

It is most definitely chili/chilly weather, and so almost on cue, ~BALBOA CAFE SAN FRANCISCO~ is hosting its fifth annual Chili Challenge. Jack Falstaff executive chef Jonnatan Leiva, PlumpJack Cafe executive chef Rick Edge, Balboa Cafe executive chef Jose Lemus, and the San Francisco firemen from Marina station #16 will serve their secret chili recipes during lunch at Balboa Cafe San Francisco this week of November 3rd. Throughout the week, lunch-goers who order the chili from 11:30am–5pm will be presented with small portions of the four competing chilis, and will be given ballots to manually vote on their favorite contender. The votes will be tallied on the final day of the competition, November 7th, and the winning recipe will be offered on the menu from November 10th–November 14th. All guests who voted can enjoy a complimentary bowl of the winning recipe during the week of November 10th, from 11:30am–5pm. Guests who wish to donate a toy to the San Francisco Firefighter Toy Program can bring in an unwrapped new toy or unused book to Balboa Cafe San Francisco. 3199 Fillmore St. at Greenwich, 415-921-3944.

Let’s hope the weather plays nice, because Sunday November 9th is the second ~IN SEARCH OF GOOD FOOD~ bike ride. The ride, led by ISoGF director and food justice activist Antonio Roman-Alcalá and co-sponsored by CAFF, will cover mostly flat ground around the Mission and southeast portions of the city. There will be guest speakers along the route, including: Mission Pie, local purveyors of sustainable pie and farm education for youth from Mission High School; The Free Farm Stand, a project that gives away food grown in San Francisco; Veritable Vegetable, one of the West Coast's oldest organic food distributors; the site of the People's Food System warehouse, where parts of the sustainable food system were born in the 70s; and SF General Hospital, where you'll hear from Aliza Wasserman from Community Alliance with Family Farmers about the challenges and emerging opportunities for bringing local and sustainable food to an institutional scale. The ride will be approximately four hours long, with snacks and bathroom breaks planned in. This event is a benefit for the In Search of Good Food movie project, so please reserve your space (limited to 40) by buying a ticket here. 11am–3pm.

Due to last weekend’s soggy weather, Piccino postponed the ~HOG ISLAND OYSTER DAY~ extravaganza until this coming Sunday November 9th. To recap: “The Hog Island crew will be set-up on our sidewalk, busily shucking their gorgeous oysters for consumption either raw or grilled. For the barbecued orders, they’ll be serving a trio of sauces: classic red, butter, beer and garlic, and one made from Point Reyes Farmstead blue cheese. We’ll be pouring crisp whites, rosés, and microbrews, while firing up our thin-crust pizzas and tossing a few seasonal salads. No reservations are required for this all afternoon event.” 801 22nd St. at Tennessee, 415-824-4224.

It’s totally movie weather, so here is a little something something for you: on Tuesday November 11th is a ~SLOW FOOD MOVIE SCREENING~ at 6:30pm of Strawberry Fields and Queen Of The Sun trailer, and 8:30pm is McLibel and In Good Heart (a short film). Here’s more from the press release: "Strawberry Fields is a documentary by an Israeli filmmaker about a day in the life of Palestinian farmers in Gaza. It's a moving documentary portrait about the courage of ordinary people caught in a war zone. Ayelet Heller, a sensitive Israeli filmmaker, was curious about life in Gaza and set out to tell the story of Palestinian farmers. McLibel is the story of two ordinary people who humiliated McDonald's in the biggest corporate PR disaster in history. Filmed over ten years by Director Franny Armstrong, McLibel is the David and Goliath story of two people who refused to say sorry. And in doing so, changed the world.” Tickets: $10 each screening—you can buy tickets here. Roxie Theatre, 3117 16th St. at Valencia.

Did you miss Sugar Rush last week? Next Saturday November 15th, you can celebrate the publication of Anita Chu’s first cookbook, the mouthwatering (and charmingly petite) ~A FIELD GUIDE TO COOKIES~ at a special event at Chu’s alma mater, Tante Marie's Cooking School. (Some of you might know Chu from her blog, Dessert First.) Tante Marie’s current professional pastry class will be making some cookies from her book, and there will be limited copies of the book available for purchase. If you want to attend, there is space for up to 30 tablehopper readers: just email Anita at pastrygirl.dessertfirst [at] gmail [dot] com and she will add you to the guest list. Parking is quite limited around the school, especially on the weekends. Please see the Tante Marie website for directions on how to get to the school and suggested parking garages around the area. The event begins at 2pm. 271 Francisco St. at Stockton.

~DELFINA~ is turning 10, and from Monday November 17th through Wednesday November 19th, they will be celebrating with a “killer, truffle-centric menu, entertainment, and special surprises each night! We will also feature a special selection of 1998 (our opening year) vintage wines.” Buon compleanno! 3621 18th St. at Guerrero, 415-552-4055.

This looks like a fun one: on Tuesday November 18th there will be a ~BEER & BISON GROWER’S DINNER~ at Jack Falstaff, with executive chef Jonnatan Leiva cooking with guest chefs Laurence Jossel (Nopa) and Ravi Kapur (Boulevard). Here’s the menu: bison carpaccio and fried oysters (chef de cuisine Ravi Kapur, Boulevard); butternut squash ravioli and beer-braised bison (executive chef Laurence Jossel, Nopa); and slow-roasted bison short ribs, smoked fingerlings and kale (executive chef Jonnatan Leiva, Jack Falstaff). Moonlight Brewing Company, based in Santa Rosa, is going to provide the beer pairings—founder Brian Hunt will be on hand at the event to explain the pairings. 6pm reception on the patio, and the communal dinner seating begins at 7pm. $85 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. 598 Second St. at Brannan, 415-836-9239.

826 Valencia, the non-profit writing and tutoring center in the Mission, is holding a ~FOOD WRITING SEMINAR AND EVENT~ on Thursday November 20th as a benefit for their free student program. The event will feature Mollie Katzen (author of The Moosewood Cookbook and The Enchanted Broccoli Forest); Scott Youkilis (co-owner of Maverick restaurant and editor of Out Of The Kitchen Magazine); Lessley Anderson (senior editor at CHOW.com); and Joe Jarrell (contributor for the San Francisco Bay Guardian and WHERE San Francisco); moderated by Erin Archuleta (tablehopper.com intern and writer of the hardhat section). Guests will be sampling and talking about the food on offer during the evening, plus discussing topics like restaurant reviewing, recipe-composing, contacting agents, working with publishing houses and newspaper editors, and running a successful blog. Tickets: $100, limited to 50 people. 6pm–9pm. Buy tickets and learn more here. 826 Valencia St. at 19th St.