the chatterbox
the word on the street
fresh meat
new restaurant reviews
the socialite
shindigs/feasts/festivals
the starlet
no photos please

MAY 22, 2007 | SAN FRANCISCO Okay, this week practically killed me with restaurant gossip. Like, whoa. I need a hand massage after all this typing, or at least more minutes on my cell phone ’cause it practically blew up. I’m sure there are plenty of typos or bad grammar in the chatterbox, and it’s not because I was tipsy (for a change)! Consider it a grammatical game that’s like an erudite version of Where’s Waldo?.

So, highlights of my week: the Meals on Wheels event Sunday evening was pretty damned fun—a total who’s who of local chefs (plus star chef spottings of Charlie Palmer and Thomas Keller) and the after-party generously hosted by Joseph Manzare was a great test to see who can hold their liquor while completely exhausted (everyone worked pretty hard and I have a feeling many were up much earlier than usual on a typical Sunday).

Then there’s SF’s inaugural Cocktail Week, which wrapped up with an event at Absinthe last night—it’s not every night of your life you can have a Manhattan made by Gary Regan. In fact, it was unlike any Manhattan I’ve ever had before—it was totally subtle, and smooth, and balanced. The man is a master of Angostura bitters, what can I say?

And now, it’s lecture time: I don’t even want to count how many people have used tip please and haven’t responded with how their experience was. The number is not pretty. So if you have dined out but haven’t reported back yet, please let me know since I really need your feedback to make this thing work! Remember, if you don’t, you don’t get to make any more tip please requests. (Trust me, I keep track. It’s the Italian in me—we remember things.) Even if you didn’t go to the places I recommended, that’s totally cool—just tell me, thank you!

Rock on,

~Marcia (rhymes with Garcia)

Rooney has been looking to do a second restaurant for a couple years, and will be happy to serve all the creative types who work (and live) out in Dogpatch. The restaurant is moving into the former Third Street Café—it was a Chinese American cafeteria-style restaurant for 22 years. The space is going to have a major overhaul, including removing the dropped ceiling that’s obscuring the 18-foot-high ceilings and the sheetrock covering the two brick walls. Rooney has tapped Eric Heid to design the restaurant—he is behind the design of Range and Spork. The space has some good history: it dates back to 1915 and was part of the American Can Company; this location was the boiler room. Yup, it’s gonna be hot. 2495 3rd St. at 22nd.

Now let’s scoot on over to Glen Park, where two more spots will be added to its growing roster of groovy restaurants: first is ~SANGHA~, which a long time ago used to be a wine shop. The name is Sanskrit for “community” or “a gathering of people.” The 35–40 seat restaurant will serve Japanese fusion and sushi; lunch will be more casual, while dinner will be focused on finer dining. The executive chef is Gerardo Torres, who has worked at Blowfish, Moki’s, and Mas Sake; Ric Lopez, the owner of Modernpast is behind the restaurant. The look will be modern organic/Zen, with tables topped with cut granite, a pebble bar with a slab of stone for the ledge, chairs in bent wood, and neutral tones. The dishes are all by Heath, and local designer Julie Weston created the staff uniforms. If all permits and approvals go according to plan, Sangha should be open in early June. 678 Chenery St., at Diamond.

Just across the street in the former Red Rock space (another property Ric Lopez owns) will be ~P'TIT LAURENT~, a classic “bistro Francais” from Laurent Legendre, the original owner of Clementine and Bistro Clement. Eliseto Soto, formerly of Plouf, Bistro Clement, and La Suite, will be in the kitchen, cooking up some classics like frogs’ legs, plus mains like cassoulet and rabbit. The 47-seat bistro will have a waiting room with a sofa and chairs, and a black and white tiled floor at the entrance, while the dining room will be carpeted, with tablecloths on the tables and classic bistro chairs with leather, plus two banquettes, pressed tin ceilings, and a hand-painted mural that gives the impression you are under the Eiffel Tower. Expect some assorted French ephemera as well, such as vintage serving platters, roosters, and other details. There will be a bar with seven seats, and since they have a liquor license, it should get some good use. 200 French, domestic, and international wines will be served. Dinner will be served nightly (opening hours are 5:30pm–10:30pm) and weekend brunch from 9am–2:30pm. Expect an early June opening. 699 Chenery St. at Diamond, 415-334-3235.

Some changes on Haight Street: after a year of charming us with his sliders and smiles, chef Eddie Blyden has left, and is currently traveling in Sierra Leone in Africa—I’ll see what he’s up to once he returns. Taking his place at ~THE ALEMBIC~ is Joseph Boness, formerly at the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco and Campton Place. (He was also a sous at Macrina Bakery and Cafe in Seattle.) Boness is really into local ingredients, sustainable practices, and has a start-from-scratch mantra—he is even planting an aromatic herb garden in the back this week (he’s also planting five types of hops [yes, those are hops, what the heck did you think they were?] which he is considering using for some food pairings and some small batch brews). While continuing the comfort direction Blyden started, Boness is fired up to bring some new items on the menu, like handmade pasta, salt-packed sardines, and charcuterie too, which he’s going to collaborate on with David Coleman, the new chef at Magnolia (see below)—they are buddies who met back when they were at the CCA. 1725 Haight St. at Belvedere, 415-666-0822.

So ~MAGNOLIA PUB & BREWERY~ now has David Coleman manning the stoves as of the past couple weeks—he was formerly at Salt House and Campton Place. He’s already added some house-made Merguez sausage and bangers and mash to the menu, plus he’s an avid homebrewer, so he’s obviously into beer, and therefore knows the drill. (Yup, owner Dave McLean is really stoked with his new chefs.) Did you know Magnolia offers a full menu until midnight, and 11pm on Sundays? They also added Blue Bottle coffee and espresso to the menu, with a beautiful new espresso machine to boot. You can now get individual press pots of organic, freshly roasted, and ground Three Africans coffee and ristretto shots of Hayes Valley Blend espresso, plus cappuccinos and lattes, using organic, local Strauss milk. 1398 Haight St. at Masonic, 415-864-7468.

Some staff additions over at ~MECCA~: they have hired a new wine director, Ginny Brown, who was formerly at supperclub and the Park and Beach Chalet. And call me out of the loop, but the ever-charming Gil Duncan of Olive sold his little Larkin Street enclave (darn, I loved that joint) something like five or six months ago, and is now the lead mixologist at Mecca. He is crafting a new cocktail list—now you have a great excuse to swing by and say hi in case you were wondering where he was. 2029 Market St. at Dolores, 415-621-7000.

Now for some closings and hunches and deals and such:

~AVENUE G~, the restaurant that opened up in the La Felce space in North Beach after formerly giving it a go on Clement Street (in 2006) has closed. I didn’t know how those guys were going to manage that monster rent. I also didn’t get a response to a couple calls I made, so that’s that. 1570 Stockton at Union, 415-989-0399.

Speaking of monster rent, I heard the steakhouse that was planning on moving into the closed ~MACARTHUR PARK~ space on Walton Park has backed out. Check this: the landlord wants something like $33k a month. That’s a lot of ducats. Seems they are hoping for some chain to move in. How lovely. With that rent, I don’t know who could move in. Maybe a big-time drug dealer. 607 Front St. at Jackson.

I’ve been sensing things are afoot at ~SENSES~ on Valencia for some time… I heard some folks have been looking into buying the space (it’s been up for sale for a while), and it’s now dark on Open Table. And the website is gone. The phone line and the sign for two-for-one dinners are still up, however. 1152 Valencia St. at 22nd.

~SPANISH FLY~, the tapas place on Geary and a project from the Straits group of restaurants (it was the former home of Straits Café before it moved to the Westfield Centre), has shut its doors. It was doing well on the weekends, but the slow business early in the week and no liquor license made it a tough business to keep running. The Straits folks are currently seeking another home for the concept in the 650, like in Burlingame. I’ve heard about a new potential tenant moving in, but they asked me to not mention what it is until the deal is done, so stand by. 3300 Geary Blvd. at Parker.

Speaking of deals, I found out the deal brewing between Jay Foster of farmerbrown and the ~PLUSH ROOM~ in the York Hotel is off.

Also found out that ~(415) ASIAN RESTAURANT & LOUNGE AND CALIFORNIA STREET DELICATESSEN AND CAFÉ~ are on the brink of being sold—not sure who the new operators are yet. Their last day of operations will be this weekend. Maybe the JCC can convince Zabar’s to come west? Now that’s a thought. 415 Presidio Ave. at California.

The folks at Joie de Vivre Hospitality seem to have beat Hubert Keller at launching a gourmet burger concept in San Francisco: opening at the end of June will be ~CUSTOM BURGER/LOUNGE~ in the former Peppers Bar and Grill in the Best Western Americania in SoMa. Yes, the Pepto pink hotel is now a JDV property that is opening next spring (the pink will be painted over soon with white). Paul Arenstam of Americano is consulting on the concept and sourcing the ingredients for CUSTOM. You’ll be able to choose off a pad and customize your burger, with choices like Angus, or American Kobe, or even a weekly special, like an ahi or salmon burger (plus some low-fat options, like turkey, chicken, or vegetarian). There will also be some unique apps and both fresh-cut fries and sweet potato fries, plus soups, salads, and dessert. There is an adjoining lounge, with an aquamarine color scheme and a David Hockney kind of look. You can opt to eat your burger in the lounge, and there will be DJs playing on the weekend. Renovation started Monday, and the plan is to open by the end of June, July 1 by the latest. 121 Seventh St. at Howard.

Many folks in Nob Hill have noticed that ~THE NOB HILL GRILLE~ has new owners: Rich Paez and Fabio Stefani, who met while they were working together at Bobo’s on Lombard. They bought the 44-seat restaurant back in January and closed it to renovate—they reopened in April with a new look and menu. The chef, Eric Rud, was formerly in Minneapolis, earning three stars from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune when he was the executive chef of Biella, and after a few projects here in the City, he really wanted to get back in a kitchen. (Some may remember I reported on Rud as the new owner of Union Street Pantry back in September, but he sold it after a landlord dispute.) This Wednesday he will start offering dinner, with a menu mostly geared toward American comfort food. Dishes include a beef salad, with entrées like pork chops, a flatiron steak, and burgers. Entrées are priced right for what I like to call low-impact dining: most average out to $15. Breakfast and lunch have also been spiffed up in recent months, with offerings like breakfast sliders (three mini breakfast sandwiches on brioche) and lunch includes a Thai fish burger, a Reuben, and a BBQ pork sandwich. Weekend brunch has a new favorite amongst regulars: crab Benedict. 969 Hyde St. at Pine, 415-474-5985.

I had a chance to chat with ~ROBERT CUBBERLY~, who recently left Le Petit Robert (reported in last week’s tablehopper)—seems he decided it was time for a change and is going to enjoy taking a little time off (well-deserved after more than 25 years of working hard in various kitchens). He is looking into some potential consulting or corporate gigs—we’ll see where he pops up.

So I went to the friends and family opening of the new wine bar, ~DELL’UVA~ in North Beach on Friday night—they still need to get the window counter installed, but the bathroom ceiling is mighty clever. It’s right across the street from Nua. 565 Green St. at Grant, 415-393-9930.
 
Not too long ago I wrote of Campo dei Fiori, the Italian café/restaurant opening on Columbus and Broadway in the old Bank of America building. After partying at the opening of Dell’uva, my friend and I got to join Campo’s owner, Enzo Pellico, and some peckish pals for a late-night spaghettata at the restaurant (we had some fab pasta all’amatriciana made with some heavenly guanciale and drank up some vino rosso, ma certo!). I found out the name was changed to ~`E TUTTO QUA~ (it’s Italian for “it’s all here”). Based on everything Enzo was telling us about what was going to be on the menu, I have to agree. Things are looking good for a June opening. 270 Columbus Ave. at Broadway.

Speaking of Italians, the ~“SLOW FOOD/CARLO PETRINI VS. FARMERS”~ flap was seriously burning up some blogs and sites last week. To catch up on the ruckus you can check out some posts on the Ranch Gordo website (I have to admit the fight poster cracked me up, complete with some luchador mask action), I Heart Farms and The Ethicurean. I am sure there are more, but trust me, that’s plenty to read at the moment.

Over in Potrero Hill, opening in the former Klein’s Deli space will be ~JAY’S DELI~. It’s from a husband and wife team, and is named after their son. The grand opening is this Thursday, May 24. They are focused on organic meats and products for their deli sandwiches (and they are using Acme bread), plus homemade soups will be offered (one is a Tuscan ribollita), salads, specials, and they mentioned a very tasty vegetarian black bean patty too. A variety of coffee drinks will be offered, with coffee from Mr. Espresso. There will also be a monthly wine and chocolate club on Thursday evenings, when you can taste wines from a featured winery (sidebar: the husband in the venture, Allan Ransley, is a winemaker from New Zealand) and taste some cheeses and chocolates. There is seating in the front and back, and inside there are six four-tops. The business has a green and sustainable focus; for example, their countertop is made of recycled material, they will use recycled products, and they have a goal of composting and recycling up to 100% of their waste. Open Mon–Fri 7am–7pm, Sat–Sun 8am–5pm. 501 Connecticut Street at 20th, 415-824-JAYS (5297).

The city’s only revolving restaurant, the ~EQUINOX~, atop the Hyatt Regency at Embarcadero 5 is closing—the last day is May 30. After a renovation this summer, it will be converted into a Regency Club, an extra amenity for hotel guests and a place where they can enjoy cocktails, breakfast, and lunch. Kind of like an airport Admirals Club. 5 Embarcadero Center, 415-291-6619.

And now for a couple items the Chronicle had to have before anyone else:

Jamie Lauren, who was formerly the executive chef at Levende Lounge and the executive chef of the now-abandoned Prana project, has been hired as the executive chef at ~ABSINTHE BRASSERIE & BAR~. She is currently coming in a couple days a week while wrapping up her work at Bar Crudo (her last day is June 9); she will be in Absinthe’s kitchen full-time starting June 21. Lauren is excited about all the possibilities—she is eager to integrate a local and seasonal focus on the menu, and perhaps add some more Italian and Mediterranean touches. Some “raw ideas” at the moment include adding a daily crudo, shellfish platters, and an all-day menu. Congratulations, Jamie. 398 Hayes St. at Gough, 415-551-1590.

I wrote about this project that was taking over the old Jester’s space last June, perhaps you remember? Well, it’s about to open. Just adjacent to The Westin San Francisco Market Street (formerly the Argent Hotel) in early June will be ~DUCCA~, a restaurant after my own heart since it’s inspired by Venice, Italy (I lived in Venexia for a year while I was going to school). The name is a spin on the word for doge, duca. The executive chef is Italian-born Marta Cristina Causone (no, not Nick Stellino like some people were led to believe), who is crafting a menu that will highlight seasonal Northern Italian-inspired cuisine with a focus on the sea. There will also be a menu of cicchetti, or rustic bar snacks, which is a huge part of Venetian culture, with a Cal-Ital wine list. The Puccini Group designed the space; you can check out some renderings here. I especially love the silk-screened images of the Duke and Duchess, the three smoke and black Murano glass chandeliers, and the curved marble bar in the lounge made of yellow sienna Italian marble. There is an alfresco terrace that by night will become a lounge, with communal tables and a fire pit that is actually a 68-inch metal fire bowl. Ducca will be open for lunch daily 11:30am–2pm, and dinner is Sun–Thu 5:30pm–10pm and Fri–Sat 5:30pm–11pm. The bar and lounge will stay open until 1am. 50 Third St. at Market, adjacent to The Westin San Francisco Market Street, 415-977-0271.
 
Some cool menu news at places around town:

Starting Sunday May 27, ~THE FRONT PORCH~ is going to be open on the first Sundays of every month through September, hosting an all-you-can-eat Caribbean barbecue. The barbecue will go on from noon until sundown, with BBQ jerk steak, chicken, fish, and fresh veggie sides on offer. The price for a “roundtrip ticket” to the West Indies (i.e. all you can eat) is $25, and the price of a one-way ticket (i.e. one plate) is $17.50. There will also be a kid's plate price, and special prices on draft beer and select wine. No reservations necessary, and all the tables will be put together for family-style dining. I got this from the restaurant: “The barbeque itself was invented by the Carib Indians, legend says, when they soaked planks of wood in seawater and cooked meat over a fire much like we use grills. Here's a cool link.” 65A 29th St., at Mission, 415-695-7800.

Beef lovers take note: ~MASA’S~ executive chef, Gregory Short, is serving premium Wagyu Kobe for a limited time at the restaurant. He is grilling a very specific part of the beef, the calotte (ribeye cap) and serving it with daikon radish sprouts, maitake mushrooms, and a bordelaise vinaigrette. I had an opportunity to taste real Japanese Kobe beef a while back down in Cupertino at Alexander’s Steakhouse at a special Kobe beef-tasting event (I know, my job really sucks), and I have never tasted anything like it—it was beyond luxurious, almost like meat custard. I know, that doesn’t sound so pretty, but that’s exactly how it felt—you could seriously eat it with a spoon. Masa's Restaurant, 648 Bush St. at Powell, 415-989-7154.

Got a hot tip? You know I'd love it (and you). Just reply to this email!

Tajine
1338 Polk St.
Cross: Pine St.
San Francisco, CA 94109

415-440-1718
website

Sat-Thu 12pm-10pm
Fri 3pm-10pm
(i.e. no lunch Friday)

Apps $3.95-$8.95
Entrées $7.95-$12.95
Desserts $2.50

MAY 22, 2007 | SAN FRANCISCO I enjoy seeing how people gravitate to restaurants run by nice people (like Nopa!). But a winning smile doesn’t quell a rumbling belly: like Nopa, they have to be serving some tasty vittles too. And when those tasty vittles fall square into the cheap eats category, well, you’ve just might have yourself a nice little business.

Personable chef/owner Mohamed Ghaleb has left his Jones Street hole-in-the-wall (literally) and with his new Polk Street digs he now has room for about quadruple the number of guests to stretch out. Based on the crowds I have witnessed since ~TAJINE~ reopened, I’d say that’s a good thing. And he takes credit cards now. And you don’t have to witness crack deals before walking into the restaurant. Movin’ on up!

The look is still rather bare bones, but there are some pretty Moroccan lamps overhead (but MAN, they have to do something with those evil high wattage bulbs—the place was lit up like a high school gym), there are some banquettes with pillows, and there is a bar in the back where you can hang out and watch Mohamed pop in and out of the kitchen.

There are a ton of options, and vegetarians do just fine here. It’s also perfect food for a group. In a review of the previous location I tried the delicious harira soup, the delightfully flaky chicken bastilla (pastry is one of the only times flaky is a good thing), and the lamb couscous. People also tend to loooove the kufta kebab plate ($8.95).

During this visit at the new place, my dinner pal and I started with the mosaic of salads ($7.95), which included zaalook (garlicky eggplant and tomatoes), taktouka (sautéed bell peppers), shalada (what I like to call Moroccan salsa: tomatoes, green onion, and parsley), and beet salad topped with slices of a hard-boiled egg. It’s amazing to me how the out-of-season and totally grey tomatoes in the shalada still had flavor. I’m an eggplant girl (yeah, call me a dago, go for it) so it’s what I would probably commit to on its own next time.

My pal was in love with the Merguez sausage couscous ($9.50), a hearty serving with a pile of steaming stewed vegetables in the middle. And if an Argentine compliments the grilling on the sausage, you know it’s good. I enjoyed warming up with the tajine baquerri ($9.50), beef with artichoke hearts and peas. Some pieces of the meat were tender, others tough—I’ll probably go with a different tajine next time. And yo, the sandwiches look deeeeelish. I saw a chick scarfing on a kufta kebab sandwich and I was ready to make her an offer for the other half, right then.

The joint is BYOB and how magical, no corkage. You get paper cups if you bring wine, so I prefer beer out of the bottle: Pilsner Urquell goes swimmingly with the food here. I was cracking up over the chicks at the adjoining table with their cans of Sofias. You wouldn’t have seen that at the Jones Street location—those ladies wouldn’t even be within a five-block radius of the restaurant. But a note on the no corkage: it’s good form to at least order the sweet mint tea at the end (delicious with some Moroccan pastries) or some other beverage.

Okay, now, the service. Oh lordy, it needs some help. Like, get out the defib paddles. I know the restaurant has only been open since April, but the staff is terrifyingly clueless on service (e.g. no menus for ten minutes, brusque attitude, missing silverware, the wrong check). Oh, and no rosewater at the end? Meow. So, the servers need to shape up soon. But when you get your ridiculously cheap bill (double check and make sure it’s really yours) the little missteps aren’t quite so glaring. Well, except those lights. Now, those are glaring.

New Zealand Winegrowers Wine Fair
Wed., May 30, 2007

SFMOMA
151 Third St.
Cross: Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94103

media/trade:
1pm–5pm
website

consumers:
6:30pm–8:30pm
website
$55

MAY 22, 2007 | SAN FRANCISCO It’s back: the seventh annual ~NEW ZEALAND WINEGROWERS WINE FAIR~, an event where you can sample over 150 wines from 50 New Zealand winegrowers while enjoying hors d’oeuvres in the SFMOMA. Take a look at the list of participating winegrowers on the website. All proceeds benefit the Taproot Foundation. According to the site, this event has consistently sold out each year, so get your tickets early to ensure admission.
 
And just in case you haven’t had enough of NZ, the next day (Thursday, May 31) there is a New Zealand wine dinner at Pres A Vi Restaurant in the Presidio at 6:30pm, presented by The American Institute of Wine and Food-Northern California Chapter. The AIWF is a non-profit organization with proceeds providing scholarships in accredited food, wine and hospitality programs. Click here for dinner details.

Inside the Kitchen: Summer
June 1–August 31, 2007

The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
One Miramontes Point Road
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

650-712-7040

website

MAY 22, 2007 | SAN FRANCISCO Okay, I know this is down in Half Moon Bay, but since it’s so chock-full of SF talent in the food and beverage scene I had to mention it. The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay is launching ~INSIDE THE KITCHEN: SUMMER~ with a variety of guest instructors during the thirteen-week series of 21 classes. During each class, there will be small plates of each recipe, a beverage pairing, and a customized recipe booklet to take home. Courses taught by cookbook authors include their latest cookbook.

Mixology Weekend looks especially enticing, and hello Sunday Brunch with Foreign Cinema, one of my fave spots for eggs on the weekend. For some of you big spenders, there are also some nice overnight packages available.

Enrollment for “Inside the Kitchen: Summer” classes ranges from $85 to $100 per student, ages 21 and over, inclusive of tax and gratuity. Parking for non-hotel guests is $5. The resort will donate a portion of class proceeds to Meals On Wheels of San Francisco, Inc.

Treasures of Asia: Far East to West with Chef Tim Luym, Poleng Lounge, San Francisco, June 1, 6pm–8pm ($85 per guest)

High Style in Lowcountry with Chef Kevin Johnson, Anson, Charleston, SC, June 8, 6pm–8pm ($85 per guest)

Rustic French with Executive Chef Xavier Salomon, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, June 15, 6pm–8pm ($85 per guest)

Demolition Desserts with Elizabeth Falkner, Citizen Cake, San Francisco, June 22, 6pm–8pm ($85 per guest)

Summer in California with Chris Kronner, Executive Chef, Slow Club, San Francisco, June 29, 6pm–8pm ($85 per guest)

Flavors of the Mediterranean with Mark Gordon, Executive Chef, Terzo, San Francisco, July 6, 6pm–8pm ($85 per guest)

MASTERING THE GRILL WEEKEND

Grill Basics with authors Andrew Schloss and David Joachim, Mastering the Grill (Chronicle), July 13, 6pm–8pm ($95 per guest)

The Science of Fire with Schloss and Joachim, July 14, 10am–12pm ($95 per guest)

Unusual and Extravagant Grilling Techniques with Schloss and Joachim, July 14, 4pm–6pm ($95 per guest)

Oyster Heaven with author Jaemarie Pomo, The Hog Island Oyster Lover’s Cookbook (Ten Speed), July 20, 6pm–8pm ($95 per guest)

Let’s Cook Japanese Food and Drink Sake! with authors Amy Keneko and Beau Timken (Chronicle), July 27, 6pm–8pm ($100 per guest)

MIXOLOGY WEEKEND

Mixology 101 with David Nepove, Director of Mixology, Southern Wine and Spirits, August 3, 6pm–8pm ($95 per guest)

Farm Fresh Cocktails with Scott Beattie, Mixologist at Cyrus, August 4, 11am–1pm ($95 per guest)

Rye: Classic and Modern with Greg Lindgren, owner of Rye in San Francisco, August 4, 3pm–5pm ($95 per guest)

Spirits of Latin America with Thad Vogler, bar manager at Jardinère in San Francisco, August 4, 6pm–8pm ($95 per guest)

Brunch Cocktails with Todd Smith, owner of Bourbon & Branch in San Francisco, August 5, 11am–1pm ($95 per guest)

Lobster Three Ways with Marcel Vigneron from Bravo’s Top Chef, August 10, 6pm–8pm ($85 per guest)

Indian in Five Spices or Less with author Ruta Kahate, 5 Spices, 50 Dishes (Chronicle), August 17, 6pm–8pm ($95 per guest)

Sunday Brunch at Foreign Cinema with chefs/authors John Clark and Gayle Pirie, Foreign Cinema, San Francisco, Country Egg, City Egg (Artisan), August 24, 6pm–8pm ($95 per guest)

Taste of Campania with Chef Nate Appleman, A16, San Francisco, August 31, 6pm–8pm ($85 per guest)

MAY 22, 2007 | SAN FRANCISCO From a sassy reader: “SPAM King James Hormel was dining late at Perbacco. Checking out the salumi, no doubt.”

Brian Boitano and a group of six other skating champions (who were all performing in the Holiday on Ice show filmed at AT&T Park) had dinner at Grand Cafe.

Ryan Seacrest was spotted at Emporio Rulli on Chestnut last Saturday afternoon.