APRIL
8, 2008 | SAN FRANCISCO The
word on the street is ~PALMETTO~,
the restaurant that was in the former Home location on Union Street,
is closing this Sunday (please note: the exact details remain unconfirmed—no
one from Palmetto was calling me back). I’ve heard a seasoned and longtime
industry pro (20 years in the biz, yo) is going to be moving in,
with a fun, casual, seafood-based concept. Not supposed to share
the who, what, and name at the moment just yet, but look for some
details from me in coming weeks—the new project is slated
to open in the fall. 2032 Union St. at Buchanan, 415-931-5006.
Wasn’t
able to say a peep about this project until after April 1, so
here we are: Michelle Mah, formerly of Ponzu, will be the chef
at ~MIDI~, a California brasserie-style
restaurant moving into the Perry’s Downtown space that just
closed last week. Joie de Vivre Hospitality is behind the 130-seat
project—it’s in the Galleria Park Hotel. Michael Guthrie
(Myth, Bix, Spoon) is handling the redesign, and midi is set to
open in fall 2008. In the meantime, Perry’s is moving into
the now-closed Faz Restaurant space, and will reopen sometime in June. midi, 185 Sutter St. at
Kearny; Perry’s on the Embarcadero, 155 Steuart St. at Howard.
Folks
have long-wondered if the cultish ~CAFÉ ORGANICA~ would
ever return to its Western Addition digs (there was a pile of drama,
and a fire, too), but instead, some French bistro action is moving
in! The owners of Baker
Street Bistro,
Jacques Manuera and his wife Claude Belliot, are taking over the
space and will be opening ~CENTRAL PARC~. VERY
extensive renovations will soon be underway, so the project most
likely won’t open until the end of the year. Will keep you
posted on the concept, décor, and menu as those components
develop. 562 Central Ave. at Grove.
Eater broke the story that local character Bruno Viscovi of the Istrian ~ALBONA
RESTAURANT~ is selling after 20 years in the business. The new owners are chef
Samuel Hernandez, who has been cooking at Albona for over ten years,
and Viscovi’s nephew, Michael Bruno, who handles the front
of house. You can read Viscovi’s goodbye letter here.
Ciao ciao, Bruno. 545 Francisco St. at Taylor, 415-441-1040.
Another sale: last week I got a call from executive chef Seth
Bowden that Ron Silberstein (Thirsty Bear, Ramblas) has bought ~CORTEZ~ in
the Hotel Adagio from the Bay Bread crew; nothing is slated to
change. I heard from Bowden that he is really excited about his
current menu—I’ll be revisiting and reporting back soon. 550
Geary St. at Jones, 415-292-6360.
After
eight years at ~GARY
DANKO~,
executive sous chef Kolin Vazzoler is leaving for a restaurant
in the 650. I’m not supposed to reveal the “where” just
yet, but everyone at Gary Danko wishes him the best.
I
mentioned a long time ago that a wine bar and café was
going to be opening next door to Weird Fish, in the Wang Fat Market
space. Well, things are moving forward: the plans are approved,
and demo is underway for ~THE CORNER~ (because
that’s what it’s on). Timothy Holt of Weird Fish is
spearheading the project, and is about to tour around Italia for
some research and development, and when he returns, he’ll
be finalizing the concept—it’s about six to eight months
out. Look for coffee from Four Barrel Coffee, baked goods, outside
seating… Oh, and he wanted to mention that Weird
Fish is doing breakfast daily now, starting at 9am. 2199 Mission St.
at 18th St.
Some
of you have asked me where to find chef ~DANIEL HOLZMAN~,
most recently at SPQR.
I got a call from him last week, telling me he’s the new
chef of Chow in
Lafayette—his first day is April 14. He’s excited
to get back into the kitchen, but for now, he’s enjoying
ten days in Argentina, lucky duck. The previous chef is busy launching
the new Danvillle Chow that is slated to open in June or July at
San Ramon Valley Boulevard and Railroad Avenue, but without the
adjacent market like the Lafayette location.
After
some minor delays, it looks like the third location of ~MIXT
GREENS~ is on target to open on April
15th. 560 Mission St. between 1st and 2nd.
Here’s a funny
switcheroo: ~LAVASH~ and ~L’AVENIDA~ on
Irving Street are trading places. L’Avenida is already open,
and Lavash is reopening today; with the bigger space and additional
seating, there will also be more menu items, including appetizers,
kebabs, and beef and lamb stews. Open 11am–10pm daily. Lavash,
511 Irving St. at 6th Ave., 415-664-5555. L’Avenida, 507
Irving St. at 6th Ave., 415-681-1246.
I
had fun checking out a pal’s happy hour that happens every
Wednesday at the Knockout in
the Outer Mission: ~GODZUKI SUSHI HAPPY HOUR~.
There’s a laid back, eclectic, and friendly SF crowd, and
thanks to the wonder duo, Tim Archuleta and Erin Neeley of Ichi
Catering (many know Tim from Tokyo Go Go), you
can munch some swell sushi specials while enjoying Kirin on draft,
or sake, beer, and cocktail specials, plus some rock ‘n’ roll.
Place your order with Taka, taking your pick of super-fresh rolls
($4) or nigiri ($3), ranging from shiro maguro to inari, AKA crack
tofu, and I can’t wait to try the famed yuzu chicken wings
one of these nights. The fave was the specialty nigiri of spicy
crab and scallop ($5). They also just started Tuesday Raw Bar Night,
with shrimp cocktail, oyster deals, and drinks. Both happy hours
have the same timing (6pm–9pm). You can sign up for the weekly
menu, reminders, or I recommend hiring Ichi to cater your next
event or company lunch at ichicatering@gmail.com.
Knockout, 3223 Mission St. at Valencia, 415-550-6994.
Congrats
to Joel Huff of Silks who
won the ~BATTLE OF THE CHEFS~ at Macy’s
Cellar last night against Ian Begg of Café Majestic in “Competition
Lobster.” Not like I ever wish any
chef ill will, and I very much enjoy Rising Star Begg’s cooking,
but after seeing (and screaming) over the 71g of fat in his mushroom
soup recipe,
I can’t help but wonder if it was some payback from the fitness
gods, battling against the gourmet gods. No wonder that soup was
so delicious.
Now, for some events. Mmmm, veggies. (The fitness gods are pleased
to see that sentence.) Next Thursday you can swing by ~PICCINO~ from 5pm–7pm for a $25 “mystery box” of Mariquita
Farm’s delightful organic produce. For details and to order,
click here.
(Mystery Box Night continues on 5/1 at Pizzetta 211.) 801 22nd
St. at Tennessee, 415-824-4224.
Vegetarians,
this menu looks extraordinary, and the event sounds quirky-fun.
On Saturday, April 12th, ~AN EVENT TO DYE FOR~ will
be held at Grandma Mary's Farm in El Cerrito, and Sasha Duerr,
founder of the Permacouture
Institute
is going to conduct a plant-based dyes studio workshop. Following
that, there will be a five-course farm-to-table vegetarian dinner
from Leif Hedendal using many of the same plants used to make the
dyes, with live music by Clark Meremeyer. Sound hippie enough for
you? Here is the menu: mache, orach, upland cress, watermelon radish,
kumquat, walnut, and Andante chevre; soup of Princess Laratte potato,
golden turnip, Knoll green garlic, Star Route baby favas, saffron,
and Berkswell; Knoll rapini, dandelion, various kales, black trumpets;
Dirty Girl chioggas with puree of stinging nettles; Riverdog asparagus
with gold nugget mandarin and Strauss brown butter; Rancho Gordo
Tepary beans with red cabbage, avocado, fennel, coriander, sesame,
ginger, and hemp; strawberry, young coconut, lemongrass, Blossom
Bluff dried stone fruit confit, Cowgirl Creamery crème fraîche, maple,
Tonka bean. 4pm–10pm, BYOB, $70–$120 sliding scale.
(This is a benefit for the Permacouture Institute.) The address
in El Cerrito will be included with your RSVP confirmation. RSVP
by April 10th to sashaduerr@gmail.com.
In this week’s “the regular,” I am writing up
the charming ~LA
CICCIA~.
In case you want to check out some vittles, the restaurant is hosting
a spring lamb dinner on Monday, April 28th. The menu includes vegetables
stuffed with lamb, prosciutto and pecorino cheese; Sardinian maccheroni
with lamb ragout; roasted baby lamb served with roasted vegetables;
poached farro with citrus zest dressed with saba, and of course
some vinos. My stomach just growled. $70 per person, including
wines, plus tax and gratuity. 291 30th St. at Church, 415-550-8114.
Next week, ~OLIVETO~ is
hosting its Risotto Dinners, with Aceto Balsamico, Wednesday, April
16th–Thursday, April 17th. It will be a rich, full-bodied
five-course family-style dinner with balsamico vinegars from infancy
to antiquity, and beautiful risotto, made to order. The menu includes
a platter of Oliveto salumi; shaved spring vegetables with Castelvetrano
olives and Oliveto aceto balsamico; risotto in bianco with
old aceto balsamico; cotechino sausage braised
in saba with English peas and Bianca di Spagna beans; and for dessert,
strawberries with black tea granita and middle-aged aceto balsamico.
$65. 5655 College Ave., Oakland, 510-547-5356.
Now,
for the winos: ~RANDALL GRAHM~, the founder
of Bonny
Doon Vineyard,
is hosting a winemaker dinner at vegetarian eatery ~MILLENNIUM~ on Wednesday, April 30th. 6pm wine reception, dinner served promptly
at 6:30pm. $85 per person (excludes tax and gratuity); five-course
prix-fixe dinner. All reservations need to be made by calling Erica:
415-345-3900 x11. 580 Geary St. at Jones.
~VINIPORTUGAL~ is
on Tuesday, April 22nd, at the Palace Hotel, with more than 30
producers and over 300 new wines that will be on hand for tastings,
plus some light food. The trade tasting is from 2pm–5:30pm,
and the consumer tasting is from 5:30pm–8pm. For those
eager to sharpen their knowledge of Portuguese wines, a
seminar on the indigenous grape varieties will take place from
6pm–6:30pm. A $40 donation is requested at the door for
the consumer tasting, and proceeds benefit Project Open Hand.
Reservations may be made at rsvpsf@wagstaffworldwide.com or
by phone at 800-871-9012, extension 24552#. 2 Montgomery St.
at Market.
Mmmmm, bubbles. ~BACAR~ is
hosting its monthly sommelier supper on Sunday, April 20th, and
will feature food and wines from the Champagne region in France.
For details and reservations, visit the website or email jessica.bacar@gmail.com.
$75 per person. 448 Brannan St. at 3rd, 415-904-4100.
Beginning Saturday, April 12th, ~WINE
BAR & SHOP~ in
Embarcadero Two is hosting a bimonthly wine tasting and food pairing
seminar. When you’re done with the hustle of the Ferry Plaza
Farmers’ Market, you can unwind and taste wines paired with food—there will
even be some easy spring cooking demos. 2pm–6pm. $15. Receive
10% off the purchase of any wine featured in the tasting, the day
of the event only. Two Embarcadero Center, (Front St. between Sacramento
and Clay), 415-391-0758.
And
friends of ~DAVE
GOGOLAK~
will be interested in this event to honor his memory: an ’80s-themed
party that will raise proceeds for the newly formed GoGo Fund:
Scholarships for Extended Education. Saturday, May 3rd, 2008. 8pm–1am.
Visit the site to purchase tickets and get more details. Elan Event
Venue, 839 Howard St.
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