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Aug 15, 2011 20 min read

August 16, 2011 - This week's tablehopper: true blue.

August 16, 2011 - This week's tablehopper: true blue.
Table of Contents

This week's tablehopper: true blue.                    

The tall trees and big blue at Sugar Pine Point. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

Greetings from Tahoe. Yup, I shall once again refrain from talking about my little slice of paradise up here—I don’t want you to deeply hate me. I am already starting to get a heavy heart, knowing I have to pack up on Thursday and return to SF’s cursed 63 degrees. That is no August (shaking fist at the sky). Which is why today’s issue is a bit shorter—I am literally hopping on my bike to pedal to the lake just as this puppy goes out. Priorities.

Yesterday, the 15th, was Ferragosto in Italy, an amazing day when everyone closes up shop, prepares insane meals and picnics, and takes trips to the beach or the mountains. Yeah, it’s a good one. But there’s another Ferr- coming to San Francisco, and that would be Ferran Adrià. Yeah, the man, the myth, the legend behind El Bulli, molecular gastronomy (or deconstructivist cooking, as he would prefer to call it), and currently releasing his new book, The Family Meal: Home Cooking with Ferran Adrià. Adrià is coming to the Castro Theatre on Monday October 10th (thanks to Omnivore Books)—so get your tickets now (yes, now!), because this rare event is sure to sell out quickly.

And this Saturday is the honking and third annual La Cocina San Francisco Street Food Festival, which is going to have everything from cocktails to chocolate babka to cannoli. (I’m going to pretend it’s Ferragosto.) And there’s even an after-party, where you can burn off the piroshki you scarfed. Well, you can at least try to. Take a peek at some pre-event news in the chatterbox.

See you there!

Marcia Gagliardi


the chatterbox

Gossip & News (the word on the street)

Details on AQ, a New Restaurant Opening in SoMa

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1085 Mission St. exterior photo via LiveSOMA.

After some liquor license activity, and Grub Street poking around online, details have been released about AQ, a new project from first-time restaurateur Matt Semmelhack and Dixon Hayes of Mercer Restaurant Group. Martin Heid Design/Build (who designed Commonwealth and Serpentine) is transforming the 104-year-old space on Mission Street, which features an original red brick façade, timber beams, and 12-foot-tall warehouse windows (it ends up the space housed the original San Francisco Department of Health). There will be 82 seats, plus private dining, and a bar with 16 seats and 5 seats at high-tops near the front window and entrance.

Executive chef Mark Liberman will be offering a menu of “innovative California cuisine,” and his background includes working as chef de cuisine for Roland Passot, in addition to time in the kitchens of Daniel Boulud and Joël Robuchon while in New York, and he was a semi-finalist in the Bocuse d’Or. Yeah, homeboy’s got some chops. He will also be leading some cooking demonstrations, culinary and wine events, and interactive classes at the restaurant—since the open kitchen features 22 counter seats, it’ll be an optimal learning (and dining) environment.

The seasonal menu (check out a PDF of the upcoming fall menu online) won’t be the only thing continually changing: the look and feel of AQ will change as well, from new color schemes to art installations, linens, tabletop arrangements, and even the logo will all reflect the seasons. Both lunch (Mon-Fri) and dinner (nightly) will be offered, with brunch coming later. Look for an extensive wine list, plus four local beers on tap and many by the bottle, and a cocktail program. You can learn more about the project on their Kickstarter campaign page. They are gunning for a fall opening.

AQ            - 1085 Mission St. San Francisco - 415-341-9000

Mission Restaurant News Update

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Chef de cuisine Matthew Gandin; photo from Delfina’s Facebook page.

Over at DELFINA, chef de cuisine Matthew Gandin is leaving after eight years with the group (almost nine!). He said it’s completely amicable—he’s just ready to do his own thing, “after working really hard, I’m ready to do that for myself.” He is currently incubating a restaurant concept (no space yet, and not necessarily Italian is all he’d share), but said he’s looking forward to taking time off, and enjoying some travel and relaxation. Best wishes! Chef-owner Craig Stoll tells me they are finalizing potential  candidates for the position.

This morning I heard from owner Jeff Jordan of GIORDANO BROS., and it looks like his Mission location that is opening in the former Ti Couz space will hopefully be passing its final inspection this Thursday, and be open that evening. It will then be softly open for two weeks, serving from 5pm-12am on the bar side in case the desire for a late-night sandwich strikes. Eventually they will add weekend days with the start of football season, and then weekday lunch. Read more about the location in this past tablehopper post. 3108 16th St. at Valencia, 415-437-2767 (or 415-437-BROS).

FYI, BAR TARTINE is temporarily closed this week as the monster bread oven arrives next door. Inside Scoop reports the restaurant should be back open for dinner service this Saturday.

Sorry to learn MISSION BOWLING CLUB is going through hard times with the city, which is trying to hit the small business with $44,000 in special impact fees (owner Sommer Peterson is converting a warehouse into a six-lane bowling alley and restaurant). Read more in the Examiner piece here; let’s hope the Small Business Commission can help “create a special fee structure for small, independently owned businesses and plans to send a letter to Mayor Ed Lee.”

Mission Bowling Club            - 3176 17th St. San Francisco - 415-863-BOWL

Chef Joseph Humphrey Isn't Just Whistling Dixie

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Pres a Vi chef’s table; Yelp photo by James S.

Since leaving Murray Circle, chef Joseph Humphrey has been on quite a hunt for his own restaurant location in San Francisco. After Grub Street noticed Humphrey’s “coming soon” cards listing the name DIXIE on them at the SF Chefs Sugar & Spice party, Inside Scoop reveals he’s opening in the hefty 120-seat Pres a Vi space in the Presidio that has been empty the past two years. Michael Brennan is revitalizing the room, and they are targeting a fall opening. Humphrey’s partner/front-of-house operator is Khalid Lahlou (Mourad Lahlou’s brother, who used to run Kasbah and Aziza with him). In spite of the Southern name, Humphrey says the food won’t be exclusively Southern food but will show Southern influences. Hopefully we’ll be able to enjoy trying out Humphrey’s cuisine on the outdoor terrace before chillier weather rolls in.

Dixie            - 1 Letterman Dr. San Francisco

Sunday Brunch Launches at Destino/Pisco

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Destino interior; photo: © tablehopper.com.

Starting this Sunday August 21st, DESTINO and PISCO will start serving Sunday brunch from 10:30am-2:30pm. Guests can either sit in Destino or Pisco, and they’ll get the same menu. As for what’s on the menu, new items include huevos con pallares (two fried eggs, fava bean purée, marble potatoes, crema de rocoto, breadcrumbs); eggs Benedict with cornmeal biscuits; crepas de dulce de leche (warm crêpes filled with dulce de leche, seasonal berries), and a Destino omelet (which includes your choice of fillings like jamón serrano and pork belly). There will also be savory items like a TLT (tocino, lechuga, and tomate) made with pork belly, heirloom tomatoes, tetilla, arugula, and housemade focaccia, and a Peruanaso burger (Estancia Farms sirloin, aji panca, encebollado, and sweet potato chips). And, of course, Destino’s delicious arepas will be available, along with many other dishes. And since there’s a full bar, you’ll be able to kick back with an aji amarillo bloody Mary, which I can’t wait to try.

Destino            - 1815 Market St. San Francisco - 415-552-4451

Boxing Room Starts Lunch Service Monday August 22nd

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Boxing Room interior; photo from Boxing Room.

Starting Monday August 22nd, you’ll be able to swing by the BOXING ROOM for lunch Mon-Fri, starting at 11:30am. One the menu: new po’ boys (of course!) like a dressed roast beef po’ boy with gravy and steak fries ($14), and a limited number of muffuletta sandwiches (!) with ham, salami, housemade mortadella, provolone, olive salad, and mixed greens ($13), along with salads, like an heirloom tomato salad with cane vinaigrette and basil ($12). Items from the dinner menu now available for lunch include Cajun boiled peanuts ($5), hushpuppies ($5), smoked chicken and andouille gumbo ($9 or $15), Granny G’s burger with Creole mustard aioli and steak fries ($14), fried seafood po’ boy with catfish ($13), shrimp ($15), or oysters ($18), and more. The oyster bar will also have some selections available. The continuous hours into dinner service (which starts at 5pm) will make it a nice spot for late lunchers as well.

Boxing Room            - 399 Grove St. San Francisco - 415-430-6590

Closures: Home on Market Street and Jubili on Fillmore

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Home patio and fireplace; photo from their website.

A tablehopper tipster let me know that HOME RESTAURANT filed for bankruptcy and closed last week. Inside Scoop shared further details that there was a potential deal to sell the restaurant to the owner of Lookout, but the transfer of the ABC’s liquor license was going to prove to be problematic (read all about it here if you’re interested). Time will tell who steps up next. 2100 Market St. at Church.

A reader also let me know that JUBILI, the frozen yogurt and cereal place on Fillmore, appears to have closed. She says, “No notice yet, but the place looks cleaned out-ish, and not open midday on a Monday. Sad. It was quite good yogurt, but every time I was there I was one of (maybe) 2 people in there. I think the other two yogurt places must have more targeted walk-by traffic.”

Update on the SF Street Food Festival

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Photo of the 2009 SF Street Food Festival via Facebook.

There’s more going on than ever with this year’s SAN FRANCISCO STREET FOOD FESTIVAL, in addition to what we mentioned previously. Got a couple updates here for ya, but first, a refresher (as if you need it): food trucks and restaurants alike are going street food-style Saturday August 20th from 11am-7pm on Folsom between 22nd and 26th Streets. The event is free and open to the public, and all food will be under $8, half under $3.

There’s still time to win prizes in the Street Food Fest scavenger hunt game: get a team together and sign up here. You can do a bunch of the challenges from the comfort of your own computer, and prizes include gift certificates for food at Off the Grid, drinks at 15 Romolo, and even an invite to the opening of Wise Sons Deli with free bagels to boot.

So what’s to eat on the big day? You’ve already got 30 of La Cocina’s vendors, 20 Bay Area owner-operated restaurants, and 10 local food trucks, serving everything imaginable from Zaré’s Persian lamb tacos  ($8) to Anda’s piroshkis ($3) to Namu’s kimchi okonomiyaki ($8). Drinks and sweets run the gamut too, from lassis, teas, and juices to ice cream, cupcakes, and even “Gelishots” (with tequila). Six visiting vendors are confirmed: Skillet Street Food from Seattle (fried chicken sandwhich, $8), Big-Ass Sandwiches from Portland (Roast Beef Sandwich, $4/$8), the peached tortilla from Austin (Asian tacos, $3), Ingrid’s LunchBox from Madison (warm apple crisp in a crêpe, $6), and The Arepa Lady from New York (Colombian corn cakes, $4). It’s like eating your way across the country and the world, in one place. Plus when you hit up the out-of-towners, all profits will be donated to La Cocina.

You’ll wanna visit the Cocktail Gardens too (generously curated by Jon Gasparini/Rye on the Road), where the city’s best bartenders will be serving concoctions specially crafted for the festival (only to those who are 21+ with ID, of course). Look for the Lawrenceburg Swizzle (Wild Turkey 81, lemon, mint, maple syrup, Creole bitters drizzled over crushed ice with mint garnish), Street Food Punch (Flor de Caña 7-year rum, ginger syrup, lime, Rye Bar aromatic bitters, Prosecco, lime zest garnish), and Spicy Paloma (Espolón tequila blanco, agave jalapeño syrup, fresh grapefruit, fresh lime, seltzer, pinch of salt, sweet pepper garnish).

With so much food to eat and drinks to drink, don’t bother fumbling for cash. Get a passport, online and ahead of time. 20% of sales go to La Cocina, and passports can be shared. Here’s the important part: passport holders get exclusive “secret” treats for free, like a small bite from Bill Corbett (executive pastry chef, Absinthe) at the Mission Artisan Tortillas truck. In another online perk, you can now see a map and make a favorites list to share with friends and view on your iPhone.

After the festival, join the official after-party from 7pm-2am for more food (late night tacos!), music, and dancing with Afrolicious, Tormenta Tropical, and DJ Quest at Public Works, 161 Erie Street at Mission (near 14th Street). Tickets are just $5.

Try not to get too hungover (haha) because there’s the “Eat Your Cart Out” brunch on Sunday August 21st, noon-1:30pm, at Fort Mason Center, where Top Chef Masters contestant Suvir Saran will be making peanut shrimp. He’s joined by Wise Sons Deli, Azalina’s, and Ingrid’s LunchBox. Did we mention mimosas and bloody Marys are included? Brunch kicks off the two-day National Street Food Conference. There’s some juicy topics in there, like a look at the tension between brick-and-mortar restaurants and food trucks, and the old school versus new school taco truck divide. Tickets are online, ranging from $50-$100, and scholarships are available too.

See you at the festival!

               Saturday Aug 20, 2011 – Monday Aug 22, 2011 more info

You Say Tomato....

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Tomato photo from Flour + Water.

Oh yeah, it’s totally the time to be enjoying those delightful pomodori, so here are a few events you tomato-lovers won’t want to miss:

Tonight, Tuesday August 16th, author Barry Estabrook will be at OMNIVORE BOOKS. He’ll be talking about his new book, Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit, from 6pm-7pm. Here’s more from Ruth Reichl: “In my ten years as editor of Gourmet magazine, the article I am proudest to have published was Barry Estabrook’s ‘The Price of Tomatoes.’ Now he’s expanded that into this astonishingly moving and important book. If you have ever eaten a tomato—or ever plan to—you must read Tomatoland. It will change the way you think about America’s most popular ‘vegetable.’ More importantly, it will give you new insight into the way America farms.”

And then on Monday August 29th, chef Thomas McNaughton of FLOUR + WATER is hosting a six-course Tomato Dinner with wine pairings in the Dough Room. There are two seatings (5:45pm and 8:45pm). $175 per person (inclusive of wine pairings and gratuity). Tickets.

And on now at BIX is the Return of the Killer Tomatoes Cart. You can enjoy some heirloom tomatoes served tableside with hand-pulled mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil, and basil during dinner nightly, or for lunch on Fridays. $14.75.

The Tavern at Lark Creek Launches "Biergarten in the Grove" on Sundays

Starting Sunday August 21st, THE TAVERN AT LARK CREEK is hosting Biergarten in the Grove on Sundays. Chef Aaron Wright has put together a menu of grilled Austrian and German dishes, like a Bavarian mixed grill (grilled sausages with choice of two sides, $16.95) fresh off the outdoor grill, along with applewood-smoked pork sliders ($9.95), German potato salad ($5.95), and a jumbo pretzel baked in-house ($3.95). There will also be live music and special beers on tap, like Spaten’s Pilsner and Dark Optimator, and Iron Springs’ Chazz Cat Rye and Casey Jones Imperial IPA, all on draught for $3. Happy hour prices will also apply to other beverages, including $5 well drinks, $6.50 well drinks served up, and wine on tap at $4 a glass. Every Sunday from 2pm-5:30pm through October 30th. 234 Magnolia Ave. at William, Larkspur, 415-924-7766.

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the sponsor

This Round Is On Me... (hey, thanks!)

(Sponsored): San Francisco Cocktail Week Blasts Off September 19th

Giddy up! The fifth annual San Francisco Cocktail Week is coming on September 19th-25th, 2011, and will be filled with cocktail parties, spirit seminars, neighborhood cocktail crawls, cocktail dinners, festive galas, and more.

A few highlights include the “Shaker & Flask” party showcasing the science and molecular mixology of cocktails; the “East Bay Showdown” in Oakland with some of the East Bay’s best bartenders; a “Best of the West” Cocktail night with 10 guest bartenders from San Diego to Vancouver; a “Barbary Coast Bazaar” celebrating all things bizarre and delicious in a fantastical night of cocktails from San Francisco’s best bars with appetizers and carnival curiosities; and “The Legends Awards” celebrating the true cocktail innovators, influencers, mentors, and historians in the industry.


the lush

Bar News & Reviews (put it on my tab)

This Week's Guest Bartender at Jardinière and New Happy Hours

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Photo from Jardinière.

Some quick booze news for ya: JARDINIÈRE is hosting guest bartender Carolyn Alburger of Eater this Thursday August 18th from 6pm-8pm. She’ll be shaking the MargarEater ($9) behind the bar, and all money made from this cocktail purchase will be used to help support the charity Home Away From Homelessness. There will also be a cheese, corn, and chile empanada for $9. Arriba.

BLUESTEM BRASSERIE has some “feel good” happy hour offerings Mon-Fri 4pm-6pm, featuring $5 One Hope wines by the glass, $5 well drinks, $3 select draught and bottled beers (Sierra Nevada, Trumer Pils, Lagunitas IPA, and more), as well as a $7 specialty cocktail, the Bluestem Smash (St-Germain, Stolichnaya Vodka or Evan Williams Whiskey, muddled seasonal fruit, mint, lime, and sparkling wine). And you can feel good about your boozin’, because $1 of every Bluestem Smash sold will go toward UCSF cancer research, and 50% of profits generated by One Hope wines are donated to partner charities (autism and breast cancer research).

TXOKO has a new late-night happy hour (Tue-Thu after 10pm), with $2 PBR and $5 Fernet on Tuesdays, $5 glasses of wine and $5 Fernet on Wednesdays, and $3 draught beer (Trumer Pils, Ommegang BPA, and Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout) and $5 Fernet on Thursdays. Yeah, dangerous.

(Small side note: on Sunday August 28th, Txoko will be doing pintxos at the third annual Summer Release Party with Chris Brockway of Broc Cellars in Berkeley from 1pm-5pm. $20 at the door, all attendees will get 10% off all wine purchases, plus door fee waived with the purchase of six bottles or more. 805 Camelia St. at 5th St., Berkeley.)

Since we’re in the 510, GATHER has also launched a new weekday happy hour, with food and beverage specials Mon-Fri 5pm-6:30pm. Guests can enjoy $4 tap beer, $5 tap wine, and a $15 market pizza.

Bloody Mary Time at Sunday, Bloody Sunday

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A bloody Mary at nopa. Photo: © tablehopper.com

It’s bloody Mary time on August 28th when eight bartenders will compete for the winning recipe at Sunday, Bloody Sunday in the newly renovated BAR DRAKE in the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. Guests will get to sample the eight unique bloody Mary entries, plus brunch bites will be served to honor the debut of chef Jen Biesty’s new brunch menu, so you can line your stomach with, for example, the “Biestwich” BLT with crisp Llano Seco pork belly, avocado, vegetable aioli, and greens on a ciabatta bun.

Which of these competitors will take home the title of “Best Bloody Mary”? Scott Baird, Bon Vivants; Bret Sylvester, Otis Lounge; Dan Smith, Good Gracious! Events; Jason “Buffalo” LoGrasso, Cotogna; Matthew Harrison, Delarosa; Oliver Lee, Four Seasons; Vincent Toscano, Rye; or Brian Deconinck, Scala’s Bistro? They’ll be using Square One Organic Spirits infused with cucumber, botanicals, or basil.

The competition will run from 11am-1pm. The judges will decide the “Best Bloody Mary” while guests get to vote on the “Crowd Favorite.” Tickets are $10 in advance, $20 at the door, and include the brunch nibbles and all eight tastes. Proceeds benefit CUESA. 432 Powell St. at Sutter, 415-395-8555.

               Sunday Aug 28, 2011 11am–1pm $10 in advance, $20 at the door more info

SF Cocktail Week Preview Party: Farmers' Market Cocktails

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Bartender Kyle Ford. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

In case you missed the mention last week, the Center for Urban Education About Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA) and the Northern California Chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG) are hosting an SF COCKTAIL WEEK PREVIEW PARTY featuring cocktails straight from the farmers’ market. It’s Wednesday August 24th, 5:30pm-8pm, in the CUESA Kitchen in the Ferry Building.

The 20-plus bartenders who will be keeping this happy hour happy include Summer-Jane Bell, Jessica Maria, and Keli Rivers of Hotsy Totsy Club; Lou Bustamante, Northern California USBG Treasurer; Victoria D’Amato-Moran of Cent’Anni Cocktails; Kevin Diedrich of Jasper’s Corner Tap; Reza Esmaili of Ananas; Brandon Josie of 15 Romolo; Greg Lindgren of Rye; Duggan McDonnell of Cantina; David Nepove, USBG National President; Jacqueline Patterson, National Brand Ambassador for Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur; Jennifer Seidman of Acme Bar and Co.; and Ethan Terry of 15 Romolo. These are the good folks bringing you the programs and parties of SF Cocktail Week too, by the way.

They’ll be mixing up two full-sized signature cocktails for ya with Oxley Gin and Corzo Tequila, plus 14 cocktail sips using summer’s best produce—peaches, plums, pluots, blackberries, peppers, fennel, heirloom apples and tomatoes, etc.—and the spirits sponsoring SF Cocktail Week—Belvedere Bloody Mary Vodka, Brugal Rum, Campari, Charbay Tahitian Vanilla Vodka, a variety of Cognacs, Cointreau Orange Liqueur, Hangar One Vodka, Herradura Tequila, The King’s Ginger Liqueur, Michael Collins 10 Year Old Single Malt, No. 209 Gin, St. George Spirits’ Gin, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, and Templeton Rye Whiskey.

If your liver is aquiver at the thought of all that alcohol, just remember, they will be serving bites from local restaurants. You’ll also get to vote for your  favorite drink and hors d’oeuvre, and five voters will win advance tickets to SF Cocktail Week events. Good luck!

Ticket are $45 online, with proceeds going towards CUESA’s Schoolyard to Market program, a youth development and entrepreneurship program in which local high school students grow produce in school gardens to sell at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.

               Wednesday Aug 24, 2011 5:30pm–8pm $45 more info

Ferry Building            - One Ferry Building San Francisco - 415-983-8000

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the socialite

Shindigs, Feasts, & Festivals (let's party)

Foreign Cinema Turns 12 (and Is Throwing a Big Bash!)

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Counting Crows’ signed guitar up for auction for Little Kids Rock; photo from Facebook.

Event Info

Thursday Sep 22, 2011 6pm $85 Foreign Cinema 2534 Mission St. at 21st St., San Francisco 415-648-7600

Congratulations are in order for chefs Gayle Pirie and John Clark as FOREIGN CINEMA turns 12 this year, and they’re throwing a rockin’ anniversary party to celebrate. It’s gonna be a big bash, and with a big heart too ‘cause they’re teaming up with nonprofit Little Kids Rock for a live auction. The party starts at 6pm on Thursday September 22nd with Liam Mayclem of CBS5’s Eye On The Bay leading the party as the evening’s emcee (so expect a few instances of everyone yelling  “hip hip hooray!”).

Guests will get to sip cocktails and enjoy bites from the Foreign Cinema kitchen all evening while enjoying art, live musical performances by local student rock bands, roving magicians, and the debut of the film 12 Minutes by in-house filmmaker, Bryan Ranere. Guests also get to bid on one-of-a-kind auction items. We’re talking guitars signed by famous musicians like Green Day, Lady Antebellum, Counting Crows, and Mike Patton; custom-built guitars from SF Guitarworks painted by prominent artists like Naomie Kremer, Sheldon Greenberg, and Scott William of San Francisco, and Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of SpongeBob Square Pants; and other unique rock memorabilia.

Call 415-648-7600 to reserve anniversary party tickets ($85). Proceeds benefit the Bay Area chapter of Little Kids Rock, which brings free music classes and instruments to thousands of underfunded public schools in the Bay Area.

This Land Is Your Land, a Fundraiser for Pie Ranch

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Barn dance photo from Pie Ranch’s Flickr.

Event Info

Saturday Sep 24, 2011 3pm farm tour, 4pm drinks and apps, 5:30pm dinner $200 Info/tickets                        Pie Ranch Hwy. 1, eight miles south of Pescadero

Get your dancing shoes out, and not the stiletto ones, ladies, for a barn dance and live music at a unique fundraiser: on Saturday September 24th, PIE RANCH is holding This Land Is Your Land, a special farm-to-table experience that will take you from the fields to the dinner table.

Gather at Pie Ranch at 3pm to check out the farm and snap up silent auction items, then around 4pm, start enjoying local wine and beer, and appetizers by Station 1 Restaurant in Woodside. Follow that up with a three- or four-course family-style dinner by chef Ryan Harris and Station 1, who are hand-crafting each gourmet dish with ingredients harvested or sourced from Pie Ranch or other Bay Area farms. Each course will be accompanied by wine donated from local vineyards like Thomas Fogarty and Bonny Doon (beer and non-alcoholic options will be available too). And, dessert is Pie Ranch’s very own pie via Companion Bakeshop and ice cream from Penny Ice Creamery.

Tickets ($200) will sell out! They’re available online, with proceeds going to support Pie Ranch’s nonprofit programming, which teaches youth about healthy food and communities, trains emerging farmers, and creates a more sustainable food system. Map and directions here. FYI, since the meal is family-style and will depend on what’s fresh and ripe for harvest, it may not be the right thing for vegans or food allergy-sufferers—more details here.


the starlet

Star Sightings in Restaurants (no photos please)

Jennifer Love Hewitt's Hot Dinner Date

Some star wattage over in Presidio Heights: Jennifer Love Hewitt and Benjamin Flajnik (a winemaker from Sonoma—and rejected contestant who placed second on the recent series of The Bachelorette) came in to Sociale for dinner on Saturday night. (US Weekly also reports they were spotted at the Lion’s Pub on Divisadero: “Though Flajnik initially stopped by the bar with San Francisco Giants player Cody Ross, he made a beeline for Hewitt after spotting her from across the room.”)

Tony Bourdain On and All Over the Town

Oh Lordy, the interwebs were buzzing with sightings of Anthony Bourdain last week, who was in town shooting his new show, The Layover. Plenty of his own tweets shared where he went: Chaac Mool in Dolores Park, Toronado, Li Po, Comstock Saloon, Mr. Bing’s, Sam’s Burgers (oooh, that must have been a late night), Swan Oyster Depot, Molinari’s (for a “breakfast hero,” oy), and a jump into the pool at the Tonga Room. Sarah Han at The Bold Italic got a picture with him at the Rice Paper Scissors pop-up, and another tweet revealed he was at Monk’s Kettle. That was some serious tablehopping.

What Hungry (and Stoned?) Musicians Snarfed at Outside Lands

SF Eater has a fun roundup of what a variety of musicians and DJs in town for Outside Lands had to eat at the three-day musical festival. And according to a tweet, Arcade Fire requested Homeroom 510’s mac and cheese Sunday night (Eater also reports “Arcade Fire’s personal assistant dropped by Pacific Catch ‘frantically’ during their last set with the band’s food requests list. An order of fish n’ chips was sent out for horn player Colin Stetson.”). And of the estimated 7,000 porchetta sandwiches Flour + Water/Salumeria made over the weekend, a few of them went to Damian Kulash of OK Go, MGMT, and The Decemberists.

Who Needs to Think When Your Feet Just Go (to picco)

Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth of Tom Tom Club came into restaurant picco for dinner last night. Chef Bruce Hill said they had a ball, and that it was “So cool to serve some of my music idols!”

Sandwich Time for Chewie

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Photo of Peter Mayhew from Macellato/Twitter.

I forgot to post this one last week: Peter Mayhew (aka Chewbacca) reportedly likes the chickenwich at Macellato in North Beach.

Bamboleo at Bluestem

Last Wednesday evening, the Gipsy Kings came in to Bluestem Brasserie for dinner; they played at Mountain Winery in Saratoga last Tuesday (they are in the middle of their 2011 World Tour). They sat upstairs on the mezzanine level, ordered several steaks, and enjoyed a family-style dinner.

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