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Sep 20, 2012 6 min read

September 21, 2012 - This week's tablehopper: hongry.

September 21, 2012 - This week's tablehopper: hongry.
Table of Contents

This week's tablehopper: hongry.                    

Mooncake from Eastern Bakery. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

Ah yes, it’s a sunny Friday, and the delightful music of my neighbor’s backyard construction fills my ears with the soothing sounds of hammering and buzz saws and drilling concrete. Oh wait, that’s not just today. It’s Every. Fricking. Day. It’s endless—like my ever-growing hatred for them. This writer is missing her peace and quiet. (Yes, I am ranting.)

It’s time for a drink! If you have been partaking in San Francisco Cocktail Week, you’ve probably been having many. Thanks to everyone who showed up for Italian Happy Hour at Blackbird on Wednesday evening—those were some mighty fine aperitivi and cocktails (cheers to Regina Schauerte and Matt Grippo!). I was just happy to have the excuse to wear my 1960s silk kaftan.

Tonight I’m going to the Legends Awards and tomorrow is The California Altered State Fair by Jupiter Olympus—remember, you can save 20 percent on all main event tickets with code THOPPER. Oh, and be sure to swing by my table tonight at the Legends Awards—I’ll have the fab new tablehopper T-shirts there for you to check out.

Another deal for you from one of our kind sponsors this week: tomorrow is the California Wines Road Trip event at the Ferry Building, featuring more than 100 wines, and California cheeses and salumi from Paula LeDuc Catering, all for only $35. But you, dear reader, get $5 off with code TABLEHOPPER. The event is at 2pm, a perfect pit stop after you finish shopping at the market (and a portion of the proceeds benefit CUESA, how about that).

This week has been kicking my butt with deadlines and events, so I’m going to point you over to a couple of articles if you’re looking for some tasty things to eat. First, my review of Dixie for 7x7 magazine is now online, and I also did my monthly post of five new restaurant openings for your radar on 7x7.com. Tired of reading? You can also listen to me talk about the wicked sandwiches at Bar Tartine’s sandwich shop on this week’s segment of You Gotta Eat This on KGO Radio.

Today is also the premiere of Hungry In…, the new web series I’m appearing in on the YouTube HUNGRY channel. Today’s segment features fellow Citysearch scout Josh Ozersky taking us on a tour of New York’s “Hamburger Alley.” Subscribe to the HUNGRY channel and catch a new episode of Hungry In… every Friday!

And last but certainly not least, here’s some 707 scout news for you from Heather Irwin.

Buon weekend!

Marcia Gagliardi


the sponsor

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

(Sponsored): CUESA's Tenth Annual Sunday Supper Is October 14th

Sunday Supper is an elegant celebration of the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market community and California’s rich agricultural bounty. On Sunday October 14th, thirty of San Francisco’s best chefs join winemakers, bartenders, and sustainable farmers in the historic Ferry Building for one memorable and decadent evening in support of CUESA’s Schoolyard to Market program. Here are just some of the talented chefs who will be participating: Ryan Farr of 4505 Meats, William Werner of Craftsman and Wolves, Craig Stoll of Delfina, Melissa Perello of Frances, and Yigit Pura of the freshly opened Tout Sweet Pâtisserie.

This year the event will commence at 6pm with a Champagne reception featuring an oyster bar, hors d’oeuvres, Napa Valley wine, and artisan cocktails. Guests will witness the action in the kitchen with a special behind-the-scenes preview before ascending the stairs to the Grand Hall for an elegant, four-course, gourmet dining experience. The long tables and family-style service are emblematic of the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market community, encouraging guests to interact as they enjoy the unique menus created by six different chef teams. Each menu is paired with premier wines by a distinguished sommelier and features a whole beast carved tableside.

A live auction featuring one-of-a kind culinary-themed items will complete the evening’s festivities. Tickets are $225, $175 of which is a tax-deductible donation.


707 scout

Wine Country Buzz (it’s what happens there)

Pizzando and Three Squares Café Open, Tomatoville, and Ty-Flo's Napa Restaurant Sold

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Pizzando in Healdsburg. Courtesy of Heather Irwin.

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Pizzando opened Tuesday. Courtesy of Heather Irwin.

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Hamachi collar with cantaloupe at Pizzando. Courtesy of Heather Irwin.

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Homemade BLT sandwiches at Tomatoville. Courtesy of Tomatoville.

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Rotisserie & Wine in Napa’s Riverfront District. Courtesy of Heather Irwin.

By 707 correspondent Heather Irwin. Sign up for the BiteClub Newsletter.

PIZZANDO in the HOTEL HEALDSBURG opened Tuesday after several dry runs at its sister property SPOONBAR. Louis Maldonado is exec chef for both properties, and toque Ben Davies is in the kitchen with former A16 pizza whiz Liza Shaw. Pizzando hits the sweet spot between a pizzeria and a white-tablecloth experience with impressive appetizers like oil-poached albacore; unctuous slow-braised pork shoulder with pickled plums; and caraway roasted squash draped with lardo (all $9). The wood-fired oven does double duty cooking entrées and meats, including a crackly-crusted burrata pizza with lemon marmalade; fried chicken legs with spicy vinegar sauce; pork ribs glazed in fennel pollen honey; and hamachi collar with cantaloupe (all $16). Save room for vegetable sides (all $6) including slow-roasted tomatoes with melted crescenza cheese (a perfect early fall dish) and fennel braised in oxtail broth.

Don’t skip the drinks. Bartender Cappy Sorentino is a cocktail hero with his bottled aperitifs—bold undiluted sippers like the Negroni, Bourbon Milk Punch (made with clarified milk, bourbon, lemon, and bitters that will have you lapping up the last drops like a kitten), and Aperol Sour with gin, grapefruit, Aperol, and lemon (all $8). Open daily for lunch and dinner starting at 11:30am. Check out even more food-fetish pictures from opening night at BiteClub. 301 Healdsburg Ave. at Matheson, Healdsburg, 707-922-5233.

Stay tuned for several upcoming openings in Healdsburg including Taverna Sofia and Bravas Bar in October; Cafe Lucia (in the former Affronti) in November; and Parish Cafe, Casa de Mole, and Healdsburg Meat Company in 2013.

THREE SQUARES CAFÉ, the reborn Petite Syrah, opened this week in Santa Rosa for dinner but will begin breakfast and lunch service on Tuesday. The menu is pure comfort classics with daily dinner specials such as fried chicken (Thursday), pork chops and homemade applesauce (Saturday), spaghetti and meatballs (Wednesday), and prime rib (Sunday). 205 5th St. at Davis, Santa Rosa, 707-568-4002.

Over in Napa…it’s the height of tomato season, and Tomatoville celebrates the tasty “wolf peach” with events throughout the weekend of September 28th-30th. Held on the grounds of the BARDESSONO HOTEL, Friday includes a five-course winemaker dinner ($100 per person), Saturday features a Build-Your-Own BLT Party from noon to 3pm ($60 includes wine), and there’s a Bloody Mary and Tomato Tasting on Sunday from 10am-11:30am. For details and tickets, visit bardessono.com. 6526 Yount St. at Mulberry, Yountville, 707-204-6000.

The restaurant changeup everyone’s chatting about in downtown Napa is the takeover of Tyler Florence’s now-shuttered Rotisserie & Wine by Rodney Worth. The restaurant on the Napa waterfront struggled throughout its brief one-year tenure, officially closing in June. Worth owns several successful restaurants in the East Bay, including the PEASANT & THE PEAR and  FERRARI’S CUCINA ITALIANA in Danville. He plans a menu heavy on meat (burgers, prime rib) with Southern touches. Look for a 2013 opening.

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