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Sep 16, 2013 22 min read

September 17, 2013 - This week's tablehopper: pack it up, pack it in!

September 17, 2013 - This week's tablehopper: pack it up, pack it in!
Table of Contents

This week's tablehopper: pack it up, pack it in.                    

Sunday pizza party with the fam; my Dad rocking the brick oven he hacked (he built it on our old gas barbecue). Photo: © tablehopper.com.

Why hello there. You ready for today’s hefty tablehopper issue? So much going on right now. My dance card this week is definitely full, checking out newcomers Fog City, 1760, and La Urbana. (Here’s a reminder/cheat sheet I wrote for 7x7.com of five new openings this month, just in case you’re having trouble remembering everything.)

I have just one week left before I leave for Italy with my father—commence freak-out sequence now. Nothing like having to finish your taxes before a big trip (yeah, I am the queen of asking for the October extension).

Oh, and I just wanted to point you to a couple cool giveaways we’re doing here on tablehopper in case you missed it: last week we featured a sponsored giveaway of $50 gift certificates for lunch or dinner delivery from Caviar (considering you can get Turtle Tower or Bar Tartine sandwiches delivered to your door, I’d recommend you check it out!), and we are also giving away an amazing Coravin (more details on this wino dream device here). There is still time to enter both giveaways, by the way, so hop to it.

Okay, it’s time for me to attack my very long to-do list, have a fab week (tomorrow is supposed to be gorg!). See you Friday.

Marcia Gagliardi


the chatterbox

Gossip & News (the word on the street)

Meet the Chef of Daniel Patterson Group's Upcoming Alta CA: Yoni Levy

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Chef Yoni Levy. Photo by Tienlon Ho.

Last week I had the opportunity to sit down and meet Yoni Levy, the chef for the Daniel Patterson Group’s upcoming ALTA CA, opening in the Mid-Market area. Levy has worked with some talented chefs all over the country, starting locally with his externship at Bradley Ogden’s One Market Restaurant, and then to the Lark Creek Inn with Jeremy Sewall, whom he followed to Boston to open Great Bay restaurant. He also talked about working with Paul Kahan at Blackbird in Chicago, where he was the lead line cook (working in Kahan’s kitchen means you have to come up with dishes if you’re going to succeed), and his time with chefs Jason Hammel and Amalea Tshilds of the rock ‘n’ roll Lula Café, which helped prepare him for the upcoming daytime/nighttime menus he will be running at Alta.

Levy took some time out from restaurant kitchens for about six months to explore food activism, working at Jane Addams Hull-House Museum (he cooked in the soup kitchen for the women’s shelter, and also was a part of launching its greenhouse program). After returning to restaurant life (working with chef Chris Pandel at The Bristol and chef Jared Van Camp at Old Town Social), Levy and his wife (now a curator at SFMOMA) took a trip to California and decided to stay (Levy is originally from San Jose). Through a friend at Flora, he found a job there, where he has been for the past two years (he was chef de cuisine); through a chance reunion with chef Kim Alter (they originally met in the kitchen at Blackbird), he was introduced to Daniel Patterson.

Levy is “ecstatic” that this is his first chef job, and “for such an awesome group and area—[I] always wanted to be a chef in San Francisco. It’s priceless to be able to bounce ideas off Ron [Boyd] and Daniel [Patterson].” Sidebar: a bar manager for Alta hasn’t been named yet, but Boyd is currently working on some cocktail innovations.

Alta CA is a couple of months out (currently targeting late fall) and since Levy’s menu will be so seasonally minded, it’s hard to project what the exact dishes on the menu will be, but he did mention that there will be simple, bold flavors, with a focus on brightness and freshness. Grains and vegetables will be primary, with meats as more of an accompaniment instead of the main event. The menu will cover lunch, dinner, bar snacks, and late night; for lunch, he said he’d like to offer “big bowls of beautiful food that will make you feel good about what you ate,” as well as energized for the rest of the day. Sounds good to me.

Right now he’s helping out at Haven, and you’ll be able to meet Levy at the upcoming Food Bank gala on September 21st, One Big Table.

Alta CA            - 1420 Market St. San Francisco - 415-590.2585

Traci Des Jardins Partnering with Presidio Trust on a Restaurant, More

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Building 101 in the Presidio. Photo by Blake Marvin.

Over in the Presidio, Traci Des Jardins (working with Bon Appétit Management Company) will be opening a restaurant and more (via Inside Scoop). First, let’s discuss the restaurant: it will be Californian with Spanish influences, and one of her previous chefs at Jardinière, Robbie Lewis, will be leading the kitchen. The restaurant will have 112 seats, and is opening in Building 101 (one of the Montgomery Street Barracks on the Main Post). It will be open for breakfast and lunch, offering espresso, takeout meals (great for picnics), and the option to dine in at lunch; evenings will have more of a bistro vibe. Look for an opening around Valentine’s Day in 2014.

There will also be a mercantile and larder retail shop offering handcrafted, artisan local foods: jams, breads, local cheeses, charcuterie, and other items. There will additionally be culinary classes offered, and catering options will be launching in time for the holidays for those holding events in the Presidio.

New Thai Places: Pim Opening Kin Khao, Third Lers Ros Location Coming to the Mission

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Pim Techamuanvivit (photo via Facebook).

Cool news, Thai food lovers: Pim Techamuanvivit, of Chez Pim fame, is going to be opening a restaurant in SF called KIN KHAO in the Parc 55 Hotel in Union Square. Scoop mentions she will be taking over the 70-seat Smooth Thai location, but is working on the venture with the owner of Smooth Thai, Chupot Janlaor. She will also be joined in the kitchen by Michael Gaines (previously Central Kitchen, Manresa). Look for authentic dishes featuring numerous housemade, local, and sustainable ingredients. Marc Glassberg will be assembling the wine list; there’s also full liquor, and the Bon Vivants (Trick Dog) will be consulting on the cocktail menu. Additional details: there will be “Thai” iced coffee that Verve is custom roasting for them. Late hours are also in the works: hello 2am nightly. November is the targeted opening month. 55 Cyril Magnin St. at Ellis and Mason.

More Thai: LERS ROS is planning to open a third location—it would be in the Mission in the Malai Thai space, if this ABC license activity proves to be true (h/t Scoop). 3189 16th St. at Guerrero.

Fog City Opening September 23rd; Sneak Peek at a Benefit Event on the 19th

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Pickled Gulf shrimp. Photo: Kristen Loken.

Opening on the Embarcadero on Monday September 23rd is FOG CITY, the newly renovated Fog City Diner, which we covered in depth a few weeks ago here. Dinner service will begin first, and then lunch and brunch will kick in once we get into early October. You can look at the menu here.

Just in case you don’t want to wait for the opening, you can attend a grand opening and fundraiser this Thursday September 19th. The launch event will benefit Raphael House (an organization that helps at-risk children and their parents achieve stable housing and financial independence), and will include bites and drinks, plus live music from Project: Pimento. 6pm-10pm. $125 per person; get tickets here. 1300 Battery St. at The Embarcadero, 415-982-2000.

The Chapel Is Opening Its Restaurant: The Vestry

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The bar at The Vestry. Photo by Michael David Rose Photography via Urban Daddy.

Well, it started out as a music venue, then became a music venue serving limited snacks, and now it’s got a restaurant. The team at The Chapel is opening THE VESTRY (the name was revealed via Scoop), a Cal-Med restaurant from À Côté owner Jack Knowles and chef Matthew Colgan. Look for items like fried squash blossoms with carrot and ricotta purée, flatbreads, and a grilled Toulouse sausage with sauerkraut and pickled turnips. Desserts are from pastry chef Elaine Osuna, and include the It IS IT, her twist on the (you guessed it) It’s-It, along with a seasonal fruit galette and custard-filled brioche doughnuts.

Darren Crawford of Bourbon & Branch is consulting on the cocktail list, which will focus on small-batch producers, and obscure or hard-to-find spirits. All syrups and mixes will be crafted in-house, and Crawford is aiming to appeal to a range of tastes. No word on any specific beverages yet. In the wine department, you’ll find a list from Patrick Cress of mostly California wines, all selected to be food-friendly, with bottles from France, Italy, and Spain as well.

The restaurant seats 85 inside, plus room for an additional 50 on the patio. It was designed to maintain the chuch-like feel of the original space (it used to be a mortuary, with a chapel attached), and many touches have been preserved, including the high, arched ceilings and lots of stained glass. Tables were made out of pieces of wood from the space, including old columns, doors, and beams. Hours at the restaurant are 5pm-12am nightly, and at the bar 5pm-2am nightly. 777 Valencia St. at 18th St., 415-551-­5157.

Bergerac Opens in SoMa

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The Live and Let Die. Photo by Natalie Darville.

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Trout crudo. Photo by Natalie Darville.

As previously mentioned on tablehopper, Bruce McDonald (Foreign Cinema), Anderson Pugash (Crossroads Nightlife Group), and David Brinkley (Vessel) have brought on bar program director Russell Davis and chef Randy Lewis for a new SoMa project, BERGERAC, which officially opens this Saturday September 21st. Cocktails include choices like the Unforgiven, with mezcal, Ransom Old Tom gin, Carpano Antica, maraschino, spring water, a Duke’s orange, and “shined” tobacco tincture, or the Bain [sic] of My Existence, which is a shot of green Chartreuse with a root beer back (oof). Look for house-blended spirits, including vermouth, as well as barrel-aged bourbon.

The globally inspired food is intended to pair well with the drinks, including options like the Bergerac Egg (inspired by a Scotch egg), a freezer-cured egg yolk wrapped in black pudding and fried in panko, or crudo of McFarland Springs trout, cucumber “gravlax,” and rye crackers, meant to pair well with a gin cocktail.

The space was designed by Josh Rowland, with inspiration from Villa Nellcôte, the French villa where the Rolling Stones recorded Exile on Main Street. The space is quite large (3,500 square feet), and includes several different seating areas. The walnut bar seats 25, plus there are high tables in the bar area. Velvet and leather tufted couches and chairs at coffee tables keep the center space loungy, and in the back is a fireplace with love seats. A draped private banquette is available for more, er, privacy. Reservations available for parties of eight or more. Hours are Tue-Sat 5pm-closing (more specific closing times will hopefully emerge after they’ve been open a few weeks). 316 11th St. at Folsom, 415-255-9440.

Openings: Izakaya Hashibiro Kou, Tender Greens, Workshop Cafe, Smashburger

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The interior at Izakaya Hashibiro Kou. Photo from Facebook.

Tasting Table caught the whiff of this opening today on Fillmore in the former Nan Korean space. IZAKAYA HASHIBIRO KOU is from the team that runs sister Korean Barbecue restaurants Yakini Q in San Francisco and San Jose. The chef is Nick Yoon, and their Facebook page shows photos of Japanese and Korean dishes like boneless short rib with vegetables and ponzu, yamakake yam with bigeye tuna, and dengaku miso grilled eggplant. 1560 Fillmore St. at Geary, 415-441-9294.

According to a tip from a reader, Southern California-based salad chain TENDER GREENS is reportedly opening its first San Francisco location (second in the Bay Area) on Monday September 23rd. As we mentioned earlier, former chef at Bluestem Brasserie, Sean Canavan, is at the helm of the operation and may be adding a few special things to this location, like butchery classes. Look for fast, fresh salads, soup, and sandwiches; check out the menu from another location here. 30 Fremont St. at Mission, 415-543-5200.

Downtown workers seeking a place to get some work done with Wi-Fi (without feeling like seat hogs) have a new spot to check out: WORKSHOP CAFE is actually designed with Wi-Fi workers in mind. Eater reports that the new technology-driven cafe is now open. They’ve got plenty of power outlets, printers and scanners, and ergonomic seating. Basically, it’s an office for those who don’t have one, along with coffee from Stumptown and food coming soon. Using the space costs $2 an hour, which is tracked using their smartphone app. 180 Montgomery St. at Bush, 415-322-1048.

International burger chain SMASHBURGER’s first San Francisco location is landing in Potrero Center on September 21st. Look for burgers, fries, chicken sandwiches, and hot dogs. 2300 16th St. Suite 293 at Potrero.

Tidbits: Namu Gaji Adds Weekend Brunch, Here Comes Orenchi Ramen, State Bird Update, More

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The Hangtown Benedict at Namu Gaji. Photo courtesy Namu Gaji.

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The space next door to State Bird Provisions. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

Now there’s yet another way to fill your belly with the fine vittles at NAMU GAJI. As of this past weekend, they’re serving weekend brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30am-4pm. Look for the Hangtown Benedict, a hollandaise-drenched take on the classic fry, or rice with slow-cooked onsen egg with kimchi and a choice of chicken thigh, pork belly, or vegetable tempura; check out the menu here. You’ll also find a soju-based Bloody Mary and mimosas—you can stumble across the street to Dolores Park for your nap afterward, how convenient.

Ramen fiends are going to be excited by this news: Eater reports that Santa Clara ramen favorite ORENCHI RAMEN is opening a location in San Francisco. The northern outpost will be in the Mission, but won’t be opening until sumer 2014 at the earliest. Look for tonkotsu ramen, tsukemen, and Japanese beer and sake. 174 Valencia St. at Duboce.

We gain some, we lose some: Over in North Beach, KIRIMACHI RAMEN is going to be closing since the building it’s in just sold. The last night of ramen service will be Friday September 27th. It’s a shame, because chef Leonardi Gondoputro went to Japan earlier this year to perfect his ramen, studying from a ramen master. We’ll have to see where in the Bay Area Leo turns up next! 450 Broadway at Kearny.

I caught up with the STATE BIRD PROVISIONS crew for an update on how construction is going on their expansion (you can read previous details here); the restaurant has been closed since August 10th. The current targeted reopening date is early to mid-October, and they have a new GM: Ryan Anderson, previously at Uchi and Uchiko in Austin (you can read an Eater interview with him here).

Not only will the new space feature two large tables for groups (with room for six to eight people), a heater, and new bathroom, but the original space is now going to have an insulated raw bar (near the former front door). Chef-owner Stuart Brioza mentioned there is a new menu format in development for the larger, reservation-only tables, which will be a set-price menu (although there will be some flexibility in the menu)—just imagine waves of small plates that will come to the table. Sounds like heaven to me. Psssst, if you want to try to score a reservation, they will be opening the books soon—just follow State Bird on Twitter for updates (you can also sign up for their mailing list).

I was riding my bike past RANGE in the Mission and noticed there was some construction going on. Ends up the restaurant underwent a small refresh: They redid the façade, did some repainting inside, and also added wallpaper in the back. They added cool new lights and are still waiting on new curtains and new art. The new look should all be completed by the end of the month. 842 Valencia St. at 19th St., 415-282-8283.

Check out this cool culinary art project at the Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga. Artist Andrea Blum has been exploring American food traditions with her My American Pantry photo series, and on Sunday September 29th at 1:30pm, she’ll be doing a photo shoot and community picnic at the Arts Center. The event is free, but you do need to register here. 15400 Montalvo Rd. at Piedmont, Saratoga, 408-961-5800.

Linea Caffe Opens in the Mission on Wednesday

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The espresso counter. Photo: Dana Massey-Todd. © tablehopper.com.

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GreenSalads.org and Lt. Waffle. Photo: Dana Massey-Todd. © tablehopper.com.

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The classic Brussels-style waffle. Photo: Dana Massey-Todd. © tablehopper.com.

A report by Dana Massey-Todd. As previously reported on tablehopper, the Mission is getting a new espresso bar, LINEA CAFFE. The pint-size espresso bar lives in the back of Duc Loi Supermarket, and is a collaboration between Andrew Barnett (the founder of Ecco Caffe), and Anthony Myint of Mission Chinese, Commonwealth, and Mission Bowling Club.

Barnett is running the espresso bar, which is focused on meticulously pulled shots from the La Marzocco Linea machine. They’re roasting all their own coffee (though not on-site; the magic happens at Highwire’s facility in Emeryville), using beans from some of Barnett’s favorite farmers from around the world. The focus—in both the roasting and preparation of the drinks—is on enhancing the natural sweetness in coffee. There is no drip or pour-over option here; it’s all espresso, all the time. Beans will also be available to take home, with a rotating roster of single-origin roasts.

On the food side, Myint has two different concepts going on: GreenSalads.org, which offers a mix of salad choices, and Lt. Waffle, a Brussels-style yeasted waffle stand. The salads include choices like a chopped salad with romaine, tortilla strips, radish, and ranch dressing, or a rice salad ($9) with avocado, brown rice, shiitake mushrooms, broccoli, pumpkin seeds, and cucumber ($8). All salads are available with bacon, chicken, or chicharones, as well.

In the waffle department, look for sweet offerings, like the classic with butter and syrup ($5)—which is available with toppings like coconut jam, gianduia, and macadamia—or yogurt and seasonal fruit. There are also savory choices, like the pastrami waffle, which is a potato batter waffle with pastrami (from Mission Chinese) and sauerkraut. All items will be served in to-go containers for takeout or to enjoy on the espresso counter on the exterior wall.

The design of the tiny (290 square feet) space is sleek and modern, with blonde wood in a hexagonal pattern on the wall behind the espresso bar. The kitchen backsplash is hexagonal white tile too. The exterior walls are windows (one side hadn’t been installed during my visit), and an espresso counter will line one of the walls. They officially open Wednesday September 18th (with limited menu choices), and hours are 8am-3pm daily. 3417 18th St. at San Carlos.

Pop-Ups and Special Dinners: Kronner Burger, Naked Kitchen, Hot Dogs at Mikkeller Bar

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Kronnerburger. Photo via Facebook.

This Saturday September 21st, Kronner Burger will be popping up at THE MILL from 6pm-9pm, with burgers for $10 (Josey Baker will be making the buns this go-round), plus there’s that marrow supplement you can order, and Kennebec chips with beef cheek gravy, the wedge salad, bean salad, and pickles. 736 Divisadero St. at Fulton, 415-345-1953.

Chefs Ian Mullen and Jason Smith are popping up at NAKED KITCHEN in the Mission on Saturday September 21st. They’ve decided to offer two menus, one vegetarian and the other omnivorous, but both will be similar. Take a peek at both menus here. There are seatings at 6pm and 9pm, and still a few tickets left for each. Dinner is $110 per person. Remember that Naked Kitchen events are BYOB too.

On Friday September 20th, celebrate the Autumn Moon festival with Rice Paper Scissors at VIRGIL’S SEA ROOM. The menu includes food items that are whole and round, to celebrate the full moon. Look for banh pia, a Vietnamese moon cake with lotus bean paste and salted duck egg, plus other Vietnamese plates. If Karl stays away, you can take your snacks out the patio for some moon gazing too. 3152 Mission St. at Precita, 415-829-2233.

On Friday September 20th, MIKKELLER BAR is hosting Danish hot dog star Johns Hotdog Deli at 5pm.

Lots of Chances to Catch Joyce Goldstein This Fall

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The fabulous chef and author Joyce Goldstein has a new book out, Inside the California Food Revolution: Thirty Years That Changed Our Culinary Consciousness. The book is all about the culinary landscape in California, starting in the 1970s, and includes interviews with chefs, writers, and purveyors. To celebrate the book, she’ll be at a bunch of events all over town; be sure to catch her in action!

First up, on Saturday September 21st from 3pm-5pm, you’ll find her at the PASTA SHOP in Berkeley. She’ll be reading from the book, signing it, and there will be the opportunity to sample some items not seen much before the 1980s, but commonly available now. The event is free, and the book will be available for purchase. 1786 4th St. at Delaware, Berkeley, 510-250-6004.

On Wednesday September 25th, she’ll be at OMNIVORE BOOKS from 6:30pm-7:30pm, reading from the book and signing. The event is free, and books will be available for purchase.

Then, on Wednesday October 16th, head down to the PURCELL-MURRAY showroom in Brisbane for a lunch and conversation with Jonathan Kauffman of Tasting Table SF. Lunch will highlight lots of ingredients not normally available until the California food revolution made them popular in the 1980s, including arugula, heirloom tomatoes, goat cheese, and gold and Chioggia beets. Lunch costs $45 per person, and books will be available for purchase at the event as well.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 415-656-8129.

Purcell Murray            - 185 Park Lane, Brisbane

510 Openings and News: Slicer Pizzeria, The Dock at Linden Street, Osmanthus

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The counter at Slicer Pizzeria. Photo via EBX.

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The bright interior at Acapulco in Alameda. Photo from Facebook.

Back in July, we mentioned Local Café (next door to Adesso) was going to be replaced by SLICER PIZZERIA, a venture from Colin Etezadi (Boot & Shoe, Pizzaiolo, Camino) serving affordable but quality pizza with seasonal toppings. Thanks to a heads-up from East Bay Express, we learned the place is now open. It’s meant to be more of a takeout place instead of a sit-down spot, so call ahead with your order; you can also get slices, plus salads, dessert (panna cotta with basil, yes please), and beer and aguas frescas to drink. Open Tue-Sun 11:30am-9pm. 4395 Piedmont Ave. at Pleasant Valley, 510-808-5424.

Exciting news over on Linden Street: James Syhabout (Commis, Hawker Fare) is partnering with Adam Lamoreaux (Linden Street Brewery) to open a beer garden and restaurant in West Oakland: THE DOCK AT LINDEN STREET. And how convenient—it will be right by the Linden Street Brewery. Scoop mentions Syhabout’s menu will include beer-friendly food from around the world. There will also be full liquor. Stand by for news about the opening date—they’re going through permitting at the moment. 95 Linden St. at 3rd St., Oakland.

There’s a new taker for the former Nan Yang space in Oakland: OSMANTHUS, from Michael Chiang, with chef Julia Klein (previously at Terra in St. Helena). Scoop says: “Her menu will include sections like raw dishes, noodles, small plates and large plates. Influences will span from China, Japan and southeast Asia.” (There will also be a strong California influence with the ingredient sourcing.) Bonus: there will also be a full bar offering craft cocktails inspired by Asian ingredients. Look for an opening in mid-October. 6048 College Ave. at Florio, Oakland.

Now (partially) open in its new location is ALCHEMY COLLECTIVE—the new café is just about four blocks away from the original location. The co-op café now has seating, a bathroom, Wi-Fi, and food will be coming soon. There’s a little patio and window for now; the interior of the café will be open soon. Open Mon-Fri 7am-3pm, Sat-Sun 8am-3pm. 1741 Alcatraz Ave. at Ellis, Berkeley, 510-969-6250.

After trying to get updates on the place after a preview story we ran last year, it is apparently official: ACAPULCO has reopened under new ownership. The new owner is Mike Wiesner, of Paradiso in San Leandro and Boulevard Burger in Castro Valley, and his business partner Gordon Galvan. According to Alameda A La Carte, the restaurant is now softly open, serving a limited dinner menu. Beloved dishes from the previous ownership under the Quintero family remain, including the queso fundido. The rest of the menu is standard Mexican fare, like taco plates, combination platters, and burritos; take a peek here. Oh, and they’ve also secured a full liquor license, so the margaritas are made with the hard stuff (the wine margaritas were pretty infamous). Right now, hours are Sun, Tue-Thu 5pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-10pm; weekend brunch and weekday lunch will be added soon. 2100 Lincoln Ave. at Willow, 510-239-4912.

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the sponsor

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

(Sponsored): 30 Top Chefs, 6 Whole Beasts, 1 Unforgettable Night

On October 20th, thirty of San Francisco’s best chefs join winemakers, bartenders, and sustainable farmers in the historic Ferry Building for the CUESA Sunday Supper, one memorable evening supporting CUESA’s 20 years of nurturing small family farms, building a sustainable food community, and educating the next generation of eaters.

The gala evening kicks off with a reception featuring an exclusive view of the star-studded kitchen and then a sit-down, whole-beast, four-course dinner in the Grand Hall featuring market-inspired menus created by teams of chefs who collaboratively plan the meal.

This year’s live auction features amazing packages, including a rare dinner for 20 in the Giants’ Dugout, a culinary adventure in Oaxaca, and a culinary crawl through Hayes Valley. Proceeds from the night will benefit CUESA’s educational programs, including Foodwise Kids. The innovative program uses the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market as a classroom for teaching elementary students to love vegetables and fruits through comparative tastings, exploring the market, and a hands-on cooking lesson.

Tickets are $250 ($175 is tax deductible), get yours now!


the lush

Bar News & Reviews (put it on my tab)

Upcoming Bar Projects: Dirty Water, The Tradesman

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The future location of Dirty Water Bar (if Google Maps is correct).

A new bar will be opening in early 2014 called DIRTY WATER BAR. Eater announced Kristian Cosentino (previously a GM at Press Club) is behind the bar, which is going to be quite the project. The 8,600-foot-space will include a 150-foot bar (yeah, you read that right) and three lounge areas, plus communal tables and tables for six. The bar program will include hard-to-find, very top-shelf spirits, a choice selection of beer (there will be 51 short-draw taps), wine (with 100 by the glass—he’ll be using Coravin for two- and five-ounce pours of high-end wines), a limited menu of cocktails, and there will be food as well. The buildout is still not under way, so stand by for updates in the New Year. 1446 Market St. between Van Ness and 11th St.

Over by Trick Dog, there’s a new bar that should be coming in the future, but there are some change-of-use permit hurdles to cross first (the space is currently used for tool storage). It will be called THE TRADESMAN, and Scoop mentioned Zarin Gollogly and Spencer Lafrenz (Harrison Woodworking + Design) are behind the project—they have done woodwork for Hog & Rocks and Hi Lo BBQ. The 1,400-square-foot space will be casual, with TVs, and there will be bar snacks (courtesy of Scott Youkilis). Stand by for more on this one. 753 Alabama St. at 19th St.

Special Drink Events: A Boozy Tour of the Botanical Gardens, Whisk(e)y Week at Elixir

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Author Amy Stewart, at the bar of course. Photo from Facebook.

One author has taken the meaning of botanicals in alcohol to a new level: Amy Stewart’s book, The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World’s Great Drinks, is all about the plant origins of everyone’s favorite adult beverages. On Thursday October 3rd, join Stewart for a tour, talk, and reading from the book at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park—cocktails included. During the tour, she’ll take you through the gardens, with a cocktail, of course, pointing out the various specimens that are used in drinks. The tour runs from 6pm-7pm, and the talk runs from 7pm-9pm. Tickets to the talk cost $40 per person ($35 for Conservatory members), tickets for the tour are $100 ($75 for members), and include the talk. 100 John F. Kennedy Dr. at Conservatory Dr., 415-831-2090.

The week of September 23rd-27th, head to ELIXIR for Whisk(e)y Week 2013, with various tasting, distillers, and whiskey aficionados all in one place. The full schedule of events is right here. Also check out a special tasting with Four Roses bourbon on Friday September 27th from 12pm-2pm; tickets are $45. 3200 16th St. at Guerrero, 415-552-1633.

Wine Events: Harvest Tasting at Ragazza, California Wines Road Trip at Ferry Building

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The scene at the California Wines Road Trip tasting in 2012. Photo from Facebook.

Join Pamela Busch at RAGAZZA on Saturday September 21st from 12pm-3pm for a Harvest Wine Tasting. The tasting will focus on some lesser-known wine-producing areas in Eastern Europe, including Croatia, Slovenia, and Hungary, with wines from importers Blue Danube Wine and Return to Terroir. Bryan Harrington of Harrington Wine will also be in attendance, pouring his pinot noir from 2002 to the present. Ragazza will be providing snacks too. Tickets are $30 per person ($18 for trade), and $6 of each ticket sale will be donated to The George Harrison Fund for UNICEF.

Also on Saturday September 21st is the CALIFORNIA WINES ROAD TRIP event at the Ferry Building. From 2pm-5pm, check out pours from 12 different regions throughout California, including Napa, Paso Robles, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo; here’s a list of the participating wineries here. Tickets are $35, and a portion of the proceeds will go to CUESA. Ferry Plaza, Second Floor.

Ragazza            - 311 Divisadero St. San Francisco - 415-255-1133

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the socialite

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

Get Your Tickets to the James Beard Foundation's Gala Dinner After-Party

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 Event Info

Friday Oct  4, 2013 10pm $65 The St. Regis Hotel 125 3rd St. at Mission

As mentioned on tablehopper in July, the James Beard Foundation is sweeping into town with lots of fabulous events, including the gala dinner on Friday October 4th.

But now there’s another way to enjoy the party, at SWEET INDULGENCE: THE AFTER-PARTY at the St. Regis at 10pm. You’ll find James Beard-inspired desserts from pastry chefs like Nicole Plue (San Francisco Cooking School), Lisa Lu (Boulevard), Paul Piscopo (St. Regis), and cocktails from Thad Vogler (Bar Agricole) and Erik Adkins (Slanted Door).

Tickets to the after-party only are $65 per person; admission is included with a ticket to the gala. 125 3rd St. at Mission, 415-284-4000.


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