Here’s another chance to check out chef Robin Song’s JUNJU concept at a pop-up before he’s able to open his brick-and-mortar location. Come by Nightbird, where he is working right now, on Sunday December 18th or Monday the 19th to experience his seven-course tasting menu (you can come by anytime between 6:30pm-8pm). The menu looks fantastic and is $95 (buy tickets here). Wines can be purchased that evening for $50 for all 6 tastes, or $15 a glass. At Nightbird, 330 Gough St. at Hayes, 415-829-7565.
Next Tuesday December 13th is a special event from the Ment’or Foundation, which is hosting its final fundraiser for Team USA prior to its trip to Lyon to represent the US at the next Bocuse d’Or competition! Five SF-based chefs who are part of the foundation’s Culinary Council—Corey Lee, Joshua Skenes, Mourad Lahlou, Michael Mina, and Roland Passot—will be cooking together for one night at In Situ. There will be walk-around bites, cocktails, and a panel discussion. Tickets are $200. 7pm-9pm.
In case you haven’t had a chance to swing by Nick Balla and Cortney Burns’s MOTZE for dinner, they are also serving à la carte lunch Tue-Sun 11am-2pm. Menu items include cold ginger noodles with sunflower tahini and seven-spice; romanesco and cauliflower salad with sesame and sea laver; and nare rice porridge bowls (with spicy chicken, sausage, egg, peanut, and fried garlic schmaltz, or chile egg with kale and squash). There are also low-ABV housemade cocktails and soft drinks, plus beer, cider, and wine. And while you’re looking at the menu, prices include tipping. 983 Valencia St at 21st St., 415-484-1206.
Craftsman and Wolves have decided to add weekend hours to their Bayview café, THE DEN. You can come by for coffee (from Highwire) and kouign amann, and yes, the Rebel Within, plus their granola bowl, quiche, and toasts. Lunch options and their sick frittata sandwich will come after the holidays. Speaking of, you can pick up some holiday confections and their entire retail line for gifts. Hours are now Mon-Fri 7am-5pm and Sat-Sun 8am-2pm. 1598 Yosemite Ave. at Keith, 415-423-3337.
Feel like making it rain? The folks at TRESTLE are selling 2-3g of white truffle shavings for only $20. Starting Tuesday December 6th (that’s today), you can have them over pasta dishes like their baked garganelli or butternut squash risotto. Through New Year’s Eve, pending availability. 531 Jackson St. at Columbus, 415-772-0922.
Another good deal: BELGA has launched a new Monday Lite menu, with dinner for $15. You can choose two items: lentil soup; cauliflower with vadouvan, golden raisins, and almonds; avocado toast with pea hummus; kale salad; sautéed broccolini with Grana Padano; falafel and flatbread; and grilled chicken paillard with warm potato and kale salad. There will be $5 Bodkin rosé, plus free corkage during dinner service every Monday night in December. Which means more money for buying truffles (see above). Happy holidays! 2000 Union St. at Buchanan, 415-872-7350.
A dish from Junju. Photo courtesy of Robin Song.
