The Chatterbox

When I was at the Meals on Wheels Share Our Strength event a week ago, as I was massively enjoying the “happy spoon” being served at the Pabu table, I noticed Paul Piscopo’s name on the restaurant’s identifying card. Piscopo was the executive chef at the St. Regis…

While details aren’t out yet about Chris Cosentino’s upcoming SoMa restaurant project, a little birdie told us the name of the project will be COCKSCOMB, and I’d say this website URL definitely confirms it. More soon. 564 4th St. at Brannan. Here’s a new spot for…

Newly open in Russian Hill is the SF location of the BELCAMPO MEAT COMPANY butcher shop and soon-to-open restaurant. (They also have locations in Marin, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara.) What’s unique about Belcampo is their organic meats are humanely raised (and free range) on their farm in Mount…

Eater reports that Mission Bay is getting a huge new grocery and prepared foods emporium this fall. The new project is from Los Angeles-based restaurateur Tony Riviera of Primo Hospitality Group and will be called THE MARKET HALL. It’s a similar concept to New York’s Eataly or Dean…

San Jose Mercury News (via SFist) reports on some major developments coming to YOSHI’S SAN FRANCISCO. The jazz club and restaurant, which has been struggling for a while, has been sold to the Fillmore Live Entertainment Group by owner and founder Yoshie Akiba. The sale is effective July 1st,…

HAYES VALLEY BAKEWORKS, the café from Toolworks that offers job training and employment for the disabled and homeless, has secured a $100,000 Google Grant, and will be putting it to work opening a new cart at the SoMa STrEAT Food Park. The new cart, which will be opening in…

There’s a new café and bike shop open in the Bayview, VELOBREWS CAFE AND CYCLING COMMUNITY CENTER. The general managers, Jennifer Leeper and Ross Del Duca, are both Bayview residents, and are really doing a lot to keep things hyperlocal: the coffee is from Ubuntu in Emeryville; they carry…

The World Cup is upon us, from June 12th-July 13th, and unless you’re headed to Brazil, you’ll definitely want to check out the madness somewhere fun. Here are some places to check out the craziness and go hoarse screaming for your team. Many places are opening early for…

Here’s a meaty project now open in the East Bay: GALETO BRAZILIAN GRILL is now open in Old Oakland. The Brazilian-style restaurant comes from owner Eli Nascimento, a former co-owner at Espetus Churrascaria in San Francisco, and chef Robson Barreto, another alum of Espetus. The menu is prix-fixe ($18.…

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to tour the beautiful AVELINE and its neighboring bar and lounge, THE EUROPEAN, which are opening this Friday June 6th in the former La Scene in The Warwick San Francisco. It’s a fantastic downtown location, one that will especially appeal to…