The Chatterbox

Slow Food East Bay is bringing it with some pretty exciting classes in the coming months. On Sunday August 4th from 2pm-5pm, join them at Brundo Ethiopian Culinary Studio for a class on Ethiopian food from founder and author Fetlework Tefferi. You’ll learn all about the different spice blends…

As previously reported on tablehopper, things are gearing up for LA URBANA in the former Plant It Earth space. Everyone who walks or drives by the eye-catching mural by Zio Ziegler can’t help but get excited to see what will be contained within (I know I am). The project…

A report by Dana Massey-Todd. Thanks to a tip from a reader, we caught word that there’s a new place for artisanal pizza coming to the Mission, called RUSTIC. The new spot is in the former location of Pizza de Mano and Popo’s Pizza, and comes from a…

The new project from the Boulettes Larder team has opened in the Ferry Building. The new project, which, as previously reported on tablehopper, moved into the former Culinaire space, is called BOULI BAR. They’ll be serving lunch from 11:00am-3pm Tue-Sat; look for items from the wood-burning hearth and…

The neighbors in the Upper Haight and Cole Valley who happened to like the smell of bacon from BACON BACON will be happy to know the café got permission to reopen (news via NBC). Owner Jim Angelus will just need to update the ventilation system and a few other things.…

Last week, Bay Area Bites dropped the news that chef Alex Ong has decided to leave ~BETELNUT~ after 12 years there. I had a chance to catch up with chef Ong while at CUESA’s Summer Celebration on Sunday, and he mentioned his decision to depart was not tied to…

There’s some news brewing in Rockridge at the former Guest Chef location: PUCQUIO, which had a stint as a pop-up there, will now be there permanently. Carlos Moreira’s Peruvian street food will be available starting Tuesday July 16th (that’s today!) for dinner, and the plan is to…

Some ABC license activity pointed to the opening of CAFE VALPARAISO in a new location (1403 Solano Ave. in Albany), serving their variety of empanadas, and Chilean sandwiches and entrées. Meanwhile CAFÉ LA PEÑA has opened in Valparaiso’s previous location in the La Peña Cultural Center. 3105 Shattuck Ave.…

We have previously covered details in a hardhat piece of ROKA AKOR, the new modern Japanese robata restaurant that just opened in Jackson Square (in the former Cypress Club, for you fellow old-timers). Here are a few more details for you: the opening menu is online, featuring a wide range…

A report by Dana Massey-Todd. As previously announced on tablehopper, Joe Hargrave’s taco mini-empire ~TACOLICIOUS~ has a new outpost in North Beach. The newest member of the family is complete with their signature touches, including dramatic tile (it’s black and white this time, and just as stylish as…