The Chatterbox

A tipster let me know that chef Richard Blais (of Top Chef fame, and currently touring his first cookbook, Try This at Home: Recipes from My Head to Your Plate) is going to be opening a new restaurant in the Bay Area sometime in the not-too-distant future. He is currently…

Petaluma’s ACRE COFFEE has expanded into San Francisco with a location in the Public Utility Commission building in the Civic Center, providing workers and tourists in the area with a new option for Four Barrel coffee, breakfast, and lunch. For breakfast, look for granola and pastries, and for lunch,…

After a commendable 27-year run, TOMMY TOY’S will be closing on Saturday March 30th, according to Scoop. People can call the room and dining style dated, but I actually wish someone with some kick-ass Chinese chops would take it over and rock it. The opulent and over-the-top dining room…

Those ~LA COCINA~ alums just don’t quit: Elvia Buendia of LA LUNA CUPCAKES is opening a brick-and-mortar location in the Crocker Galleria on Thursday March 21st. She’ll be serving her sweet and savory cupcakes, from carrot cake cupcakes to savory ones, like bacon and eggs, and beef with…

Boris Portnoy of SATELLITE REPUBLIC will be popping up again in Oakland at THE PUNCHDOWN WINE BAR, with his fabulous Georgian food. On Saturday March 16th, he’ll be serving a nine-course family-style dinner for $50 per person (seriously, you better come hungry). Wine pairings will be available as well,…

Tuesday March 19th is Italian Father’s Day (La Festa di San Giuseppe), and to celebrate, ~PALIO D’ASTI~ is serving a feast worthy of a serious papa bear. The meal will be served family style, with antipasti, three types of risotto, four entrées, and Sicilian cheesecake for dessert. The…

Tired of all the mid-level sushi restaurants in this town selling unsustainable seafood? Yeah, me too, which is why this is pretty cool: Carrotmob is working with YUUBI JAPANESE RESTAURANT to demonstrate that sustainable seafood is important to local consumers. Here’s the deal: Yuubi is interested in sustainable seafood,…

On Wednesday April 3rd, catch Daniel Humm and Will Guidara of New York’s Eleven Madison Park at the JCCSF. The event is called Eleven Madison Park Loves New York and offers an inside look at the restaurant and their new book, I Love New York: Ingredients and Recipes. James…

In Old Oakland, the folks at DISTRICT have opened a to-go lunch outlet at their current location, called District Carriage House. The menu has soups like clam chowder and a seasonal vegetable choice, a variety of sandwiches including a Cubano and a burger, and pizza. They’re open Mon-Fri 11am-1:…

Over the weekend, I got to experience a test lunch at SHORTY GOLDSTEIN’S, the new FiDi Jewish deli from Michael Siegel, formerly of Betelnut. As previously mentioned on tablehopper, the lunchtime spot features a number of family recipes, from the rustic knishes (so delicious) to the chopped liver (the…