The Chatterbox

If you’re at all like me, you have probably procrastinated on finishing up your holiday shopping. (I’m just so good at it!) Just in case you still need to buy a few presents, here are a few ideas from yours truly. First, of course, I am going to…

Franck LeClerc (Café Claude, Gitane, Claudine, 5 Claude Lane gallery) has a few new projects for 2013. First, he is planning to take over Joseph Manzare’s HECHO (escrow should close in 60-90 days), and Scoop reports he will be opening a classic French brasserie. A bar will be placed…

More details have emerged after Grub Street dropped the rumor awhile ago that ~AQ~ owner Matt Semmelhack had a couple of new projects in the works. One upcoming project is a second restaurant, a 2,000-square-foot space, just a couple of doors down (and flanking De La Paz Coffee). Details…

As mentioned on tablehopper back in August, Venezuelan restaurant ~PICA PICA MAIZE KITCHEN~ is opening a third location in the Castro. The new location is 1,500 square feet, with two levels and seating for 55. Like the other locations, you’ll find arepas and other Venezuelan-style sandwiches, plus beer…

Yesterday, owner Christopher Losa of ~BAR BAMBINO~ announced the restaurant’s final night of service will be on New Year’s Eve, December 31st, 2012, after nearly six years in business. You can come in and say farewell over the next couple of weeks. Best wishes to the staff. Meanwhile,…

There’s a change at BOUCHE: chef Nicolas Borzee has returned to France, and his replacement is Michel Réthoré. According to Scoop, he is fresh from France. He was recently at Restaurant Le Cygory in Montpellier, and when he was executive chef of Domaine de la Tortiniere in Veigné, he…

Every Sunday night, you can swing by ~SALT HOUSE~ for their B Side menu, which includes a variety of burgers for $15, and some great deals on bottles of wine for $25 (like Château Roc de Segur, Bordeaux 2010 and Viñedos De El Sequé, Alicante, Spain 2011) and beers for…

Chef Ravi Kapur and his LIHOLIHO YACHT CLUB will be popping up at NAKED KITCHEN on Friday December 21st and Saturday December 22nd. Seatings are at 7pm, and you’ve two choices of where to sit: the main dining room for $75, or the chef’s counter for $100. In…

Looking for a truly amazing way to spend a weekend in Sonoma County? Head up to TIMBER COVE INN on the Sonoma Coast for their Forage for Fungi weekend package on January 4th-6th. The package includes two nights of accommodation, plus an afternoon of mushroom foraging with author David Arora…

Jose Calvo-Perez of Fresca and Pasión restaurants in San Francisco is expanding to Pacifica with PUERTO 27 PERUVIAN KITCHEN AND PISCO BAR. He will be opening the restaurant in the Pacifica Beach Hotel, which used to house a Thai restaurant. The format will be Peruvian small plates served family style.…