The Chatterbox

Looks like executive pastry chef Bill Corbett is leaving ~MICHAEL MINA~. I’m hearing rumors that Corbett is talking to Daniel Patterson of Coi, but the only confirmation I could get at the moment is “no comment.” Taking his place at Michael Mina is Catherine Schimenti, coming from Tom Colicchio’…

Just in time for the sweet-laden holidaze, there is an ~COMMONWEALTH CLUB INFORUM EVENT~ titled “The State of Pastry in SF” tonight (December 1st). The panel of “the Bay Area’s premier pastry provocateurs will expand your sweet-smarts and your waistlines as they share the secrets of their custom confections…

Yeah baby, it’s time for the first annual Butterfest ‘09 at ~18 REASONS~. The two-hour soirée will include a demonstration of how to make simple cultured butter from scratch by DIY cookbook author Vanessa Barrington; a blind tasting of seven-plus brands of butter with awards given to the top…

You know it’s the holiday season when ~BIX~ kicks in its holiday lunch during the week (normally lunch is only served on Fridays). Weekday lunch is available throughout the month of December. Treat your assistant to a burger (my favorite cloth-napkin burger in the city) and a martini (or…

So you have some family in town for the holiday, and they want to have some San Francisco seafood with a view? The normally spendy ~SCOMA’S~ is offering a three-course holiday prix-fixe menu for $35, which includes a choice of a few appetizers (I’d recommend their famed Dungeness…

Out in the Richmond, the former Sake/Saka HOUSE is transforming to B B BOBS RESTAURANT (no, I am not stuttering). The owners are affiliated with the Bob’s Diner at 1601 Polk Street. They’ll be opening soon, with breakfast served all day, and classic diner fare for lunch…

Chronicle Books and ~PURCELL MURRAY~ (a cool kitchen showroom just minutes south of San Francisco) are hosting a special evening to celebrate the publication of ~Top Chef: The Quickfire Cookbook~. The evening will include cooking demonstrations, recipe tastings, and book signings by local Top Chef Cheftestants Jamie Lauren, Jennifer Biesty,…

The Pasta Shop Fourth Street Market Plaza in Berkeley is hosting an AFTERNOON WITH LEADING BAY AREA FOOD WRITERS AND COOKBOOK AUTHORS. They will discuss their work, the future of food systems, foodways, farming, and more. Authors include Novella Carpenter, FARM CITY: The Education of an Urban Farmer; Joyce Goldstein,…