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Dec 8, 2014 28 min read

December 9, 2014 - This week's tablehopper: progressive.

December  9, 2014 - This week's tablehopper: progressive.
Table of Contents

This week's tablehopper: progressive.                    

Lineup at The Progress. A bounty. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

While the Bay Area braces for one heck of an impending storm, the past couple of days, I have already had my own kind of whirlwind. On Sunday, what started as an impromptu invitation to view the space of the oh-so-hot and about-to-open The Progress turned into a three-hour in-depth tour, with the opportunity to interview numerous members of the team.

And on Monday, I broke my firm stay-chained-to-my-desk policy (my Tuesday deadline demands it) to photograph the space just hours before they opened their doors for their first friends and family meal. Of course, I wasn’t going to miss an experience like that. I got to witness their lineup with their staff and stay for their first service too—how exciting to be one of the first people to experience their nascent menu in their new, soaring space.

It was one of the most richly colored moments in my career as a restaurant columnist—Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski gave me such an utterly personal and intimate look at their process (and progress), and in quite a vulnerable and thrilling moment: their first service.

So guess who stayed up really late to write about this rare experience? I’m talking 5am. I would have loved the luxury to sit with this piece for a few more days, to tweak and craft it, but there’s nothing quite like a looming deadline to force you to just get the impressions out. Stuart and Nicole entrusted me with an all-access pass to their inspiring new venture, so today’s piece is a deep dive on its many details. The Progress is not something you can just place into a nutshell. A juggernaut demands more than a couple paragraphs.

A profound thanks to associate editor Dana Eastland, who took on the entire rest of the column today—the whole shebang—while I rabbit holed on my Progress report. What a rock star.

I had plans to include a holiday gift guide for you today, but that puppy got moved to Friday. However, I did want to mention that it’s the annual time when you can help bring some holiday cheer to an ECS resident! Although this year they are asking for help in adopting a CHEFS (Conquering Homeless through Employment in Food Services) student and providing a holiday gift, which will mainly be requests for kitchen shoes (clogs, work boots, sneakers—nonslip) or a durable backpack for these culinary students to carry their belongings in. You can contact Mallory Hasick to get a name and exact gift request (you can also call 415-487-3300, ext. 1245). They will need gifts delivered by Friday December 19th if possible. Thanks for helping to take care of others this holiday season!

Okay then, grab your napkin, and let’s get started. Today’s a meaty one. Marcia Gagliardi


the chatterbox

Gossip & News (the word on the street)

An Intimate First Look at The Progress, Opening Within a Week

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Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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Friends and family dinner service in full swing. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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Busy plating in the kitchen. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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Chef Stuart Brioza leading staff lineup. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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The bar. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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The salted plum Negroni. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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The dining room’s booth seating. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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A view of the steel-backed booths. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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Banquette seating and skylights. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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The view looking out from the chef’s table mezzanine. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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The intimate chef’s table. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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The second mezzanine (opening at a later date). Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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Configuring, plating. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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A plate of snacks. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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The radicchio and ricotta dish. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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The sunchoke roti dish, freshly plated in the kitchen. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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“Treasures” hiding in the bowl before a pork broth is poured over. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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Lamb scaloppini. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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Jasmine-poached fruits, greengage plum jam, and ricotta whey, and honey-cocoa ice cream. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

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General manager and wine director Jason Alexander. Photo: © tablehopper.com.

The second album. In the world of music, it can come with a sort of curse (the sophomore slump) if your first was the breakaway hit, the chart burner, the soundtrack to the summer. In the restaurant world, things are a bit more open-ended. The second can be better, faster, stronger than your first (thanks, experience). Or it can be the moneymaker, the pet project, the homage to your heritage, or the casual little offshoot. Or in the case of THE PROGRESS, it can be the concept you originally wanted to launch with, but strategically held on the back burner for some years, letting it steep and develop until the time was right.

This space has been sitting vacant the last couple of years, quietly waiting for its close-up, while State Bird Provisions blossomed and blew up next door. Owners Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski have been busy tending to their culinary wildfire. But slowly and surely, the entire building has become an integrated whole, with The Progress to the left, State Bird Provisions to the right, and now above, a new butchery room, pastry room, and a (distant) future event space.

The fortuitously named Progress Theatre opened in this Fillmore location in 1911, and now, a different kind of theater is unfolding: a poignant, flavor-saturated viewing (in CinemaScope!) of Part II of our NorCal New Wave (NorCal Nouvelle Vague?), starring Stuart Brioza as our Jean-Luc Godard (or maybe our Jean-Paul Belmondo), so our dear Nicole Krasinski can be our Jean Seberg, because they leave so many of us breathless.

The alchemy these two create is potent, and it isn’t something you can pin down like a butterfly. It doesn’t want to be boxed and classified (“Blue Morpho”). Ask them for details about The Progress and you can have a circuitous conversation for 20 minutes. You almost feel guilty for prying. But later on, Stuart will drop in with this: “The menu is about the enjoyment of what we want to cook.” He mentions past travels, past meals: “We are cooking from our past, while informing the future.” Progress.

And Stuart and Nicole also don’t really want to talk too much about themselves—they want you to talk to their team, their partners in the work. In my 12 years of interviewing chefs, it’s so rare to have someone shove the light off themselves so authentically. Stuart and Nicole are proud of who they craft and create with; it’s like they don’t want to be the obvious favorites in their family.

Is it the new California culinary commune? Their restaurant house does have an air of bohemianism to it all, but with a firm foundation of expertise and insight—and drive. A love of tinkering, improving, pushing. Collaboration. Talent. Good people. Soul. Progress, powered by curiosity and creativity and play. Pretension is not invited.

Walking into The Progress, you’ll see the first new addition to the house: the inviting and quietly elegant bar. There are some seats and tables flanking the front window, made of a milky glass that refracts the lights outside and the silhouettes of passing cars and people into an ambient cinematic backdrop. The bar manager is Bryan Hamann, most recently at Monsieur Benjamin, and previously at Starbelly and RN74. His menu exhibits the same zeitgeist as the kitchen: experimental and handcrafted and creative, from his Negroni made with umeboshi vermouth (the salty notes bring an aperitivo-like vibe to the drink, whetting your appetite), and The Mezzanine, an homage to the space’s former theater incarnation that brings mezcal, housemade banana liqueur, a nocino rinse, lime, and allspice into a smoky yet unexpectedly bright cocktail.

He will be there at 5pm daily with his talented and friendly bar team, before the dining room opens, ready to greet you with cocktails that are either twists on classics or original creations ($10-$12). There are 12 seats at the bar, plus plenty of counters where you can stand (meet your new waiting room) and a little niche with two tables.

The main dining room has 54 seats, and the 23-foot vaulted ceiling makes such an impression. On the right is a wall of exposed lath, with a curving portion in the middle that resembles the hull of a vintage ship. The ceiling is a lacquered and bright white, charmingly revealing the imperfections of its century-old surface. To the left are banquettes and tables, and to the right, four booths with curving steel benches tucked under the “hull.”

In the back is the kitchen, open and alive, with some softly smoky notes coming from the custom J&R wood-fired grill (Stuart had J&R turn its rotisserie into a kind of smoke box, where ingredients can bask in the wafting smoke from the grill for hours, without being traditionally smoked).

Above the kitchen is a mezzanine with a round chef’s table that seats eight—kitchen staff will serve the initial courses to those diners. There’s another mezzanine in the front of the restaurant with two tables (seating 16-20 total) that will be opened in time. It’s apparent that they’re looking forward to serving large groups.

Like the kitchen, the dining room is all about craftsmanship (and like State Bird, Wylie Price is behind the interior design). The notable woodwork, by Kelly Best, includes the bar and curving-edge tables made from a cypress tree that fell in the Presidio (of course sourced by Evan Shively) that feel so good to touch. The wine table is another beautiful piece, with such soft edges and the grain masterfully matched down its center seam. Best also made the angular chairs that have a good heft to them, the white oak floors, and the bannisters, with posts whose tops mimic the curving shapes of the ceiling.

The entryway has textured walls (Stuart carved a pattern into the plaster with a trowel), and the metalwork is by Luigi Oldani (he’s behind the bar stools). Counterpoints to these industrial touches are the terra-cotta-esque tiles reminiscent of an old French farmhouse kitchen floor, and smoky topaz lights blown by Alex MacDonald (Palanquin). The crane neck lamps curving off the steel beams in the dining room are originals made by Luigi and Wylie, plus they made the bases to the tables. Every element reminds you we live in a community of craftspeople, and there’s nothing like custom work. And then you go to the restroom, and you are transported to a glitter galaxy. Whoa, I just took a left at Albuquerque. Fun!

Are you ready for dinner? Let’s do this. Where State Bird is all about feeling like a culinary cocktail party of your dreams, with waves of canapés, The Progress is more like an adventurous family meal. Your table can choose from five dishes ($54 per person), seven dishes ($68), nine dishes ($82), or the imperial menu ($108). There are three different sections (plus dessert), grouped by lighter to meatier dishes, around 15 in all; and there are add-ons too, like oysters.

You’ll need to form a quorum at your table about which dishes to order (you will check off little boxes on the menu) since they will be served in a communal fashion. Yes, it’s the next generation of share plates, since the kitchen will be paying keen attention to how many people are dining at your table and tailoring your dishes accordingly. They will be portioned and plated, beautifully so, designed to visually inspire (without too much tweezering) and be an easy interaction. There will be no cutting of an ingredient into a little bite and trying to get the garnish divvied up just so before you pass a tiny share plate. Because that’s not fun. And it’s not like a tasting menu, with one dish (often tediously) coursed at a time—dishes will come out together in waves. And they will come out with urgency.

The meal starts with an opening salvo of snacks that will set the tone for what’s to come. On the first friends and family night, the abundant plate included a potato croquette with garlic aioli, housemade lap cheong sausage with toasted peanuts, pickled and raw turnip with whipped goat cheese, and a squid ink cracker with smoked trout. You can eat that turnip with your hands, or you can scoop it up with a little spoon, or spear it with a fat toothpick. It isn’t about everyone having their own dainty plate—it’s about your table getting in there together. It’s about breaking down barriers at the table with a shared experience. Stuart says: “It’s about the simple act of joy when you’re sharing food.”

And it’s also unabashedly about pleasure that’s a bit gleefully gluttonous. Nicole charmingly notes: “We don’t like to have people wait for food. We want to hit it fast and let you taste right away! It makes you excited for the rest of the menu.”

My first dish at the friends and family night was a bowl of different radicchios, golden beets, watermelon radish, and fresh housemade ricotta with a surprise of jalapeño-spiked mandarin gelée at the base, topped with popped amaranth and chervil, which segued quickly to a geoduck clam “cocktail,” cool and lively with the bright notes of carrot.

While State Bird Provisions is known for its savory pancakes, The Progress plunked down its own weapon of mass deliciousness: their version of roti, with tender and elastic and lightly blistered folds, insouciantly placed on the plate (actually very carefully) like crumpled sheets on a bed. It comes showered in black truffle from Burgundy, with sunchokes (both pickled and raw), a truffled buttermilk ranch dressing, and rosemary oil—it’s earthy and frisky and demands to be eaten with gusto. The food was so vibrant, with texture apparent in every dish.

It was tremendously insightful to be present at lineup, when the kitchen describes and walks the staff through the complex dishes before service. The technique and number of ingredients that go into each dish are staggering. I could barely keep up with my pen as Stuart walked the staff through the preparation of the (Don Watson) lamb scaloppini and every component on the plate—the pea greens, the sauce, the cipolline, the crumble on top—let alone be able to commit it to memory to recite to guests later.

Stuart’s right-hand man in the kitchen is chef de cuisine John Becker, who worked at Boulevard and helped open Prospect with Ravi Kapur. But John has spent the bulk of his time in New York (nine years) cooking with Michael White’s group (Ai Fiori) and Alain Ducasse (Gilt and Alain Ducasse at the Essex House). It ends up he was a culinary fixer of sorts for Stuart and Nicole whenever they had New York appearances, helping them find kitchen space and cooks for their events.

John is inspired by the creative process of making The Progress’ menu approachable and scalable and is enjoying the new scope of ingredients he gets to utilize after being in such a strict Italian pantry (how’s it going, sake lees). He says it’s good to be back in the bounty of California seasonality.

I asked him if he had a favorite dish on the opening menu, and he tells me how their creamy pork broth (with miso sausage meatballs, pumpkin mochi, kimchi, fresh-grated pumpkin, black butter, fresh pumpkin oil) was inspired by a late-night meal in New York’s Midtown at Pocha 32 almost two years ago. He brought Stuart and Nicole to try the boodae jungol, which comes terrifyingly loaded with kimchi, spam, hot dogs, pork, ramjun noodles, rice cake, mushrooms, vegetables, and the kicker: mozzarella cheese on top. Stuart was justifiably suspicious. But after that bowl hit the table, everyone started digging in, each bite or spoonful yielding a new surprise. They ended up calling it treasure chest soup, and wanted to transport some of that joy and delight of finding little treasures in your bowl to this new dish of their own.

Like its name, the cuisine at The Progress is meant to be an evolution of State Bird—symbiotic, but different. Of course you can note the bloodline. There are no regional specifications, and each dish is massively layered in flavor—even the simplest ingredients are always touched in some way, whether they are lightly pickled or lingering in the smoke box by the grill all day. The menu will evolve hour by hour, this week, now, and forevermore. It’s what they do.

Expect more composed desserts at The Progress—Nicole and Mikiko Yui (who has been promoted to co-pastry chef) will be assembling smaller tastes and garnishes that play well together, and riffing on themes like honey. Nicole wants the desserts to be an easy landing pad after experiencing so many flavors during dinner.

You’ll have your choice of ice cream or sorbet for dessert (you’ll actually have your very own bowl, no more sharing), with a plate of accompaniments. The friends and family menu featured a prune poached in jasmine tea syrup that is tempura-fired to order, slices of a buckwheat honey and yuzu-poached pear, and agar jellies (including a poppy seed and ricotta whey jelly), with greengage plum jam, and a sabayon-like dollop of creamy goodness on top. It was sophisticated, fascinating, and the many notes (like sweet, acidic, earthy, floral) and flavors combined to form a love letter to fall (while reminiscing a bit about summer).

The ladies are so fired up about their new ice cream machine—we tried a haunting honey-cocoa ice cream, resting on a base of huckleberries poached in rose hips, with a touch of olio nuovo and a final flourish of gold leaf. (Because why not? Decadence is fun. And Nicole likes sparkle.) I also got a taste of persimmon sorbet, so beguiling, which has me eager to have my own bowl—it’s like Nicole is a forest nymph who has private conversations with fruits and gets them to divulge their secrets.

And the dishes! The platters! The bowls! It’s a big part of the experience. Such beautiful pottery, all handmade by Mary Mar Keenan (MMclay), who shares a studio with Loring Sagan (and Stuart made his pottery there as well), just behind the original Blue Bottle kiosk/garage on Linden. The five glazes are all in natural tones, like dove gray and taupe (actually, the much-more evocative moonshadow and white chamois), and everything was fired at a really high temperature (I was schooled about cone 10), creating durability and a unique texture and pattern. They hold temperature so effectively. It has become a collection of tableware called The Progress Collection, which you can purchase, and here’s a great interview with her about it.

We need to round out this epicurean experience with a bottle of something special.  As mentioned previously on tablehopper, wine director and general manager Jason Alexander has emerged from the wine world and returned to the restaurant floor with this project. He has been friends with Stuart for 13 years, and they are both grooving on recently entering their 40s—Jason is keen and ready to contribute his perspective on progress in the world of wine.

Obviously it’s an exciting time in California right now, and his list will reflect that, with about 50 percent of the selections pulled from our crop of Californian winemakers who are pushing boundaries and exploring new expressions. The remainder of the list will look worldwide, to places like the Loire (and even the Canary Islands), where young winemakers are doing their own thing, and highlighting exciting wines, unusual wines, and personal wines with a story and soul.

For now, there are about 120 selections, which will grow, with lots of bubbles, and some racy rieslings that finish bone dry. There will be a tight by the glass selection, with nightly selections poured en magnum, likely a sparkling and a red, and other fun presentations. Value is important, with bottles mostly ranging in the $30s, $40s, and $50s. But considering Jason’s polished background (Cyrus, Gary Danko), there’s also going to be a curated list of cellar selections, featuring great properties and vintages, and yes, some values there too. (You can’t have progress without some classics.)

Joining him on the floor is Betsy Ross (Jardinière, Aveline) and Diana Peschel. Warmth and genuine hospitality are hallmarks of this house, and you’ll be in the best of hands for this new experience.

Dinner service begins nightly at 5:30pm (the bar opens at 5pm), and will run until 10pm Sun-Thu and until 11pm Fri-Sat.

The opening is targeted for Tuesday December 16th, or possibly sooner, it’s hard to pinpoint. You can keep an eye on The Progress’ website to see when their OpenTable reservations open (people, please, don’t crash the system). Follow along on Twitter for updates.

A sincere thank-you to Stuart and Nicole for allowing me to document and experience the first meal at The Progress. It was so personal, and a privilege to witness their process.

The Progress            - 1525 Fillmore St. San Francisco - 415-673-1294

Tidbits: SOMA Eats, Odang Udon, Bom Dia, Peasant Pies

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The interior at SOMA Eats. Photo courtesy SOMA Eats.

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A bowl of ramen from Odang. Photo from Facebook.

As previously mentioned on tablehopper, SoMa is getting a new café in the form of SOMA EATS. The project comes from husband and wife Oussama Mannaa and Shirley Azzghayer, who have owned neighboring SOMA Wines and Spirits for years. The café will be open for breakfast, lunch, and happy hour, and has actually absorbed the spirits shop as an accompanying bottle shop. The café offers Sightglass coffee, along with menu choices for dine-in or takeout. The menu has classic café offerings, many with an international spice element, including za’atar and sumac. At breakfast, there’s a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich, or a Greek yogurt parfait with housemade granola and fresh fruit. Lunch selections are primarily in the salads and sandwiches vein, including a slow-roasted lamb sandwich with date almond relish and arugula. Take a look at the menu here.

As for the bottle shop component, you’ll find more than 200 beers, including local suds like Almanac saison, as well as local wines. There is also a “liquor library” with special spirits, including Sonoma rye whiskey from Sonoma County Distilling. Beer and wine can be purchased at the shop and then consumed at the café, though spirits can only be purchased and then taken home. Hours are Mon-Fri 7am-10pm and Sat-Sun 9am-10pm. 186 2nd St. at Howard, 415-543-7662.

There are some very positive Yelp reports for food truck ODANG UDON. They’re at the Duboce Truck Stop Monday through Saturday for lunch from 11am-2pm, serving noodles that are made fresh daily. A sample menu shows a few different udon choices, including one with marinated steak and a Japanese curry style bowl. 55 Duboce Ave. at Woodward, 510-701-1701.

In Noe Valley, BOM DIA is now open. It’s an updated, more upscale version of a corner store, with artisanal products sharing the shelves with the usual staples. In addition to the retail side of things, they’ve also got Four Barrel coffee, tea drinks from Samovar, plus a deli counter with dishes inspired by the Mediterranean. Hours are 7am-10pm daily. 1598 Sanchez St. at 29th St., 415-801-5519.

For those who work downtown, there is a new location of PEASANT PIES in the Financial District. Their savory hand pies are available with a variety of fillings, including vegan and vegetarian options. Their combo meals are a pretty good deal too: you get one pie plus your choice of soup or salad for $7.10. Here’s the menu. 303 Sacramento St. at Front, 415-576-1176.

Some Changes at Troya Fillmore (and Troya on Clement)

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Troya on Fillmore’s new sign. Photo from Troya.

There have been some changes at TROYA FILLMORE, as well as at the Clement Street location. From now on, Troya will only have one location, on Fillmore Street; the Clement location has become Kitchen Istanbul and is now headed up by a former Troya partner. The Fillmore restaurant has a larger kitchen and will allow the owners to expand the menu and the wine list over the next few months. A new menu will launch in late January, with a renewed focus on regional wines and dishes from the Eastern Mediterranean, instead of offering almost exclusively Turkish cuisine. Brunch hours will be added on Saturdays and Sundays; they’ll be open all day, from 10am to 10pm on weekends. They will also be making some renovations to the space with the help of the Bon Vivants, with the exciting addition of a new brick oven for baking flatbreads and other items. At this time, they aren’t anticipating any closures for the renovations.

If you’d like to check out some of the new direction they’re taking the menu, you can at a five-course pop-up at Naked Kitchen on Friday February 13th from 7pm-10pm.

Troya Fillmore            - 2125 Fillmore St. San Francisco - 415-563-1000

Pop-Ups: Woodward's Garden, Salsipuedes

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A dish from Woodward’s Garden. Photo by John Clayton via Woodward’s Garden.

After closing their Mission location this summer, Margie Conard and Dana Tommasino of WOODWARD’S GARDEN have been popping up around town. Their next series of dinners is happening at Black Point Café on Thursday December 11th, Friday December 12th, Saturday December 13th, Friday December 19th, and Saturday December 20th. The three-course dinners offer your choice of seasonal dishes, including appetizers like chicken liver toasts with sage, capers, and chicory salad; a fish stew with fennel, leeks, tomato, crostini, and smoked saffron aioli for the entrée course; and a Tcho bittersweet chocolate torte with huckleberry for dessert. Check out all the menu choices here.

Tickets for the Fri-Sat dinners are $65 per person and include food, tax, and gratuity (walk-ins are also welcome). Beverages are BYO. On Thursday December 11th, they are co-hosting the event with some special holiday shopping items; call 415-621-7122 for reservations and more information. 882 North Point St. at Larkin, 415-621-7122.

Jay Porter, owner of THE HALF ORANGE in Oakland, also has a project in the works called Salsipeudes (we’ve reported on both in the past). Salsipuedes is still a work in progress, but you can get a taste of what he’ll be offering on Sunday December 14th at The Half Orange. He’ll be serving a seven-course tasting menu of the type of food they plan to serve once Salsipeudes is open, including a koji-marinated Pacific octopus, dashi, jalapeño-mint sauce, and Ensenada olive oil. Take a look at the menu here. Seatings are at 5pm and 7:30pm, and tickets are $45 per person, with beer and cider pairings available for an additional $25. 3340 East 12th St. at 33rd Ave., Oakland, 510-500-3338.

So Much Kitschy Fun to Be Had with Charles Phoenix on December 14th

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Charles Phoenix and a recent holiday project: the light-up Jello Christmas tree. Photo from Facebook.

Local drag superstar Peaches Christ has teamed up with Charles Phoenix, the Ambassador of Americana himself, to bring you a very special holiday fest on Sunday December 14th. The evening is a celebration of all sorts of holiday kitsch, with a retro holiday slideshow and live comedy from Mr. Phoenix. He’ll also be sharing some outrageous selections from his test kitchen and some of his best flea market finds, all of them with an eye toward the hilarious and iconic style of Americana from the 1950s and ’60s.

This celebration of all things schlocky and American is happening at the EMPRESS OF CHINA, itself a bit of an over-the-top icon from 1966. This marks the last event at the Empress, which is closing at the end of this year, and it should be a fitting tribute. Drinks will be available for purchase, and of course your finest retro holiday wear is highly encouraged.

There are two shows, one at 6pm and another at 9pm. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door, though advance tickets for the 6pm show are sold out. 838 Grant St. at Clay, 415-434-1345.

Book Events, Including Locals Nicolaus Balla and Cortney Burns

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If you’re looking for gift ideas for someone on your list (or, hello, yourself), cookbooks are a great way to go. Especially signed, beautifully photographed, locally written ones. On Saturday December 13th from 3pm-4pm, catch Nicolaus Balla and Cortney Burns of Bar Tartine at OMNIVORE BOOKS. They’ll be discussing their new cookbook, Bar Tartine: Techniques & Recipes, and signing copies. The event is free, and books will be available for purchase. For a review of this book and many others, check out our holiday cookbook review from last week. Omnivore is also hosting a number of other special book events next week, if you can’t make this one. Check their calendar here for details.

Omnivore Books            - 3885a Cesar Chavez St. San Francisco - 415-282-4712

Holiday Hodgepodge: Las Posadas at La Urbana, Lunch at Le Colonial

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The veranda at Le Colonial. Photo courtesy of Le Colonial.

The Mexican tradition of Las Posadas commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph as they sought shelter in Bethlehem. It is typically celebrated December 16th through the 24th. LA URBANA is honoring this festival of community and hospitality in their own way, by hosting guest chefs each evening during the traditional Las Posadas dates. In addition, 5 percent of the proceeds from every tasting menu sold will be donated to a local food bank. The dinners will be seven courses, and guest chefs include Melissa Perfit of Bar Crudo on Tuesday December 16th, Cyril Bermond and Michelle Hernandez of Le Dix-Sept Pâtisserie on Wednesday December 17th, and Shawn Naputi of Prubechu on Sunday December 21st. It will all culminate in a special menu from La Urbana’s chef, Julio Aguilera, on Wednesday December 24th; get all the details here. The dinners are $65 per person. They are expected to sell out, so call to reserve soon.

On Friday December 12th and 19th, LE COLONIAL will be open for a special holiday lunch from 11:30am-2:30pm. The space is perfect for taking a break from downtown shopping or other busyness. The more casual service will include dishes like a soft-shell crab and pomelo salad with yogurt vinaigrette, and pan-roasted salmon with a sweet chile glaze. 20 Cosmo Pl. at Post, 415-931-3600.

La Urbana            - 661 Divisadero St. San Francisco - 415-440-4500

510 News: Downtown Wine Merchants, Homeroom to Go, Smoke's Poutinerie

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Wine and warm woods at Downtown Wine Merchants. Photo from Facebook.

There’s a new wine bar in downtown Oakland, just across from City Hall: DOWNTOWN WINE MERCHANTS. Berkeleyside Nosh reports that the project comes from owner Susanne Breen, who was born and raised in Germany, and chef Edwin Cabrilla. The menu offers wine bar staples like charcuterie and cheese, as well as some Continental-style dishes like coquelete, a roasted game hen with Alsatian slaw, and Käsespätzle, a Bavarian egg noodle dish with Gruyère and Emmental. The wine list boasts more than 130 wines by the bottle and 25 by the glass, including an extensive selection of European selections and some local ones, as well. Unfortunately, Eater reports their windows were smashed and Cabrilla sustained a cut during protests last week, but they are now back in business—though calling before heading over wouldn’t be a bad idea. 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza at Broadway, Oakland, 510-250-9110.

Need some mac and cheese on the fly? Well, now you can get your cheesy gooey noodles on in no time, with HOMEROOM TO GO. The takeout-only spot from the Homeroom team is now open, Berkeleyside Nosh reports, and they are not only serving their famous mac and cheese, but also selling beer, wine, housemade dressings and sauces, and desserts. Order online for maximum efficiency. Hours are Tue-Sun 11am-10pm, closed Monday. 4007 Webster St. at 40th St., Oakland, 510-597-0400.

SMOKE’S POUTINERIE, a Canadian poutine chain, has opened their very first outpost in the United States, right here in Berkeley. Berkeleyside Nosh caught the news of their arrival back in September, and Eater confirms that they are now open. The menu is highly customizable, with lots of meat options, combinations, and even a vegetarian choice. Hours are expansive, too: they’re open 11am-4am every day. (Note that the location is also near many of the current protests, so keep that in mind before heading over.) 2518 Durant St. at Telegraph, Berkeley, 510-540-7500.

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the lush

Bar News & Reviews (put it on my tab)

Opening Wednesday December 10th: Brewcade, the Video Arcade of Your Dreams

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The bar at Brewcade. Photo courtesy Brewcade.

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Seating at Brewcade. Photo courtesy Brewcade.

It looks like we’re going to have a (much needed) rainy winter this year, so here’s a great way to spend some time indoors: wearing out your thumbs on 1980s vintage arcade games at BREWCADE (that link isn’t quite live yet, by the way). The bar is from Shawn Vergara of the nearby Blackbird and his sister, Tiffny Vergara Chung, and they have created a veritable fantasy playground for grown-ups. They’ve got 24 vintage gaming machines from the 1980s, offering as many as 50 different games (many machines are multiplay), along with 25 beers on tap, 5 wines on tap, and a selection of carbonated, low-alcohol cocktails. There is also a wide selection of nonalcoholic sodas, from The Fizzary, and coffee from Stumptown, along with a “French-Italian sparkling slushie.” For food, they’ve got a “munchie bar” serving inexpensive snacks ($2-$5) including caramel corn, jerky, chicharrones, and nuts.

So, about those games. The selection is impressive, and includes classics like Pac-Man and Mrs. Pacman, Tetris, and Mario Bros., as well as more obscure titles like Galaxian, Jungle Hunt, and Xevious. Here is a partial list of games on offer, but many more will be available as well. The games will take quarters, though whether or not that means the pricing will also be vintage isn’t clear yet.

The space was designed by Craige Walters, who is also responsible for Fable, Romper Room, and Golden Gate Tap Room. The retro theme has been emphasized in the space, along with an industrial vibe. There is also a patio, with four tables, and a sleek, modern wall-mounted jukebox to keep the soundtrack fun. Hours are 3pm-2am Mon-Fri and 2pm-2am Sat-Sun. 2200 Market St. #102 at 15th St., no phone.

Bar Updates and News: The Basement, PlumpJack Buys Sloane

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Moody lighting at The Basement. Photo from Yelp.

As noted back in 2013, the former 222 Hyde has closed. In its place is now THE BASEMENT, Eater reports, from owner Larry Livingston of Palladium. There is only a narrow bar on the ground floor, but the large basement has been tricked out with a new sound system, and Livingston will host DJ nights on weekends, as soon as he’s locked down an entertainment license. Right now, it’s all about comedy nights, including an open mic on Thursdays. It’s beer and wine only, with a selection of beers on tap, some wine, and soju- and Champagne-based cocktails. Hours are Tue-Wed 6pm-12am, Thu-Fri 6pm-2am, Sat 7pm-2am. 222 Hyde St. at Turk, 415-742-7222.

It looks like the PlumpJack Group has made yet another acquisition, this time of the former Sloane space in the Mid-Market area. Scoop notes that they plan to reopen next year, though no word yet on any details. 1525 Mission St. at 11th St.

Happy Hours: Uno Dos Tacos, Cafe Claude Marina, Capo's

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The cazuela cocktail at Uno Dos Tacos. Photo courtesy Uno Dos Tacos.

UNO DOS TACOS has secured their full liquor license, and that means they’re now serving a full cocktail list. Tequila and mezcal are the focus, with a house margarita, of course, available by the glass or pitcher ($8/$29). There is also a special cazuela cocktail on the list, which is kind of like a mini punch bowl: four ounces of tequila (yikes!) with grapefruit, orange, and lime juice with Jarritos soda, served in a traditional ceramic dish ($14). To go along with the new cocktail list is a new happy hour Monday through Saturday from 4pm-8pm. Margaritas are $6 each or $26 for the pitcher, beers are $4, and sangria is available for $5 a glass or $18 for a pitcher. There is also a selection of $5 snacks, including flautas, a quesadilla, and gorditas. Check out the happy hour menu here. 595 Market St. at 2nd St., 415-974-6922.

There’s a new happy hour at Café Claude Marina Monday through Friday from 4:30pm-6:30pm. The offerings include a selection of wines for $1 per ounce, $3 beers, and snacks like oysters Rockefeller ($2) and baguette sliders ($2). Check out the full happy hour menu here. 2120 Greenwich St. at Fillmore, 415-375-9550.

For a pizza happy hour, head to CAPO’S every day from 5pm-6pm for a special deal. For $8, you get a slice of their deep-dish pizza, and your choice of a soda, Pabst, or shot of well whiskey. The deal is only available at the bar, but that’s more fun, anyway.

Capo's            - 641 Vallejo St. San Francisco - 415-986-8998

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the socialite

Shindigs, Feasts, & Festivals (let's party)

Hanukkah Happenings and Helpers

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Light in the darkness. Flickr photo by Len Radin.

Event Info

Tuesday Dec 16, 2014 – Wednesday Dec 24, 2014

Hanukkah is coming right up, from sundown December 16th through sundown the 24th. Here are some ways to celebrate the festival of light in style.

BLUESTEM BRASSERIE will be hosting a special Hannukah pop-up with Lori Baker and Jeff Banker of the recently shuttered Baker & Banker on Wednesday December 17th. The five-course dinner offer their interpretations of Hanukkah classics, including stuffed matzo ball soup, smoked sturgeon with latkes, and braised brisket with kasha varnishkes. And don’t forget the sufganiyot for dessert! The dinner is $75 per person, and seatings will be at 5:30pm and 8:30pm. Beverages will be available for purchase in addition to ticket cost.

For a festive evening, check out the special Hanukkah menu at BURRITT ROOM. The special dishes include knishes, corned beef, rugelach, and pumpkin sufganiyot, and they will be available Tuesday December 16th through Wednesday December 24th from 5:30pm until closing. 417 Stockton St. at Bush, 415-400-0561.

WISE SONS DELI is an excellent resource for taking some of the load off your to-do list this season. They are offering classic dishes for preorder and pickup, including matzo ball soup and latkes. They also offer some of the best deli meat and fish platters in town, plus their famed sufganiyot is available by the half dozen. Order now, since they do sell out!

If you’re hosting a supper at home, let BI-RITE MARKET help you out with their prepared foods and grocery items. They’ve got braised brisket, latkes, pear buttermilk kugel, matzo ball soup, and challah, all available by preorder from December 15th through the 24th. You can also order raw meats from the butcher department, including brisket from Five Dot Ranch, and other essentials including wine, gelt, and candles. Here are all the options and details. 3639 18th St. at Guerrero, 415-241-9760; 550 Divisadero St. at Hayes, 415-551-7900.


the starlet

Star Sightings in Restaurants (no photos please)

A Lott to Handle at Seven Hills

Michele Mandell, ‘hopper pal and noticer of everything, wrote in with this sighting: former 49er and Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott was at Seven Hills on Sunday night. He was there with his lovely wife Karen Lott, and Seven Hills confirms they were so very nice.

Late Night at State Bird Provisions

Tall glass of redheaded funny water Conan O’Brien was spotted at State Bird Provisions over the weekend, according to posts on Instagram and a Tweet. It looks like he had a pretty good time!

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