Newsletter

This week's tablehopper: rider on the storm.                     Szechuan pickles at Mission Chinese Food. Well, yesterday was fun: I was invited to return to Michael Krasny’s Forum on KQED to discuss the local restaurant scene, along with Jan Newberry of San Francisco magazine, Jonathan Kauffman of SF Weekly,…

This week's tablehopper: from the playa to paris.                     Bissap from Chiefo’s Kitchen (at the SF Street Food Festival). And now it’s the time of the year when I throw some gas on the fire, literally. I’m furiously getting ready to head off to the playa…

This week's tablehopper: spice girl.                     Michelada and salsa at Don Pisto’s. How the hell is it August 20th. Really? REALLY? I’m very happy with my tomatoes and peaches right now, but the whirring calendar is freaking me out a bit. I guess this Gorillas in the…

This week's tablehopper: ow.                     Here’s one way to make it through SF Chefs. (Oh, Shotzi.) Last week was ridiculous—what a whirlwind. I know so many chefs, bartenders, heck, the majority of the industry is worn the hell out. The theme should be SF Chefs: Take No…

This week's tablehopper: pop and lock.                     Last year: burrata, greens from Pizza Antica. What on earth am I trying to do to myself, implode? Yeah, it makes for a busy week when you have to plan a 300-person event. Life=consumed. Tonight’s Happy Ending is going to…

This week's tablehopper: mountain mama. Today is my annual sad day—the day I leave the lake. My family understands, heck, anyone who comes up to Lake Tahoe regularly does. This place is so special—and it’s not just because I’ve spent every summer in the…

This week's tablehopper: operation sunshine.                     Aziza’s albacore with sea beans, cucumber, and black garlic. I am so ready to punch the clock. Lake Tahoe, your 80-degree weather and sun and squirrels and chilly nights (and even colder lake) and mountain air are calllllling meeeeee. Although boy, do…

This week's tablehopper: a tale of phoenixes.                     Panisse frites at Frances. Oh yeah, let’s hear it for another foggy and cold-ass weekend. AM I CRANKY? What on earth gave you that idea? Fortunately, there were many things to keep me from becoming toooo fussy this week, from…

This week's tablehopper: hamburgling.                     The pastrami burger from Ahn’s. Look at that burger. Isn’t it begging for a serious chomping? Thanks to a tip from an East Bay food-savvy friend, I can now say I have experienced the Ahn’s pastrami burger—an indulgent, messy, and…

This week's tablehopper: put on the feedbag.                     The bar at Café Rouge (Berkeley). Boy, someone was the queen of naps this past weekend. I wasn’t sure if I was in a food coma, or just tired, or fighting something. Perhaps all three, because this kind of a…