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Subscribe to tablehopper and discover why it’s a must-read, insider newsletter for anyone who lives to eat in San Francisco, for 19 years and counting. Every Tuesday, columnist and curator Marcia Gagliardi serves up the latest SF Bay Area restaurant and bar news, events, culture tips, travel guides, and more.

The Regular

Spices! and Spices!II

Stinky fried tofu at Spices! Gangsta hot pot Calamari with mustard Fish filet bowl at Spices! II Shredded eel Spicy beef combo What can I say, I like it hot. Rawr. My pantry and fridge are packed with all kinds of hot sauces and chili oils--I think my Calabrese blood…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jan 12, 2009

The Chatterbox

January 6, 2009

A tablehopper reader gave me the head’s up that Joanna Karlinsky and Victoria Smiser’s six-restaurant ~FOOD COURT INSIDE THE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF SAN FRANCISCO~ is now up and running—they opened their doors on New Year’s Day. And you thought opening one restaurant was tough—imagine…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jan 06, 2009

The Lush

January 6, 2009

According to permits, Last Laugh Coffee is becoming ~NOETECA~ (an enoteca/wine bar?). The number is disconnected, so we’ll have to see what pops up. Here’s a little tablehopper P.I. work: one of the names on the permit, Scott McDonald, might be the Last Laugh’s former…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jan 06, 2009

The Starlet

January 6, 2009

Up North in Healdsburg, Dry Creek Kitchen and Hotel Healdsburg played host to Hilary Swank and her boyfriend this past week. She dined at Dry Creek Kitchen three nights in a row–including spending New Year’s Eve there. She and her boyfriend reportedly played a game of cards at…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jan 06, 2009

What’s Cookin’

January 6, 2009

Welcome back to the “real” world, gang. The past couple weeks were a nice break, no? Unfortunately, I am on day nine of this rotten cold/flu—it definitely pared back the ambitious scope of my L.A. itinerary last week. All I wanted to do was sleep. Being forced…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jan 05, 2009

The Socialite

Free Author Events

Omnivore Books on Food is hosting a variety of ~COOKBOOK AUTHOR EVENTS~ in their new bookstore. All January events are free, and will take place on Saturday afternoons at the shop. Here’s a listing below: Saturday January 10th, 3pm–4pm Heirloom Beans with Vanessa Barrington Local author and founding…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jan 05, 2009

The Socialite

Meatpaper Meat & Greet for Issue Six

This Sunday is the ~MEATPAPER MEAT & GREET FOR ISSUE SIX~ at Acme Chophouse. Chef Ryan Farr (of Ivy Elegance and the CHEFS program, formerly of Orson restaurant) will break down a whole pig, while Sam White and Chris Kronner from OPENrestaurant will create aÂ nose-to-tail beef cooking presentation and…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jan 05, 2009

The Regular

Three Ramen Shops in Japantown

Suzu Noodle House Sapporo-Ya Japanese Restaurant Tanpopo I love double plays. Back in the day, I remember getting drinks at Dalva while waiting for a table at Ti Couz... But now I'd say dinner at Bar Crudo followed by an after-dinner drink and dessert at Café Claude would…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jan 05, 2009

The Bore

No Thanks, I'm Fine: No More in '09

1. I am so blowing the whistle on cupcakes. Yes, it’s great to have a few shops in each city, but we don’t need more than a few. And really, what is up with the LINES of people (mostly ladies) waiting at some of these places? Ri-donkedonk. Now,…

Marcia Gagliardi • Dec 31, 2008

The Lush

December 30, 2008

Since a lot of industry folks are working hard to make this important event a successful one, I wanted to repeat last week’s details, plus mention some additional ones about the ~BENEFIT FOR TONY DEVENCENZI~ that is happening on Monday January 5th. I know the organizers will so appreciate…

Marcia Gagliardi • Dec 30, 2008