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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 Starlet

January 13, 2009

A tablehopper reader writes in, “My hubby and I were at Whole Foods in SoMa on Saturday January 3rd. We were making salads at the salad bar and noticed a dapper man. Upon closer inspection, lo and behold, it was Mos Def creating his own healthy salad. An older man,…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jan 13, 2009

What’s Cookin’

January 13, 2009

Springtime in January... Hrm. Anyone in the mood for cold beer and ceviche? Seriously, what happened to cassoulet weather? In honor of the record-breaking warm weather, I have a write-up in the regular that is all about heat—it would make Scoville proud. After finally kicking my lame…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jan 12, 2009

The Socialite

January 13, 2009

The 18th Annual ~ZINFANDEL ADVOCATES & PRODUCERS FESTIVAL (ZAP)~ has a variety of events coming up, and always draws quite the crowd, especially the Grand Tasting. Bring on the zin freaks! For more details, check out the site links below, but here are the highlights: Wednesday January 28th Flights! A…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jan 12, 2009

The Socialite

January 13, 2009

Man, I am bummed to be missing this dinner. I admire Cecilia Chiang very much, and she’s totally feisty. Oh, my Monday nightsx Anyway, here’s more from the release, “On January 26th, chef Laurent Manrique and executive chef Ron Boyd welcome Cecilia Chiang to preside over the preparation…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jan 12, 2009

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…

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—…

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