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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 Socialite

SF FallFest

Coming up next weekend is the annual ~FALLFEST~ at Justin Herman Plaza, across from the Ferry Building. Let's hope for some fab fall weather since this festival is outdoors! It will feature chef demos (with Douglas Keane of Cyrus, Greg Dunmore of Ame, and Michelle Polzine of Range)…

Marcia Gagliardi • Sep 25, 2006

The Regular

Abigail's Bakery and Cafe

*THIS RESTAURANT HAS CLOSED* Sometimes, all you want is a good sandwich—a tasty preparation that shows there's someone out there who really cares about your lunch, besides your mother when you were seven and brown-bagging it. At ABIGAIL'S BAKERY AND CAFÉ, a hidden-away little alcove…

Marcia Gagliardi • Sep 25, 2006

The Chatterbox

September 19, 2006

Folks in the Dogpatch area are gonna be stoked about this news, and pizza lovers just might make the trek cross-town for this one: a tiny pizza place will be opening (optimistically) by the beginning of November called ~PICCINO~ (it's an endearing Italian diminutive of the word "…

Marcia Gagliardi • Sep 19, 2006

The Starlet

September 19, 2006

Giiiiiiirl, as many of you know, SJP (yes, Ms. Sarah Jessica Parker) was on the loose! She reportedly dined at the R&G Lounge (I KNOW, how quirky is that? Love it. She supposedly loves Chinese food and total hole-in-the-wall joints) but she did step it up the next…

Marcia Gagliardi • Sep 19, 2006

The Socialite

Vino and Chocolate/Vino and Cheese

Wine, cheese, and thou. Wait, it's bread, wine, and thou. Well, thanks to the ~FERRY PLAZA WINE MERCHANT~, it's gonna be wine, cheese, and chocolate! (Pitter patter.) On Thursday October 5, you will be able to visit the Michael Recchiuti kitchen and learn about the art…

Marcia Gagliardi • Sep 18, 2006

The Regular

Silks

I have a friend and colleague who is crazy for Joel Huff's cooking. Like, if Huff had a fan club, she'd be a charter member. Susan has been singing his praises since her first meal at SILKS, calling him the best new chef of San Francisco,…

Marcia Gagliardi • Sep 18, 2006

The Chatterbox

September 12, 2006

This town seems to have baked goods on its mind lately (glad it's not just me): Potrero residents/Dogpatchers are starting their morning with fresh (organic) breakfast pastries and tarts at ~PETITE PATISSERIE~. Rachel Leising is behind this new venture, with over 20 years of baking experience, including…

Marcia Gagliardi • Sep 12, 2006

The Starlet

september 12, 2006

Ashley Judd was seen having lunch at Rose's Café—she was in town for her husband's race at Sonoma. (He's Dario Franchitti, a motor-racing driver.) Metallica was in at Scott Howard Restaurant. Rock! (Comedian Patton Oswalt was also seen there.) Kathy Griffin was at…

Marcia Gagliardi • Sep 12, 2006

The Socialite

Tomato Festival

Pic taken at Bacco restaurant Tomatoes are in full effecty-wecty, and this weekend you can join CUESA in celebration of the tomato in all its forms. I'll be a judge in the Tomato Cooking Contest at 11am—I'm hoping they don't expect me to…

Marcia Gagliardi • Sep 11, 2006

The Wino

Duggan McDonnell on Bitters

Duggan McDonnell opened and launched the acclaimed spirits program at frisson and is currently working as a freelance cocktail consultant while developing 'Cantina,' a culinary cocktail lounge with much Latin funk. (More on this soon, stay tuned.) WHEN BITTER IS BETTER Have you noticed the rash (cultural phenom,…

Marcia Gagliardi • Sep 11, 2006