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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 Chatterbox

August 1, 2006

Just after ~ROOSEVELT'S TAMALE PARLOR~ was lovingly restored and reopened, there are some changes to report. One of our local tamale queens, Karen Taylor, is no longer consulting with Roosevelt's—the commute from Sonoma was a long one, and she is going to keep her attention…

Marcia Gagliardi • Aug 01, 2006

The Starlet

August 1, 2006

Okay, things were just on fire in the starlet department, like, yo, like real stars?! Nelly Furtado was seen at Asia de Cuba, and Lauryn Hill was at the Redwood Room. Then we have Lionel Richie who played a private party at the Clift Hotel for a birthday, and Nicole…

Marcia Gagliardi • Aug 01, 2006

The Socialite

Food photography seminar

photo by Caren Alpert Fellow food snap-shooters (or ahem, photographers): you might dig this free seminar at the Apple Store this Friday. San Francisco photographer ~Caren Alpert~ is hosting an in-store demo on food photography, how helpful. Working with Basil Friedman, one of her favorite food stylists, she shows how…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jul 31, 2006

The Wino

Kim Beto on Champagne

Photo from Vintrust Kim Beto is known by numerous industry folk for his dynamic and inspired work with Southern Wine & Spirits, but prior to working with Southern, he was the Director of Beverage for the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Many also know him from his days as…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jul 31, 2006

The Regular

Bong Su

*THIS RESTAURANT HAS CLOSED* San Francisco continues to generate restaurants featuring higher-end interpretations of otherwise inexpensive ethnic cuisines—Mamacita is a far cry from the Tamale Lady, Shanghai 1930 and Shanghai Restaurant are two very different animals, Prana is opening soon and DOSA is, well, we don't have…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jul 31, 2006

The Chatterbox

July 25, 2006

Here's a friendly little joint that will be opening soon in the Mission: ~WEIRD FISH~, a concept that will offer eco-friendly fish & chips (think tilapia or fresh catch of the day in Anchor Steam beer batter, or even wheat-free cornmeal batter) and seafood sandwiches (can you say…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jul 25, 2006

The Lush

Etiquette

A couple chaps (Brandon McKee and Neej Gore) from Element Lounge will be opening ~ETIQUETTE~ by December or January, 2007, in the Renoir Hotel on Market St. The former hotel bar, plus an ice cream shop and barbershop had their walls knocked down and are being converted into a lounge…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jul 25, 2006

The Starlet

July 25, 2006

Funny, I got TWO Barry Bonds sightings this week. Looks like someone was out on the town as much as yours truly. Bonds was having a good time with some friends at Harry Denton's Starlight Room last week—this was the night BEFORE his potential indictment, mind you.…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jul 25, 2006

The Socialite

Frisson

SF's sexiest restaurant, ~FRISSON~, (well, in my book—I can always send visiting Manhattanites there and not feel like our city is completely provincial) is continuing heir First Thursday series on August 3, while Thursday, August 4, commemorates the restaurant's 2nd anniversary (happy birfday). Here are…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jul 24, 2006

The Socialite

CAV

Okay, so how much have you been boozing it up at ~CAV~? Hopefully quite a bit. For those of you who are perhaps a little intimidated by the monster list there (you shouldn't be—everyone is rather helpful), perhaps a wine tasting basics class is what you need?…

Marcia Gagliardi • Jul 24, 2006