The Chatterbox

I heard rumors that Dave McLean of Magnolia had a project brewing (heh) in Dogpatch, and he has kindly shared a “work in progress” update with me. What this means is zoning, planning, and other factors may come into play, but the plan is to open a small-scale production brewery, ~MAGNOLIA BREWERY~, and on-site pub/restaurant in the American Industrial Center on 3rd Street (next to Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous, and across from Serpentine on 22nd Street). He mentioned how he’s been literally bursting at the seams with his Haight Street production, and can barely keep up with the needs at Magnolia and his other location, The Alembic. He’s actually having to turn away wholesale business for local bars and restaurants since he just can’t produce enough beer. (Yeah, that Proving Ground is popular stuff!) The new location would allow him to produce three times the amount (with a 20-barrel system), but it would still be on a small, craft level. He will also be freed up to do more barrel aging.

As for the restaurant, it’s still in its infancy as a concept, but he envisions a casual space, with a bit of an industrial and maritime vibe to fit the neighborhood style. He has enlisted Eric Hyde (Thermidor, Range, Serpentine) to design the space. (McLean also mentioned having wine on tap—and based on my own gossip tracking, I can safely say some of it will be from a new neighbor—more on that soon.) Timing is pointing toward spring of 2011, so I’ll keep you posted on updates. With the upcoming Piccino project, things just keep getting more exciting over there. 2505 3rd St. at 22nd St.

Are you ready to report for pizza patrol? Opening tomorrow, Wednesday July 28th, is ~ZERO ZERO~, the SoMa pizzeria and restaurant from executive chef/owner Bruce Hill (BIX, Picco, Pizzeria Picco) in the former Azie space. The Bay Area is no stranger to Hill’s stellar pizzas at Pizzeria Picco in Larkspur, so SF diners are pretty fired up to have his “Calipolitan” pies (Neapolitan pizzas with California ingredients) so close by.

A few details: the mozzarella is housemade, and the custom Mugnaini oven will be cranking so hot that nicely blistered pies will come out after only 90 seconds or so. In case you’re wondering about the name, it refers to the ultra-finely ground flour (tipo “00”) used in traditional Neapolitan pizza dough. And what a list of pizzas it is, ten in all, from classics like a margherita ($10.95), to a variety of pizzas named after different neighborhoods in the City, like the Fillmore, with hen of the woods mushrooms, leeks, mozzarella, Parmesan, pecorino, Fontina, garlic, and thyme ($15.50), and the Market, with housemade mortadella, Padrón peppers, mozzarella, roasted garlic, and oregano ($13.50). (You can read about all the pizzas here.)

The menu (co-created with chef Chris Whaley) also includes a range of starters and antipasti, like a variety of crudos for $9.75 each (e.g. albacore tuna, Padrón pepper, sea beans, and coriander aioli), and bar-friendly bites for $6.95, like Fontina and spinach-stuffed arancini with black garlic aioli, plus a few bruschetta choices, salads, and hello there, crispy fried chicken thighs with chili sauce, crisp basil, and caraway yogurt ($9.95). Some pasta dishes will round out the menu, including sweet corn agnolotti, pickled peppers, country ham, Straus butter, and capers ($12.50), and bucatini with cherry tomatoes, garlic chives, chile, breadcrumbs, and bottarga ($11.95). You can view the entire menu here.

And of course Hill’s signature organic soft-serve Straus Dairy ice cream will be on the menu—in fact, it has its own menu, with a variety of options, from a base of olive oil cake or cinnamon waffle, to toppings like pine nut brittle or his classic Da Vero olive oil and sea salt combo. There’s a full bar (actually two), with farm-to-glass cocktails created by Joel Teitelbaum, recently of Credo. You’ll also be able to order punch service in vintage bowls, à la Rickhouse. The wine list will focus on Italian varietals grown in California, with up to twelve wines available on tap, while the by-the-glass and bottle choices are primarily from Italy. There will also be a selection of small-production beers. You can view the cocktail and wine list here.

Michael Brennan redesigned the two-level and 135-seat space, formerly designed by Cass Calder Smith, which includes details like flame-inspired sconces and hanging lights, booths on the first floor, a central staircase adorned with old-fashioned metal-work, red-brown woods and leathers, and a second floor with a communal table and room for groups. Oh yeah, and quite the mural about the story of pizza, featuring Pinocchio. Dinner will be served Sun-Thu 5:30pm-10:30pm, Fri-Sat 5:30pm-11pm, and lunch launching in late August. Note: reservations only for parties of five or greater.

There’s a new executive chef at ~ABSINTHE BRASSERIE & BAR~ in Hayes Valley, Adam Keough, who begins on August 17th (Jamie Lauren is now at Beechwood in Venice, Los Angeles). He will be responsible for the food for lunch, dinner, brunch, private dining, and the bar at Absinthe, as well as for Arlequin Café. The Boston-native’s background includes working with Joshua Skenes at Chez TJ in Los Gatos, and for the Mina Restaurant Group at Arcadia in San Jose, and he opened Stonehill Tavern for Mina at the St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach in Dana Point, to much acclaim.

We had a chance to talk about upcoming menu changes, which will entail more bar snacks (like his homemade garlic pretzels), and adding some Italian flair to the menu. New appetizers will include beef carpaccio, and housemade fennel sausage in a grain mustard butter sauce, along with two to three soups (don’t worry, the onion soup will remain). Some new entrées on the menu will include a steak, plus a shellfish stew, butter-poached halibut, and some creative sides. Oh yeah, and short ribs made in a boeuf bourguignon style. (Vegetarians can have wild nettle and ricotta cannelloni with roasted macadamia nuts, confit of lemon, and basil cream.) The lunchtime menu will include a delicious-sounding BLT, with Berkshire pork cheek and Neuske’s bacon, plus miner’s lettuce, heirloom tomato, and aioli. Yeah, sign me up. Brunch will integrate a roast of the day, like a stuffed and carved lamb leg, and the Niçoise salad will have a twist—it will be made with potato-encrusted steelhead trout, with an olive relish, radish, wax beans and haricots verts, and an anchovy dressing. Am looking forward to trying his menu.

The Valencia Street space that formerly housed Senses and Janitzi has a new tenant, ~B-CUBED~, due to open Wednesday August 4th. About the name: B-Cubed is going to be about (wine) “bottles, burgers, and bites.” The partners in the venture are Johnny Gato and Ron Elder, along with chef Kevin Ahajanian (Bouchon, Risibisi). Starters include beer-battered onion rings and charcuterie, and salads like a Cobb or B3LT (with bacon, Point Reyes blue cheese, marinated tomatoes, bibb and romaine lettuces). The main event is a $12 burger (with a variety of toppings, ranging from $1-$2), or sausages (including boudin noir), and sandwiches (which include three vegetarian options, like a hen of the woods mushroom “burger”). There will also be a happy hour from 4pm-6pm, and 10pm-12am—just order a bottle of wine off the happy hour list and you can add two burgers on for $18. The late-night happy hour will have a few additional offerings.

The owners are calling the wine component “The Winemakers’ Speakeasy.” The idea is that you’ll be able to enjoy rare, small production, under-the-radar, and local wines that are not widely available, nor are they available for public tasting, many not even at the wineries. And bonus, the prices will be based on retail, whether you want to consume a bottle in-house or take it home. Look for the selection to grow (and rotate) in coming months. Hours will be Tue-Sun 4pm-2am.

If you’d like a sneak peek, The Bold Italic just added another preview dinner on August 3rd for $45.

Both Eater and Inside Scoop reported on the upcoming closure of ~1550 HYDE CAFÉ & WINE BAR~ on August 14th, after seven-plus years in business. The restaurant from partners Peter Erickson and Kent Liggett wasn’t able to withstand the challenging economy, so they sold their lease back to the landlord. Best of luck to them, and here’s hoping they enjoy a nice break. New tenants are reportedly taking over the Russian Hill space starting September 1st. 1550 Hyde St. at Pacific, 415-775-1550.

The kitchen at ~HOME ON MARKET~ is now under the care of executive chef Ryan Pollnow, formerly a sous chef at Mecca under chef Randy Lewis, and the last three years he was in Sonoma at the Kendall-Jackson Wine Center. Look for more artisanal, local, and sustainable products making their way on the menu, like Fulton Ranch beef, Mary’s Free Range Natural Chickens, and local cheeses, along with produce from the Castro Farmers’ Market. Look for new menu additions in coming weeks. 2100 Market St. at Church, 415-503-0333.

If all goes according to plan, the ~BAKER & BANKER BAKERY~ should be opening on Sunday August 1st. The project is from husband-and-wife team Lori Baker and Jeff Banker, and is just around the corner from their restaurant. On the menu: Four Barrel drip coffee and espresso drinks, one or two daily sandwiches, and, of course, baked goods. Morning offerings will include scones, muffins, breakfast breads, and sticky buns, and bakery items will rotate daily and include layer cakes (such as the snickerdoodle cake), a variety of cookies, two to three types of cupcakes (like chocolate salted caramel), brownies, blondies, lemon bars, seasonal crostadas, individual panna cottas, and puddings. There will also be sweet and savory housemade breads available to go, from challah to cinnamon cherry swirl. Got a party coming up? Whole layer cakes may be ordered by 4pm one day prior to pickup. Hours will be Tue-Sun 9am-5pm. 1802 Bush St. at Octavia.

Thought I’d update you on a few bits of ramen news, since it’s rapidly becoming a hot topic—although it’s not on the scale of pizza (yet). Eater has the news about a new pop-up ramen shop called ~KEN KEN RAMEN~ in Panchita’s No. 3 on Mondays starting at 6pm. The chef is Bushi-tei line cook Kenji Miyazaki, banging out three different styles of ramen: miso, shoyu, and a shiitake-based vegetarian version. The piece mentions you can top it with day-long-soaked eggs or chashu. You can follow them on Twitter. 3115 22nd St. at S. Van Ness.

Also thought you should know the ~NAMU~ lads are now offering 30 orders of their ramen at the Saturday farmers market at the Ferry Building (starting at 10:45am).

And ~HAPA RAMEN~ is going to be making an appearance at Off the Grid in Fort Mason on Friday August 6th, starting at 5pm.

Just around the corner from ‘hopper HQ, ~EL RANCHO GRANDE~ has opened, offering a classic taqueria menu, from a quesadilla suiza ($6.25) to super burritos ($6.95), plus breakfast dishes and special plates, like enchiladas and a steak plate (both under $10). Oddly enough, there’s a Philly cheese steak sandwich on the menu, too. The Rancho is going to be competing with Green Chile Kitchen just a couple blocks away, and Nopalito and The Little Chihuahua a bit further afield, which all use sustainable ingredients (GCK’s super burrito is $8.95). But I am sure the prices here, and convenient location, will be right for many folks. 855 Divisadero St. at McAllister, 415-673-8226.

The chaps at ~MISSION CHINESE FOOD~ are already up to some changes on the menu, which they are relaunching this Thursday the 29th. I hope you haven’t become too attached to the chinito, because chefs Danny Bowien and Anthony Myint are fired up to make other things. I know, you have like two more days to get your chinito groove on. They’re going to be adding dishes like a tingly lamb noodle soup, a cha shu pork belly, and more vegetarian options, like a Taiwanese eggplant dish, and they’re swapping out the bok choy for some water spinach. Did you know they also make a few off-the-menu salt-and-pepper crabs each night, that come doused in the mapo tofu sauce? I know, demented. (It’s for dine-in only.) Oh, and look for some white wine on the menu, too—whether it will quench the heat in your mouth or not, I cannot say.

Riding my bike down Valencia Street last week, I was surprised to see the latest location of ~THE CREPE HOUSE~ was already open. (The Crepe House has two other locations, at 1755 Polk Street and 429 Gough Street.) The space was formerly Bistro Annex, and it now looked airy, with open windows and awnings. Eater has a few more details: “the new location will have almost the same menu—complete with his best-selling chicken pesto and sweet banana nutella crepes, Mexican omelets and warm chicken salads—but he’s [owner Bashar Haddadin] added a few pasta dishes to the mix.” Open 8am-10:30pm. 1132 Valencia St. at 22nd St., 415-285-2423.

Lovers of barbecue, you may want to check out this screening of ~SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING, A DAY IN THE LIFE OF BARBECUE~ by Lolis Eric Elie, a New Orleans-based writer and filmmaker. The event will include a barbecue dinner provided by Memphis Minnie’s,The Epicurean Connection, Wild Thyme Catering and Events, and Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates. Wine will be provided by Highway 12 Winery and Vineyards and Spann Vineyards, with beer by Moonlight Brewing Company and Uncommon Brewers. There will also be music by The Hellhounds. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Southern Foodways Alliance. Tickets available at The Epicurean Connection, Wild Thyme, and Readers’ Books.

Chef ~RENÉ REDZEPI~ of Noma in Copenhagen is coming to San Francisco October 4th, and will give a presentation at the Delancey Theater on the Embarcadero (he will be in conversation with Daniel Patterson of Coi). This will be his first U.S. event in conjunction with the publication of his new book, Noma: Time and Place in Nordic Cuisine (Phaidon, $49.95). The event is free if you purchase a copy of the book from Omnivore Books, or $15 if you don’t want a book. 150 seats are available, and you can contact Omnivore at 415-282-4712 with a credit card number to reserve your space!

Things are looking good for the opening of ~LITTLE STAR PIZZA~’s third location in Albany this week. (Sorry, San Francisco, you already have two locations.) Owners Brian Sadigursky and Jon Guhl will be offering a similar menu to the SF locations (my favorite deep dish to order from them is the “Brass Monkey,” an off-the-menu variation of the Little Star, but with sausage). They will start out doing dinner only, but will introduce lunch service after getting a good foundation in place. The interior space of the restaurant is light and airy, and they intend to be very family friendly. They also plan to expand their seating outdoors, which should work well with the East Bay climate. The soft opening is this Thursday, and they hope to be able to serve beer and wine, but the answer we’re getting in our ABC Magic 8-Ball is “Cannot predict now.” 1175 Solano Ave., Albany; 510-526-7827 (STAR).

A good thing is about to get even better: Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson, owners of Tartine Bakery and Bar Tartine, have taken over the lease of the space directly adjacent to ~BAR TARTINE~ (the Hideo Wakamatsu store). And check out what’s going into the space: a custom-built brick oven. Inspired by London’s St. John Bread and Wine, Robertson will use the oven around the clock. (Although they wouldn’t tell me who the special oven builder is.) This means there will be an expanded baking program for the restaurant, which will include housemade breads and pies. Lunch is going to be added, serving sandwiches with meats that have been slow-roasted overnight. The expanded space also means there will be additional seating. Timing remains a big question mark, so stand by for more, but it will either be the end of the year or early next year.

Another restaurant with a 100-mile focus is joining the restaurant scene: ~LOCAVORE~. The 49-seat restaurant at 3215 Mission Street (near Valencia) is a project with chef Jason Moniz (Flora, Tres Agaves, Nectar), Mario Duarte (he owns the building, and his parents formerly had El Bramadero restaurant in there), and Cesar Ascarrunz (of the former Cesar’s Latin Palace, now Roccapulco’s). In case you’re wondering what was in there last, it was Bella Venezia.

The weekly changing menu will focus on farm-fresh, organic, local, and seasonal ingredients (did I forget anything?). Moniz will be doing whole-animal cooking, and he’s especially fond of making sausages, so look for that on the menu. What’s nice is most dinner entrées will be under $20 (and lunch below $10), so look for more pork and goat instead of steak. The interior will be clean, open, and minimalist, but still homey. The beer and wine list will probably stretch beyond California to include some Oregon and Washington choices, and Moniz mentioned he wants the bar staff to be very educational about what’s being poured. There are plans to serve beer and wine after the kitchen closes on Fridays and Saturdays, with some late-night snacks and music. They’re targeting a September opening. And one more cool detail: Moniz is currently cooking for St. Anthony’s until the restaurant opens. He said, “I’m really enjoying it. It’s good to give back. And it’s reminding me of the importance of cooking—to feed people.” Nice.

Inside Scoop broke the news about a couple of cool projects that will be keeping Flour + Water’s Central Kitchen and Salumeria company in the upcoming 20th Street building. First, Jake Godby and Sean Vahey of Humphry Slocombe will be opening ~THE PARLOUR BY HUMPHRY SLOCOMBE~, a combination bakery and café that Godby describes as an intersection of Tartine Bakery with Momofuku Milk Bar. It will be open all day from 7am-11pm, offering treats like coffee cake (Godby’s mom’s recipe), peanut butter banana bread, and scones in the morning, and lunch will include pretzel dogs using hot dogs from 4505 Meats. The menu will also include the so-bad-for-you-but-oh-so-good duck fat pecan pies, and other items, like a Manchego cheesecake in a jar with apple butter and rosemary streusel. There will be coffee from multiple roasters (including Blue Bottle and Four Barrel), plus beer and wine by the glass (with nothing over $10). And yes, ice cream—about four or five set flavors. The space will be a bit industrial with exposed beams, plus there will be outdoor seating, and a Chinese ceiling paddle fan (similar to the ones at Betelnut and Comstock Saloon). Spring will be the best-case scenario for the opening, which is when you can meet your new Flour + Water waiting room.

The other addition is ~TRICK DOG~, a bar project from the Bon Vivants consulting duo, Scott Baird (15 Romolo) and Josh Harris (currently consulting and doing Mondays in the back room at Dalva), along with their friend Jason Henton, a consultant whose background includes Scala’s and Oola. The gents are aiming to create a unique and memorable space where folks can hang out that will stylistically feel fresh and new. And there will also be a kitchen, so expect a late-night menu as well. As for the name, it ends up Harris is a big collector of vintage gear, so his little mechanical piggy bank dating back to the 1850s is providing some inspiration for the colors and perhaps theatrics of the space. (You can watch a trick dog bank in action here. And again, it’ll be 2011 until this one opens, so sit, boy, sit. Good dog. 3000 20th St. at Florida.

On a side note, I was happy to learn that eight San Francisco bartenders who are in New Orleans for the Tales of the Cocktail event are joining up with a few more bartenders from New York and Florida to help volunteer with Hands on New Orleans, in addition to throwing a fundraiser while they’re there. Go team go.

Now open in the former Cafe Prague space in the Mission is ~THE SYCAMORE~, a casual restaurant-bar-hangout from brother and sister Tim and Liz Ryan. Mission Local shares this tidbit about the menu: “[The Sycamore] will offer mix-and-match sliders and a popular sandwich from a region north of Boston called the North Shore…North Shore roast beef sandwiches are very popular in the Ryans’ native Boston, but have not yet made their way to San Francisco. Camper over at Alcademics snapped pics of the beer (seven on tap) and wine list, along with the menu, so hop on over for more info. There is also a patio in the back, FYI. Hours are 11am-12am. 2140 Mission St. at Sycamore (at 18th St.), 415-252-7704.

The Inside Scoop caught wind of a rumor that ~ORIGINAL JOE’S~ might be reopening in the Joey & Eddie’s space (previously Moose’s) on Washington Square. I got a “no comment” from John Duggan, whose family opened the restaurant in 1937 (it’s remained tragically closed since a nasty fire in 2007). But sources close to the North Beach scene confirm the rumor is a likely possibility, so we’ll just have to sit tight and see what kind of paperwork is signed, hopefully soon. 1652 Stockton St. at Union.

After initial reports speculating that ~RNM~ in the Lower Haight was closed for good, chef-owner Justine Miner has confirmed the restaurant will remain closed. She is going to take some time off to travel (she’s thinking about Spain and China), and said she may pop up again in the next year or two. She did mention there are some interested parties who want to take over the space; stand by for official news.

Just wanted to give you a quick heads up that ~BISTRO AIX~ will be closed Monday nights starting August 1st. But starting the weekend of August 7th, the restaurant will be opening up for lunch Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm-3pm. 3340 Steiner St. at Chestnut, 415-202-0100.

Over in Dogpatch, ~JUST FOR YOU CAFE~ is no longer serving dinner, but their breakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch hours will continue. Hours are Mon-Fri 7:30am-3pm, and Sat-Sun 8am-3pm. 732 22nd St. at 3rd St., 415-647-3033.

And over in Oakland, ~HIBISCUS~ is now serving lunch Wed-Fri 11am-2:30pm. You can check out the menu here. 1745 San Pablo Ave. at 18th, Oakland, 510-444-2626.

Coming up this Saturday July 24th is the next ~SF UNDERGROUND MARKET~. The market will be split into two shifts: the first (11am-4pm) will be focused on “take-homeables,” like jams, produce, soaps, desserts, etc. If you want to avoid the much-discussed crowds, this is a good time to go. Buy $2 advance tickets here.

The second shift (6pm-midnight) will be mainly hot food that’s ready to eat. There will also be music, drinks for sale (Trumer $3, Speakeasy $3, and wine $4), and workshops, like a homebrew workshop by Local Brewing Co. Buy $5 tickets here. You’ll also be able to buy tickets at the door. And if you bring your own cup, plate, and silverware, you get a buck off admission.

Some vendors include Kitchen Sidecar (homemade Vietnamese bahn mi sandwiches), Biscuit Boy, Homeroom with their mac and cheese, CDMacaron, Emmy’s farm-made pickles and jams, and more.

Please note the market will be closed from 4pm-6pm for an intermission and vendor changeover. You will also need to sign up for a free membership here in order to enter the market (if you’ve signed up in the past, no need to re-apply).

Wow, is our new mantra a chicken in every pot, a farmers’ market in every ‘hood? Starting this Wednesday July 21st, the ~MINT PLAZA FARMERS’ MARKET~ will launch, running every Wednesday from 10am-2pm (until October 27th). There is a nice variety of vendors so far, and most are organic, including Blue Moon Organics (strawberries and more), Tomatero Farm (organic broccoli, chard, kale, lettuce, beets, carrots, and eggs), J&M Ibarra (organic mixed greens), Rodin Farms (pesticide-free stone fruit), and more. Some potential vendors may include Marshall’s Honey, Bakers of Paris, Scream Sorbet, and others. Near 5th St. between Market and Mission.

And then this Thursday July 22nd marks the debut of the ~MISSION COMMUNITY MARKET~, running every Thursday from 4pm-8pm. SFoodie has the list of some farmers and food vendors at this week’s market. Bartlett St. at 22nd St.

I’ve been watching my neighborhood market, ~FALLETTI FOODS~, gain a deli case, and today (July 20th) is the soft opening of that section in the store. They’re offering made-to-order classic sandwiches, with a variety of meats from Boar’s Head, Molinari, and Diestel. Special sandwiches will include an Italian sub, a chicken Caesar, smoked salmon, an Italian or Greek vegetarian sandwich, a vegan sandwich on Alvarado Street Bakery bread, a Brie special, and a prosciutto deli sandwich. Look for hot sandwiches coming soon, with beef and pork coming off the rotisserie. You can also get sliced meats, cheeses, and some salads. Hours are 7am-9pm daily. 308 Broderick St. at Fell, 415-626-4400.

The big news rippling through the neighborhood is that Sam Mogannam is opening a second ~BI-RITE MARKET~ on Divisadero, in the former Emblem Grocery. We had a chance to catch up, and he told me it’s going to be almost the same size as the Bi-Rite on 18th Street, about 2,500 square feet. Mogannam said they’re going to start working on the space later in the year, so the targeted opening is in 2011. In the meantime, they’re busy focusing on the new space and full kitchen for 18 Reasons, in the former Jivano’s Cutlery shop. 736 Divisadero St. at Grove.

There are just eight days left for you to enter to win a variety of prizes in the 20th Anniversary Contest on now at ~PALIO D’ASTI~. There are 24 prizes, including a private mixology class for 10, a case of Italian wine, and a cocktail party for you and 20 of your BFFs. How to enter? Just submit a business card every time you dine (lunch or dinner—and everyone at your table can enter), plus chef Dan says that in honor of my Italian heritage, if you write “tablehopper” on your biz card/entry, you’ll also get invited to a private anniversary bash to be held later this summer. And don’t forget, at dinner, when you order three-plus courses (for $37), you get your first martini or Manhattan for only $1 more. And to that I can only say cin cin! You have from now until July 28th to enter the contest.

Get ready to put your piggy nose on, because ~THE PASTA SHOP’S~ annual Hog Heaven III is coming up on Saturday July 31st. Artisanal and sustainable pork will be featured in educational demos, tastings, book signings, and patio grilling. Producers, chefs, and authors will answer questions with shoppers as they taste a variety of salumi, the Pasta Shop’s housemade sausages, goat cheese and bacon ravioli, and chocolate bacon truffles. The tastings start at 1pm, and here’s the lineup of educational demos:

1:30pm: Scott Brennan, Café Rouge lead butcher, will demo bratwurst sausage-making and discuss ingredient sourcing and cooking techniques. On the patio, Café Rouge will be offering fresh-off-the-grill housemade hot dogs.

2:15pm: Ari Weinzweig will discuss his new book, Zingerman’s Guide to Better Bacon, and why he believes bacon is to the United States as olive oil is to Italy.

2:30pm: Pasta Shop executive chef Scott Miller will demo stuffed pork loin and discuss quality ingredients, handling, and cooking, while pulled pork sandwiches will be available for purchase on the patio.

You’ll also be able to hang out with authors Ari Weinzweig, along with Victoria Wise, author of Sausage: Recipes for Making and Cooking with Homemade Sausage, from 1pm-3pm. And the best part: the entire event is free, except for purchases.

The porky event continues throughout the evening next door at ~CAFÉ ROUGE~ with Ari Weinzweig and recipes from Zingerman’s Guide to Better Bacon; the evening menu will be featuring a Llano Seco whole hog that will be roasted Cuban-style.

Coming up in November (from the 4th through the 6th) is The Culinary Institute of America’s 13th annual ~WORLDS OF FLAVOR CONFERENCE & FESTIVAL~. And what’s especially exciting about this one is the entire 2010 event will be devoted to Japanese cuisine: it’s titled JAPAN: FLAVORS OF CULTURE—From Sushi and Soba to Kaiseki, A Global Celebration of Tradition, Art & Exchange. There will be more than 50 Japanese chefs (from Michelin-three-starred restaurants to noodle bars) leading conference sessions devoted to mastering Japanese food ingredients, beverages, techniques for flavor development, and more, along with seminars and workshops.

The event is hosted at the CIA’s historic and scenic Napa Valley campus at Greystone, drawing over 700 attending chefs, food professionals, and journalists. Other starring guests include Masaharu Morimoto, David Chang, Thomas Keller, José Andrés, Harold McGee, Ruth Reichl, Elizabeth Andoh (a writer and lecturer specializing in Japanese food and culture), and Harris Salat (a farmer turned journalist). There are still tickets available for foodservice professionals and culinary educators: $1,095 for Advanced Purchase Registration (through August 31st) or $1,295 for General Registration (September 1st-November 1st). Like I said, start saving…

Things in SoMa just keep on happening: opening this week, next door to Pinkie’s Bakery, is ~CITIZEN’S BAND~ (as in CB radio). The CB also stands for the partners’ initials (chef Chris Beerman, and pastry chef Cheryl Burr). A third channel on the radio is managing partner Boris Nemchenok, who is also co-owner of Uva Enoteca. It’s a tight space, with room for 40 in all: there are tables along the side wall, and a small counter with room for 12. I went to a pre-opening party on Sunday and got a peek at Lauren Geremia’s playful and vintage “fine diner” design, with vintage postcards and magazine ads on the wall. Also be sure to peek at the stacks of CB radios above the entrance.

Beerman’s menu is like a trucker’s gourmet diner of dreams, with items like frank and beans ($7) elevated with Fra’ Mani sausage and Iacopi Farms butter beans, or mac and cheese ($8) finished with shaved summer black truffle. There are four salads, including a Cobb; a trio of potato, macaroni, and slaw; a wedge; and mixed greens; but all have a little gourmet flair, like the potato salad contains pancetta, and the Cobb has shaved egg. Mains include fried chicken ($17) (of course), a grilled Berkshire pork chop ($18), pot roast ($20), which is actually braised short ribs, and a Snake River Farms American Kobe burger ($13) with house-cut fries. There’s also a vegetarian special, and some vegetable sides for $3.50. Save room for dessert, since Burr’s sour cream cheesecake or chocolate sea salt truffle cake (all $6.50) shouldn’t be passed like some weird-looking hitchhiker on the interstate (she’s also making the hamburger’s challah bun, and bread). Nemchenok has made some nice picks for the all-domestic wine list, with 14 by the glass, ranging from CA to WA. Bottles clock in from $20 to $60. It opens for dinner tonight, Tuesday July 13th. Hours are Tue-Sat 5pm-10pm. Stand by for lunch and brunch soon. (I wonder if the hours will be 10-4?)

Opening for dinner this Wednesday night is the other half of ~RADIUS~, the dining room side. During my SoMa meanderings on Sunday night, I took a peek and couldn’t believe the transformation from the former Julie’s Supper Club. All that really remains is the bar, which is completely redone and now lit from underneath. Actually, some other remnants from Julie’s do remain: the owners wanted to reuse as many materials as possible after the remodel, so the tables are actually pieces from Julie’s original dancefloor (don’t worry, all the accumulated layers of dirt, beer, vodka, cocaine, and gum are long gone). The floors at Radius are now concrete, and there’s even a poured concrete bench that is heated using hydronic tubing. The front part of the room is open for now (seating 50), and when access to the back area is added shortly, it will tally to 80 seats total. There’s also discussion of opening the patio for brunch, but for now it’s all about lunchtime access via the neighboring café.

Chef Kelly Hughett’s Cal-Med/French menu includes starters like chilled watermelon gazpacho ($7.50), with sheep’s milk feta and tomato; and glazed asparagus ($8.50), with a soft-boiled farm egg, maitake mushrooms, and country bread; entrées include olive-studded halibut ($24), with braised and raw lettuces, artichoke, olives, preserved lemon; and rabbit ballotine and rillette ($15), with a petite herb salad, country bread, sherry, and rabbit vinaigrette. Delicious-sounding menu, no? You can also round things out with a charcuterie board, oysters, and a variety of cheeses. (And like the restaurant’s name, all the ingredients are very local.) One dessert option is the Ritual Coffee pot de crème ($7), with dark chocolate gelato, cocoa nibs, and caramel tuile. Hours are Tue-Wed 5:30pm-11pm, and Thu-Sat 5:30pm-12am.

After closing for a short summer break, ~LOCAL MISSION EATERY~ is back open today, and offering a new dinner program starting this Friday July 16th. There’s a new dinner menu, with the option to order dishes à la carte. Some examples include chilled corn soup, gnocchi with house-pulled mozzarella, sweetbreads, and chicken roulade, all available in smaller or larger portions (maxing out at $25). You can look at the entire menu here. Their beer and wine license also kicked in, so there’s a nice new list for you to taste from. Dinner is now Wed-Sat 5:30pm-10pm, lunch is now Tue-Fri 11am-3pm, and weekend brunch/lunch is all day from 10am-3pm.

I got a tip from a colleague over at the Marina Times about changes at the historic ~ALFRED’S STEAKHOUSE~: Al Petri’s son, Marco, is going to be taking over the business. Yup, after working there for 37 years, Al is going to enjoy life outside of the restaurant. (Good for him.) Marco, 31, doesn’t plan to change anything—he appreciates the old-school steak-and-martini atmosphere just as it is.

In the “free lunch” category, next Tuesday July 20th, you can swing by ~ZOG’S DOGS~ and score a free hot dog since they’re celebrating their first birthday. Just print off the coupon here. 1 Post St. at Montgomery, 415-391-7071.

Looking for a new lunch spot in the Mission? Swing by La Provence restaurant and you’ll be able to have a prix-fixe Indian lunch cooked by Paawan Kothari of ~GREEN CORIANDER~, all made with organic ingredients and a healthy perspective. Lunch includes dal (as soup), cumin rice (white or brown basmati), served with an organic vegetable side, and choice of protein (organic chicken, tofu, or paneer), plus chai (by The Chai Cart) and cookies (by Sweet Constructions). The dishes will rotate weekly, so check the website to see the menu for the week. Lunch ranges from $11.95-$13.95. An à la carte menu is also available for take-out or delivery. Lunch service is Tue-Fri, and starts at 11:30am; chai will be available from 10am onwards. 1001 Guerrero St. at 22nd St.

In the good news department, you’ll now be seeing Katharine Zacher, previously half of the “Gypsy Kitchen” duo at Bruno’s and Broken Record, doing her thing as the pastry chef at ~BAR TARTINE~. She’s only had a few days there so far, so you can expect to see her new dessert menu more in place in a week or so. One thing she is doing right now is making pie. Uh huh: summer fruit in effect—there’s peach pie on the menu right now. And she might start making pie for Tartine Bakery, stand by on that.

Yeah, it’s dangerous to know the sugar pimp. While I was home toiling away on my column yesterday, my friend Gabriel Mitchell of ~MAISON MITCHELL~ came by, springing his latest tarty treats on me. First, there was Veronique, a wicked combo of strawberries, chocolate, pistachio frangipane, crème légère, and a sablé crust, and Sunshine, made with lemon cream and lemon confit—talk about putting a little sunshine in my day. (They were so pretty I had to include pics of both. Why yes, I did eat a slice of each.)

You can order these little hussies for $20 for a six-inch tart, or $30 for an eight-and-a-half-inch tart, and the sugar pimp will hook you up. He’s also been working on some sick new jam flavors: strawberry and pinot, blackberry and star anise, rhubarb and vanilla (uh, one of the tastiest jams I have encountered in a while), and fig and bay (coming soon); $12 for a hefty 9 oz. jar. I am officially jacked up.

Let’s hear it for ~SCOMA’S~: in May, Scoma’s customers and employees raised $7,000 for Louisiana’s Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation. And now, they’re ready to launch a second fundraiser to further assist the Gulf cleanup and support our fishermen on a local level.

On Thursdays (July 15th, 22nd, and 29th), one hundred percent of the proceeds from the restaurant’s popular Triple Play lunch menu will be donated to United Commercial Fisherman’s Association, Louisiana, and Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen, San Francisco. The Triple Play lunch menu is just $23.95, including complimentary valet parking. Lunch is served 11:30am-3:30pm daily.

This Wednesday July 14th is ~BASTILLE DAY~, when there are all kinds of party options around town, in addition to the usual madness that happens on Belden Place.

~RN74~ is hosting a party from 7pm to midnight, with French burlesque dancers, guests in costume (you get a free cocktail, so try to dig up some burlesque fashions), and oysters and French pastries for $1 each (don’t try eating them together). There will be a costume contest, with the winners receiving a gift certificate for dinner for two at RN74. DJs Julius Papp and Pedro Notori will be playing mid-tempo house and French dance music. No cover. RSVP is requested by emailing here. RN74 Atrium, 301 Mission St. at 1st St., 415-543-7474.

~BAKER STREET BISTRO~ will be offering a special of $30 all-you-can-eat mussels and fries, and $3 beer specials are available all day. There will be a live accordionist in the evening. Reservations accepted. 2953 Baker St. at Lombard, 415-931-1475.

~GRAND CAFÉ BRASSERIE AND BAR~ is hosting their usual big bash, and there will be a Marie Antoinette to greet you at the door and offer some complimentary cake, and the accordion players kick in at 4pm. There is a special bar menu of boeuf Bourguignon, sweet baguette, and a glass of French Burgundy house wine for $17.89, to honor the year of the storming of the Bastille. There will also be a prix-fixe menu (with a number of options to choose from) in the dining room for $53, with an optional wine pairing for an additional $22. 501 Geary St. at Taylor, 415-292-0101.

~CAV WINE BAR & KITCHEN~ will be selling French wine with 40 percent off, and 50 percent off on bottles to go. 1666 Market St. at Gough, 415-437-1770.

Over at ~GOTT’S ROADSIDE~ in the Ferry Building (and at the St. Helena location), you can head over during lunch or happy hour (12pm-2pm and 5pm-7pm) for a mushroom and Gruyère burger ($9.99), paired with a glass of the limited 2007 Métisse “Le Chatelet” from Melka Wines, which will be available for $12.50 a glass (this wine is not in distribution and is normally only sold to the Melka mailing list for $125/bottle). Philippe Melka will be in attendance. 1 Ferry Building, 415-318-3423.

Coming up on Wednesday July 21st at ~ORSON~ is Beast, Booze & Backs. It’s going to be a meaty menu, paired with wine, beer, or a cocktail by Carl Grubbs, and then each pairing is backed up with a special shot that ties it all together.

Here’s the menu (and don’t ask me to explain the road kill):

Black sugar-glazed eel, watermelon, and sake rice cream
Iced Belvedere Citron and kombucha back

Road kill and cavatelli, rabbit sugo, rosemary, leek ash
Bourbon infused with bacon and pickle back

Bacon-wrapped boar, cipollini, creamed corn, ancho jus
Tequila or mezcal with cilantro-lime-agave mash and beer back

Cookie “Monster”
Fernet and ice milk back

…then you might want to book a Wild Edible Walk with ~FORAGESF~. On these guided walks, you will learn to identify some of the wild edibles you see every day, with a focus on sustainable harvesting techniques, recipes, as well as the history of foraging in the Bay Area. Each walk lasts about two hours, and covers a good deal of the wild edibles that are abundant in our area. They are held in parks in San Francisco and the East Bay, and you will get the exact location when you get a ticket ($30 per person):

San Francisco Walks:
August 7th, 12pm-2pm: buy tickets
August 15, 2pm-4pm: buy tickets
August 29th, 2pm-4pm: buy tickets

East Bay Walks:
August 21st, 2pm-4pm: buy tickets  

Coming up on Monday July 26th is a ~BACK ALLEY BBQ~ benefit that BayWolf is throwing with their neighbors, Commis, in BayWolf’s backyard and Commis’s alley. Louis LeGassic of BayWolf and James Syhabout of Commis will be grilling up some good backyard grub, served with sangria and a few draft brews. Proceeds go to the People’s Grocery of West Oakland. (The event organizers are mainly focusing their invitation to the East Bay restaurant industry, but all are welcome.)

Berkeley’s ~LOCANDA DA EVA~ is scheduled to open on Tuesday July 20th, in the former Casa de Eva space (it also housed Zax Tavern and Maritime East). To recap, the project is from Robert Lauriston (yes, the frequent Chowhound poster), and partner-chef Huw Thornton (most recently an executive sous at SPQR under Nate Appleman, and two-and-a-half years at A16). Rounding out the team is GM Matt Derrick and consulting bartender Jacqueline Patterson.

There will be a daily-changing menu, which is mostly Italian with some additional Mediterranean flair, and featuring choice local and sustainable ingredients. There will be a variety of pizzas cooked in the wood-burning oven, like a bianca with robiola and onions; along with dishes like pork trotter crépinettes with Padrón pepper and corn salsa; pastas like rigatoni alla pastora with spicy lamb sausage, basil, sheep’s milk ricotta, and pecorino; and mains like chicken scaloppine with green pepper peperonata or pork loin saltimbocca with apricot mostarda. Desserts will include housemade gelati and sorbetti, as well as fruit-based desserts. There will be 20 to 25 wines by the glass (mostly ranging from $5-$10), plus a reserve list that will eventually grow to around 100 bottles, which will include both local and domestic producers. You can peek at some photos of the project on their Facebook page. Hours will be Tue-Sat 5pm-12am, Sun 5pm-10pm, with a bar menu after 10pm.

If you’d like a sneak peek of the space before it opens next week, and a taste of Patterson’s cocktails, come by the pre-opening party this Friday July 16th for local artist Laura Hoffman, whose work is featured in the space. The party is from 6pm-8pm, and is free and open to the public (but it’s a no-host bar). A couple of cocktails on the menu include the Tilden Park Swizzle (Rhum J.M. Blanc, lime, honey, passionfruit syrup, Luxardo Maraschino, $9) and the Boothby Manhattan (Wild Turkey Rye 101, Carpano Antica, Angostura and orange bitters, sparkling wine, $9). You can also purchase wines from Locanda da Eva’s new wine list, and Oakland’s new Urban Legends Cellars will be pouring free tastes of its wines.

In a season of high-profile openings (Wayfare Tavern, Prospect), let’s examine the third heavyweight to enter into the ring, ~CAFÉ DES AMIS~. This long-awaited project from the Bacchus Management Group (Spruce, Village Pub, and more) and Perry Butler is opening July 21st in Cow Hollow. The former Prego space is nostalgic to many (I remember it was one of the “special lunch in the city” locations my parents would occasionally take me and my sister to), and it will be fantastic to have a lively restaurant anchor this corner once again.

I got a chance to tour the space last week, and it’s quite a beaut. The 7,000-square-foot location was designed by Stephen Brady (Spruce) and architect Anthony Fish. The light-filled 200-seat space has sweeping doors that open into the bar area, where the 25-foot bar is a solid pour of zinc (the craftsmen, Ateliers Nectoux in Paris, only do a few of this kind a year). It’s stunning, with its curving edges, and room for around 18-20 people, plus there will be a number of cocktail tables, and classic woven brasserie chairs in black. Marble is everywhere, from the floors to the bar counters—and not just any marble, but Carrara marble (hey, if it’s good enough for Michelangelo…). You’ll also note a lot of mirrors, and shiny, black lacquered wood, which will be counterpointed in the main dining room with lipstick red leather banquettes. When the floor-to-ceiling glass French doors are open, there will be three rows of sidewalk seating, 17 to-be coveted tables in all. The flickering gas lamps, both inside and outside, are a one-of-a-kind feature; this will be the only place in San Francisco where you’ll see working gas lamps (partner Tim Stannard was able to add this unique feature due to the tiniest of loopholes that he found—and he will never say where or how, so don’t ask).

In the back is a stairway leading to an elevated room, quite glam with bordeaux mohair panels and crystal sconces, a massive chandelier by Brady that was originally designed for the Ralph Lauren store in Moscow, and a French limestone fireplace that was reassembled here by a master stonemason. There’s soft light from the overhead skylight, a small Juliet balcony, and a ballroom feel with reclaimed tobacco oak floors—the room definitely has a tony vibe, and will look over the main dining room below. The walls will feature framed French cartoons from the ’20s and ’30s (see the picture). The 40-seat room is sure to become the hot private room rental (there will also be a couple loveseats and c-shaped oval tables at the top of the stairway that will be sexy and in-demand little nooks).

So, the scene is set—you ready to learn about this menu? Quite the team has been painstakingly assembling the brasserie-inspired menu: Bacchus Management Group’s chef/partner Gordon Drysdale, executive chef Ed Carew (Cottage Eatery, Florio), and chef de cuisine Justin Deering (CONDUIT). While the restaurant will just start with dinner service, it will ramp up and be open all day and night, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a late-night menu.

A preliminary peek at the menu includes classic dishes that span many French regions, from a salade lyonnaise to a Niçoise; a brandade de morue fumé with celery and parsley salad; sardines escabeche over ratatouille and a charred pepper purée; a charcuterie program with rillettes and pâté campagne—it will grow to be quite extensive (eventually 10-12 selections); seafood like sand dabs meunière with potatoes and crème fraîche; a killer flatiron steak frites; and house specials like choucroute garni (braised bacon, smoked pork loin, and housemade frankfurter with housemade sauerkraut) or a côte de boeuf for two with béarnaise, bordelaise, marrow, and frites. There will also be rotating weekly specials, like Thursday may feature blanquette de veau, and cassoulet on Sundays. Prices will range from $9-$11 for starters ($17 for a foie terrine), and $17-$29 for entrées.

The raw bar is going to have a fantastic selection, perhaps one of the best in the city, with a variety of oysters (look for an extensive East Coast lineup), clams, mussels, spot prawns, crab, urchin, and lobster. The late-night menu (starting at 11pm) is especially exciting to me, creating the possibility of having steak tartare or onion soup gratinée at midnight on a Thursday—plus incredible-sounding dishes like hay-braised ham croquettes with sweet peas and béchamel, snails in bordelaise-Blue Ribbon style, or sea urchin with pork butter on brioche. Mon dieu.

The restaurant will be using whole pigs from Becker Lane, Creekstone for the beef, and of course quality local and organic produce, much of it from the group’s nearby SMIP Ranch. The breads will come from Bacchus’s Mayfield Bakery in Palo Alto (including croissants in the morning), and the artisanal coffees and teas from their ROAST Coffee Company.

Speaking of beverages, Bacchus’s wine director Andrew Green (working closely with lead sommelier Skye La Torre) is offering a 500-bottle list composed almost entirely of French wines, with many from obscure towns and featuring good pricing, as well as a few domestic selections “from friends.” There will also be 35 beers, with 10 on tap (look for some small artisanal French and Belgian selections). Cocktails will be based on Parisian interpretations of American cocktails, with an 1800s flair—Brandon Clements, the bar manager at Spruce, oversaw the spirits program here. You’ll find cocktails like a Vieux Carré, The Corpse Reviver #2, and of course a French 75. There will be plenty to cheers with at this swanky and sure-to-be-a-hit brasserie when it opens for dinner on July 21st. Hours will (eventually) be breakfast daily 8am-11am, lunch 11am-5pm, dinner 5pm-11pm, and the late-night menu Thu-Sat 11pm-1am.

Something new to add to your Chinese food world: Anthony Myint and Danny Bowien of Mission Street Food just launched their latest venture, ~MISSION CHINESE FOOD~ in Lung Shan Restaurant. No, you won’t be dining on vittles from guest chefs from Lichee Garden and Koi Palace, although that would kick ass, too—they’re actually cooking alongside the Lung Shan chefs, with each team offering their own Chinese menus. Mission Chinese Food’s menu offers 10-12 items priced in the $7-$10 range, for eat-in and take-out (plus there’s citywide delivery as well, word!).

The menu is all kinds of sick (and it’s spicy!—a few dishes are right up there with Spices! and Spices II), from the silkiest and peppery ma-po tofu made with Kurobuta pork and fermented black beans, to a chile-loaded lamb hot pot with glass noodles, to salt cod fried rice studded with Chinese sausage (delicious). Plus the groundbreaking chinito (Peking duck confit and skin with cucumber, cilantro, and Chinese donut wrapped in tender rice noodle that you dunk into spicy hoisin—huh wah? Uh huh!). The entire menu will give you terrible hunger pains—I ended up having to order delivery their first night of business, I was so excited. And boy, did I get some numb lips, hello Sichuan pepper. Served 11am-10:30pm daily. (And props: seventy-five cents from each item will be donated to the SF Food Bank.) 2234 Mission St. at 18th St., 415-863-2800.

Due to (softly) open for lunch this Wednesday July 7th is ~SPIRE RESTAURANT & BAR~ in SoMa. To recap, the chef is Laird Boles, most recently a sous chef at Waterbar. His contemporary American lunch menu includes: sweet corn soup ($6) with corn fritter, chili oil, and crème fraîche; shrimp and creamy lemon grits ($11) with toy box tomatoes and tarragon-chardonnay butter; fried soft-shell crab sandwich (market price) with cabbage slaw, Acme torpedo roll, and mixed kettle chips; and grilled seasonal vegetables on housemade naan ($9), or with shaved roasted leg of lamb ($13), with eggplant purée, cucumber spearmint salad, and cumin yogurt. The dining room features a clean and contemporary look, with a raw bar, regular bar, and several white, arched columns. There is room for 105 guests, with a few communal tables. Since the alcohol license is still being transferred, the grand opening won’t happen for a couple more weeks. Lunch is Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm. 685 3rd St. at Townsend, 415-947-0000.

Adding to the lineup of new businesses on Union (Marengo, Roam) is ~UNWIND ON UNION~, open in the former Pasta Pomodoro space. It just opened, so they’re still ramping up the menu, which includes dishes to share like lobster corn dogs ($8), and “New American Skins” with triple crème Brie, bacon, and jalapeños; plus a couple salads ($7), a burger ($10), and “mac and cheese for two” ($9). There is a variety of wine (most of it from California), many under $10 a glass, including a few selections on tap. The beer list is pretty standard (Anchor, Sierra, Stella). The casual space has a full bar, and pictured here, a back patio that is under a glass skylight ceiling—plus plenty of flat-screens. Random trivia: the business will be featured on David Adjey’s Food Network Canada show, The Opener, about first-time restaurateurs. Hours for now are 11am-10pm daily, and until 11pm Fri-Sat, with the bar open until midnight. 1875 Union St. at Laguna, 415-999-7283.

After lots of local speculation and rumors about who was moving into 101 California Street, the former Atrium, details have been revealed. It’s another project by Mark Weiss of the Whisk Group, called ~BRASSERIE LILLE~. And get ready for this: it’s going to be a 7,638-square-foot brasserie. Nope, it’s not petite. The brasserie will include a pâtisserie, full bar, and outdoor seating, and is planned to open the first quarter of 2011. The Johnson Studio in Atlanta will be designing it, with construction set to begin in the fall (Traci Des Jardins’s Manzanita was another Johnson Studio client). Further details, such as the executive chef, general manager, and menus, will be announced later this year.

A few public service announcements about ~THE DINING ROOM AT THE RITZ-CARLTON~: it’s time for summer break, so The Dining Room will be closed until Monday July 19th, reopening Tuesday July 20th at 6pm. (You can still dine in The Lobby Lounge, ordering off a California market cuisine menu.) I also learned the traditional afternoon tea at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco is no longer offered, but the hotel is working on a replacement experience that should be announced soon.

The next time you’re getting tipsy during happy hour at a Polk Street bar, you can place a call to ~MORTY’S DELICATESSEN~ for some delivery, whether you want a kickass Reuben off their regular menu, or a stoner-happy selection off their new ZZ Tapas snack menu. Some sample items: you can get a dozen Buffalo chicken wings with Cambazola blue sauce ($12), Fleetwood MACNuggets (six deep-fried mac and cheese nuggets for $6.25), Catfish Stevens Tacos (two tacos made with grilled catfish, apple cider ‘slaw, avocado, and chipotle salsa), and in a brilliant move, bacon for $1 a slice. Oh, and if you’re feeling especially creative after a blunted/tipsy happy hour, Morty’s is open to suggestions for new dishes—and if your idea is picked as a weekly special, you can win a round of ZZ Tapas (choice of three). Simply pair a band name and a dish (songs don’t count) and email it to Morty’s.

Delivery is free with a $15 purchase, and will be available Mon-Fri from 5pm-9pm. (If things go well, and they better, look for extended hours and territory.) In the beginning, delivery will just be to Polk Street bars (like Vertigo, Hemlock, Lush Lounge, etc.), as well as bars in SoMa, Lower Haight, and the Mission. Whoa, I think this means their Monday Cubano special might be even closer to arriving at my abode on my deadline day—it just means I’ll need to leave my computer and go get a beer somewhere. Heh. It all starts on Monday July 12th. Just call 415-567-DELI (3354).

Starting this Friday July 9th, ~SKOOL RESTAURANT AND BAR~ will be open for dinner, and weekend brunch will be following at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, as of yesterday, ~SCHMIDT’S~ stopped serving lunch; only dinner will now be served from 5:30pm-11pm. Good news: they will start serving brunch on weekends in mid-August. 2400 Folsom St. at 20th St., 415-401-0200.

Eater also has the news that ~THE AMERICAN GRILLED CHEESE KITCHEN~ is now serving breakfast Mon-Fri 7:30am-3pm and Sat 12pm-4pm. Yes, the Breakfast Piglet sandwich sounds like par for my course (sharp cheddar, ham, egg, apple mustard).

Oh, and ~OSTERIA STELLINA~ in Point Reyes Station has a new summer brunch menu (can you say brunch pizza?) every Sat-Sun from 10am-2:30pm, and is open seven days a week through the summer.

Last week, as I was riding my bike home from a lunch in the Mission, I swung by the new ~GRAND COFFEE~ for a little fuel. As mentioned previously, owner Nabeel Silmi is applying some bartender skills to the barista craft. What you see here is the off-the-menu liquid affogato, a layered shot of cane syrup, Clover half and half, and Four Barrel espresso. Yeah, it’s one heck of a shot (to the system). I then proceeded to order an iced latte to go, which Silmi shakes up like a cocktail in a shaker, adding a little simple syrup so you don’t need to worry about adding any sugar. Delish and frothy. The space is tiny but cool, with epoxy concrete floors, jazz music playing, reclaimed redwood planks, and a beautiful La Marzocco Linea three-group paddle. (I’ll be back for an egg cream next.) Hours are Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat-Sun 8am-5pm, and starting July 10th, Grand Coffee will also be open Fri-Sat from 9pm-12am. You can keep track of the café’s offerings and hours on their Twitter feed.

Next Monday July 12th, join Rainbow Grocery cheesemonger and author, Gordon Edgar, and American cheese expert and author, Laura Werlin, for an 18 Reasons evening of stories and, of course, tastings. Gordon will read from his new book, Cheesemonger, and between readings, Werlin will lead you through a tasting, furthering your understanding of cheese and helping you to navigate the cheese counter more easily in the future. With these two, you’re in excellent hands.

After months of trying to get some info on an upcoming downtown Berkeley yakitori place, finally the Umami Mart blog gets the story (cheers to Grub Street for unearthing the piece). Thanks to Umami Mart’s informative blog post, the majority of detail-gathering about this new joint, ~IPPUKU~, is done: it looks like there is quite the menu of close to 50 shochus (with 24 on tap); chef-owner Christian Geideman was previously at Ozumo in Oakland; and the 600-square-foot space has a Zen aesthetic, designed by master temple builder Paul Discoe—he used East Bay street trees that he milled at his West Oakland sawmill. It has a great look; and there are enclosed booths, along with small tables with pillows (horigotatsu—shoes off), and the bar is standing room only (tachinomi). Some last-minute details I received: the chicken they use is pasture raised, and comes from Gleason Ranch in Bodega and Soul Food Farm in Vacaville—the kitchen then breaks the chicken down into 20 different cuts and grills it over imported binchotan (white charcoal made from Japanese scrub oak). You can look at pictures of the space and the food (including agedashi tofu and bitter melon tempura) in this Flickr feed. Open nightly 5pm-11pm. 2130 Center St. at Oxford, Berkeley, 510-665-1969.

And very close to Ippuku (just across from the UC Berkeley campus) is going to be ~CINNAHOLIC~, a new 100% vegan cinnamon roll shop from Shannon Michelle Radke. You will be able to order a roll, served hot, and then you get to choose the frosting and topping you want. The menu will offer 30 customizable cinnamon roll flavors, from classic “old fashioned,” to mocha almond, to strawberries and cream, to rocky road. All the rolls are cholesterol-free (made with non-hydrogenated oils) and sweetened with evaporated cane juice. The shop is also “dedicated to the vibrant lifestyle of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” with a “punk rock meets pin-up style ranging from our employee outfits to the music, décor, and local artwork that will be rotated and showcased monthly.” There will additionally be coffee from De La Paz. The opening is slated for July 16th, inspections pending. 8am-8pm. 2132 Oxford St. at Center, Berkeley; phone forthcoming.

Mua in Oakland has a new sister restaurant just next door, ~NEX~, and whaddya know, it’s now open. After closing Soizic Bistro, owner Hi-Suk Dong has launched this new concept, offering an approachable menu of small plates like gnocchi or grilled asparagus with green goddess dressing, bacon, and a poached egg, to larger plates like duck confit and skate wing. And it’s affordable: the most expensive dish is the steak frites for $18. Hours are 5pm-10pm daily (no reservations). There is a full bar menu, along with beer and wine. 2442 Webster St. at 25th St., Oakland. NOTE: The phone for now is Mua’s: 510-238-1100.

One of my favorite meals last year was the ~DINNER IN THE BARN~ event with Moody’s Bistro & Lounge and Sierra Valley Farms. Since many of you travel to Tahoe over the summer, or perhaps live near enough to attend this event, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention this oh-so-memorable happening. (Just take a look at my pictures from last year and tell me it doesn’t look amazing.) Chef Mark Estee of Moody’s and chef de cuisine Guy Frenette will prepare a four-course feast using produce so fresh it grew in the field hours before they serve it, and dinner is served in a barn that dates back to 1936. Gary Romano, whose family has owned the organic Sierra Valley Farms (near Sierraville) for 100 years, will host the dinners July 24th-25th, August 28th-29th, and September 4th-5th.

The meal, which can also be adapted to accommodate vegetarian diners, will be paired accordingly with red and white wines. There will also be live music. Prior to the event, guests can tour the farm at 5pm; dinner is served at 6pm. $125 per person, which includes the four-course dinner, wine, beverages, farm tour, tax, and tip. Kids are welcome, but will be charged the adult price. Limited to 60 people, and it’s expected to sell out. Truckee Tahoe Transportation will offer guests rides to and from the barn dinners. Call Moody’s at 530-587-8688 to buy tickets.

Last week I had a chance to attend a friends and family dinner at the brand-new ~PROSPECT~, the much-awaited project from the Boulevard team (Nancy Oakes, Pam Mazzola, and Kathy King) that opens tonight for dinner in The Infinity building in SoMa. The executive chef is Ravi Kapur, who has been the chef de cuisine at Boulevard, working with Oakes and Mazzola for the past eight years.

Walking into the spacious location, there’s a small lounge/waiting area to the left, and a square bar with seats all around (there are more seats along the window overlooking Folsom Street). Brooke Arthur’s cocktail menu includes 12 drinks, ranging from the lighter to the more spiritous (like The Stallion). The bar is made of a beautiful poured concrete with an antiquated copper finish from Concreteworks, who also did the opposing wall of ribbed concrete tiles that is unlike anything I’ve ever seen—you gotta touch it to believe it’s concrete and not wood. Lovely reclaimed wood floors as well (although the main dining room is carpeted, modulating the noise to a pleasant volume—people are going to love that they can hear their tablemates). There is some communal seating at a taller table, and then the 120-seat dining room extends beyond, with spacious six-person booths, a long banquette that faces the street, custom wrought-iron light fixtures from Augustine Martinez (Kathy King’s husband) of Jefferson Mack Metal, and a contemporary art program. The feeling is clean and modern and chic, while still maintaining warm tones. I liked the space in between the tables, which will make it good for business dining (although I imagine in time more tables will be added). There is also a large half-moon booth near the kitchen that is sure to become the most-requested power table, plus there’s a private dining room in the back of the restaurant. The floor-to-ceiling windows are huge, letting in a lot of light—the evening atmosphere gets cozier as the light dims outside. Brand + Allen Architects designed the space (they specialize in high-end retail clients, like Prada).

The menu is designed to be flexible—you could just stop by the bar for a drink and some smaller “for the table” dishes, like deviled eggs ($7) or the decadent pig trotters ($9) with a lobster salad. There are 10 starters to choose from that can be shared, like my personal fave so far, the black cod ($13) with a shiso-wrapped shrimp fritter, shiitakes, small bites of snap peas, and a snappy red curry. Mains range from $19 for whole wheat crêpes with ricotta, nettles, and roasted toybox mushrooms to $28 for the Wagyu beef with chard, mustard seed jus, smoked king trumpets, and creamed potatoes. They are all beautifully presented, featuring top-notch seasonal ingredients. (You can take a look at this Grub Street slideshow of the menu here.) Desserts from pastry chef Elise Fineberg clock in at $9 and under, or you can opt for to-be-shared items, like ice cream sandwiches, crimson popcorn, and s’mores. We requested but didn’t get a chance to look at wine director Amy Currens’s wine list (she was previously at Luce).

No tablecloths here—but you are going to note some rather large and dramatic plates as your dishes come out; the flatware and smoked glass water glasses feel modern and very choice. While I wouldn’t call the experience casual, it’s definitely meant to be easygoing—a bit like RN74 in its approachable but stylish vibe. Think business casual. Hours are Sun-Thu 5:30pm-10:30pm, Fri-Sat 5:30pm-11pm, bar 4pm-close.

The culinary interwebs (Eater, Thrillist, SFoodie, Inside Scoop, et al.) have been bubbling with news of this new SoMa joint that just opened yesterday, ~SPICE KIT~. As owners Wilfred Pacio and Fred Tang put it, their offering is “chef-driven Asian street food” (they are both alums of high-end kitchens, like Per Se, the Laundry, and the Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco).

The quick-service menu includes bánh mì (with an optional add-on of housemade pâté); ssäm (the classic Korean wrap) with rice paper, red leaf lettuce, cucumbers, seasoned rice, marinated bean sprouts, meat/tofu, kimchi, and their signature ssäm sauce; salads with your choice of meat or tofu; and steamed pork buns with pork belly (check out the entire menu here). Nothing is over $8. Hours are Mon-Fri 10:30am-8pm, and Sat 10:30am-3pm. 4505 Howard St. at 1st St., 415-882-4581.

~SKOOL RESTAURANT AND BAR~ is now open at the base of Potrero Hill. The project is from Andy Mirabell (Blowfish Sushi To Die For), with executive chef Toshihiro Nagano (Bushi Tei, Bushi Tei Bistro, Blowfish Sushi To Die For), and director of operations Olia Kedik (Blowfish Sushi To Die For). In a unique twist, they are starting with lunch, and adding dinner and brunch later this summer. Look for a fish-focused menu of international dishes with Japanese flair using seasonal, often locally sourced, sustainably raised, and organic ingredients. The lunch menu includes starters like hirame crudo (yukari-cured halibut, toy-box radish, and blackberry coulis) and Sun Smiling Valley Farm eryngii mushroom fries; main courses include a Washugyu sandwich (coffee-marinated Japanese Washu beef, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, caramelized onion, pepper cress, and creamy wasabi aioli, served open-faced on Napa bâtard sliced wheat) and spiced panko salmon. The Lunch Box feature ($11-$15) includes a choice of five different main courses accompanied by the soup of the day and either local mixed greens or French fries. Once the liquor license kicks in, there will be both cocktails and a local wine list with some international selections. Décor highlights include an exhibition kitchen, a communal table, custom-made chairs and refurbished resin-encased walnut tabletops made by a local designer, a polished concrete floor, counter seating, and a sunny, spacious off-street patio with room for 35 (45 inside). Lunch Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm.

A new and soon-to-open Ethiopian restaurant in SoMa has been getting all kinds of coverage in Eater, Grub Street, SFoodie, and Live SOMA (and I am sure I’m missing probably five more outlets). ~MOYA~ is aiming for a July 1st opening, serving lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Owner Fana Alemayehu has enjoyed cooking as a hobby, and after encouragement from her friends, is going to be sharing her home-cooked recipes and made-from-scratch dishes with us. She wants to use local and organic ingredients when possible, and will have beef and lamb dishes along with a variety of vegetarian and vegan options. (Check out the menu here.) Weekend brunch will feature both American and Ethiopian dishes, like fule (beans, onion, tomato, and jalapeño); kentha (cracked wheat with butter), and chechebsa (bread with butter and olive oil, plus egg, tomato, onion, and jalapeño). There will also be Ethiopian coffee service. 1044 Folsom St. at 6th St., 415-431-5544.

If everything goes according to plan, the city’s first ham and oyster bar, ~HOG & ROCKS~ will be opening on Sunday July 4th. The project is from chef Scott Youkilis of Maverick, partner Dave Esler, and Eric Rubin of Tres Agaves Tequila, who helped to develop the overall concept. The menu will include a variety of oysters, artisanal ham (including country ham, Serrano, domestic, and Italian prosciutto), and hearty comfort fare from chef de cuisine Ray England. Other sample dishes include chicken wing confit with Youk’s Hot Sauce and buffalo wing garnish ($10); oysters in a blanket with herb salad ($11); and crab and artichoke on sourdough toast ($8).

The 86-seat bar is meant to feel casual and lively, with dark wood, concrete floors, and a “minimalist modern meets vintage” design. It’s designed to be a place where you just swing by (no reservations for parties fewer than six), and can get lit on classic cocktails by the pitcher (very curious—and very dangerous), wine (four on tap, more by the bottle), and beer (in cans, bottles, and on draught). In a nice move, for every Hurricane sold (the signature house drink made according to the original recipe from Pat O’Brien’s), $1 will be donated by the bar to the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s Gulf Coast Oil Spill Fund. Open daily; snacks and sips from the bar menu available daily beginning at 3pm; full menu from 5pm-1am.

The former Coco’s Bakery Café in the Outer Mission is going to be morphing into ~MELODY~, a project from Esam Jaber. Look for an all-day menu of Lebanese/Middle Eastern/French dishes that are authentic and homey. The space is relatively large—it features two garages with high ceilings. One of the garages will be converted into a 350-square-foot patio with tables and trees; there will be 55 seats total. Since Jaber is a musician, look for many of his friends coming by to play Arabic folk music daily. Looks like a September opening is the target. (They will be nearby neighbors to the upcoming ICHI moving into Yo’s Sushi Club.) 3401 Mission St. at Eugenia.

Not like it’s going to diminish the lines at Ike’s (whose fate remains TBD)… I got this tip too late last week from a reader, but here you go: there’s a new deli in the Mish next door to the 500 Club called ~CLARE’S DELI~. The menu of sandwiches ranges from a meatball grinder to pastrami to a $3 bologna and cheese on white bread, served 11am-11pm daily. According to Urban Daddy, you can bring your food into the 500 Club, or TCB Courier will soon be able to deliver it to you if you live in the Mission. 3505 B 17th St. at Guerrero, 415-621-3505.

There’s also a new-ish café in SoMa called ~L’ACAJOU~ that has opened in the former MotoJava space. It’s serving De La Paz coffee and espresso drinks with fresh-baked pastries like blueberry muffins, banana walnut bread, berry apricot scones, and cheddar chipotle scones, plus lunchtime fare like a pulled Moroccan lamb sandwich, a Tuscan chicken panino, endive salad, chicken salad, and a grilled Mediterranean vegetable panino (plus cookies for your 3pm sweet tooth—even vegan ones). You can return for beer and wine in the afternoon (happy hour specials Mon-Fri from 3pm-6pm), and Saturday brunch means dishes like fried eggs or Belgian waffles. Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 9am-6pm. 498 9th St. at Bryant, 415-626-3683.

Just a few reports on temporary closures around town: ~COI~ is closed for summer vacation until July 6th. When it reopens, there will be a light remodel in the dining room, and a totally new menu.

Meanwhile, ~MASA’S~ will be closed from July 4th through the 19th. When they reopen on the 20th, there will be a new pastry chef, Maggie Leung, who was once at The Lark Creek Inn. The former pastry chef, John McKee, moved to Philadelphia to open up a bakery with his girlfriend.

Last week I had the opportunity to meet Barbara Fairchild, the vibrant editor-in-chief of Bon Appétit magazine, who was in town for the Curators of Taste tour in partnership with Belvedere. We met briefly at Fleur de Lys, where she was going to be hosting an intimate invite-only dinner the following evening (the tour included Boston and Los Angeles). While tasting her new namesake cocktail by Belvedere master distiller Claire Smith, The Fairchild (which is now permanently on the Fleur de Lys cocktail menu), we got to talk a little bit about the event, and of course I had to ask her what are her favorite spots in Los Angeles right now. She’s a fan of The Bazaar by José Andrés, along with Hatfield’s (a San Francisco export, ahem), AMMO (a long-standing favorite of mine), Cecconi’s, Eva Restaurant, and Jar. A few other mentions: the Lazy Ox Canteen, BOA Steakhouse, and Rick Bayless’s Red O on Melrose. She also noted the upcoming September issue is the restaurant issue, so I’m looking forward to it.

Since Barbara is a fan of cocktails (obviously), she mentioned she likes the cocktails at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, and The Varnish. Meanwhile, Claire (who is the only female master distiller in the world, FYI), said the cocktails at The Varnish, The Bazaar, and The London are top of her list, as well as Providence. Cheers, ladies—thanks for adding to my LA hit list!

Starting Tuesday July 6th, ~STARBELLY~ is launching Patio Picnic Tuesdays from 5pm-8pm. The patio was recently freshened up with heat lamps, plants, and a retractable, striped canopy, so now they want to show it off. Every Tuesday evening, you can swing by for a family-style urban picnic with dishes from chef Adam Timney, like fried chicken, grilled brats, ribs, sloppy Joes, sides and salads, pies, and cobbler. You can arrive anytime during the three-hour picnic dinner service and load up your plate (no seating times). Seats are $25 per person, and guests are welcome to second helpings. The special will run every Tuesday from 5pm-8pm through August 31st. Beverages available for purchase (not included in the picnic dinner price) are wine, sangria, lemonade, micheladas, and pitchers of beer. Reservations accepted, but not required, and walk-in parties are welcome. 3583 16th St. at Market, 415-252-7500.

Over in Hayes Valley, ~SAUCE~ has launched Dinner for 2uesdays. For $60, you get a dinner for two: a three-course meal with a bottle of wine. Tonight’s menu is Bacon Trifecta: cornmeal-crusted pork belly with whole-grain mustard dipping sauce, prosciutto-wrapped butter fish with herb risotto and peeled asparagus, and caramel peanut smash with fresh banana and crispy bacon sprinkles, plus a bottle of Rosenblum Cellars Fess Parker roussanne. The menu will rotate weekly. 131 Gough St. at Oak, 415-252-1423.

~AME~ restaurant at the St. Regis is kicking off another series of its Wednesday Evening Three-Course Prix-Fixe Menus. July 7th is the Bo Ssäm Dinner (back by popular demand); July 14th is the Sustainable Dinner (exploring farmed vs. wild seafood); July 21st is a Sherry Dinner; and July 28th is the Puerto Rico Dinner (chef Orlando Pagan and bar manager Rafael Jimenez Rivera share their Puerto Rican heritage). You can read the details about each menu here. $55 per person, which includes three courses with beverage pairings (excluding tax and gratuity).

Just in case you’d like to taste chef Brandon Jew’s vittles (of the upcoming Bar Agricole, due to open on July 24th), he’ll be cooking at the third ~NIDO OVEN EVENT AT SCRIBE WINERY~ in Sonoma on Sunday July 11th. He’ll be using organic ingredients organic ingredients picked the morning of the event from from Free Spirit Farm in Winters. Beer from Linden Street Brewery will be served, as well as juice and snacks for the kids (who are invited to attend for free). Guests will also be invited to taste Scribe wine, explore the 100-year-old hacienda, and go on a hay bale tour of the grounds. (Dogs are also welcome.)

Looking for a new downtown spot for lunch? ~THERMIDOR~ should be starting lunch this Wednesday, serving salads and sandwiches to start ($8-$12). Lunch hours will be 11:30am-2pm.

Just in case you’re a little more motivated to get out of bed for a Kobe-style skirt steak and eggs instead of the usual chicken apple sausage scramble, head on over to ~NAMU~ in the Inner Richmond for the return of their weekend brunch. Other dishes on the menu include challah French toast, a breakfast burrito, a burger, and other items with their usual Korean-Japanese spin on things, like a sunnyside-up egg with kimchee fried rice and housemade pancetta. FYI, you can come check them out this Sunday July 4th for brunch—but they’ll be closed for dinner. Brunch is Sat-Sun 10am-3pm.

Due to open next week (permits pending) is ~123 BOLINAS~ from Dominic Phillips and three partners. The former gallery has been transformed into a casual hangout featuring artisan wine, beer, and food. Wines are sustainably produced, from Anderson Valley to Paso Robles, along with a few international selections (there will be 6 on tap, 9 by the glass, 32 by the bottle), and 5 seasonal beers on tap (including Eel River Organic Amber), with 9 by the bottle (including Allagash White and Pranqster Belgian-style golden ale from Fort Bragg).

Vera Ciammetti is the consulting chef, who has put together a market-fresh and local menu of simple dishes like burrata with salt, pepper, fava bean and mint tapenade, and fresh fava beans; zucchini carpaccio with housemade vinegar, roasted pinenuts, and domestic Parmesan; baked mac and cheese; and some cheese and charcuterie boards. There is room for 45 guests total, including a bar and regular seating. Hours will be Wed-Thu 4pm-10pm, Fri 4pm-11pm, Sat 11am-11pm, and Sun 11am-9pm. 123 Bolinas Rd. at Park Rd., Fairfax.

Now that a chef is confirmed, here’s some news for you San Mateo dwellers (my home town): partners Paul and Julie Shenkman, owners of Sam’s Chowder House in Half Moon Bay, and Lewis Rossman, executive chef/partner at Sam’s Chowder House, are opening ~OSTERIA COPPA~ in downtown San Mateo. The kitchen will be led by executive chef Chanan Kamen, who has been at Quince for five years, and has worked in Italy for a year at seven different Michelin-starred restaurants in seven different regions of Italy. He will also be making salumi, along with housemade pasta (his specialty), and pizza—all the ingredients will have a strong farm-to-table focus. The 4,200-square-foot restaurant (formerly the Pomaroma Cafe) seats 145, which includes a 40-seat outdoor patio, and a full bar. Look for a late-August opening—follow their renovation and launch progress on Facebook. 139 South B St. at 2nd Ave., San Mateo.

Looks like owner Pamela Busch of ~CAV WINE BAR & KITCHEN~ is finally succumbing to the wine bar format people have always associated with the place. Personally, I have loved all three of the executive chefs she’s had cooking there over the past five years, but it seems a simpler offering is going to be easier for the needs of her clientele. June 30th will be the last night of dinner service, and chef John Maher will then be focusing on his next project, perhaps his very own. (I look forward to seeing where he lands.)

Busch said the menu will be pared down to a selection of charcuterie that someone will be making for her, 18-20 cheeses (I’ve always been a fan of the cheese plates here), and smoked fish. Look for an amped-up selection of wines (up to 250 to choose from), and more of a focus on the retail side of things. She is also going to be curating a large selection of delicious wines at the $20 price point, something many of us can appreciate. Starting July 6th, hours will be Tue-Thu 3pm-10pm, Fri 3pm-12am, and Sat 1pm-12am.

Reopening tonight is ~SAISON~, the newly upgraded and remodeled fine dining restaurant in the back of Stable Café. What’s exciting is the temporary “one night a week” restaurant that started in July of 2009 grew to three nights, and will now be serving dinner five nights a week (Tue-Sat). Chef Joshua Skenes is now cooking on his dream stove: a Molteni, the only one in the city. There are eight seats in the kitchen, including a four-seat chef’s counter ($200 per person), or the two-seat chef’s table, offering a landmark dining experience of up to 20 courses (the menu can be customized for meals clocking in at $200 to $500 per person—yes, you read that right). Meanwhile, the main dining room has new Danish modern dining chairs and semi-circle banquettes, offering a view of the kitchen and the patio. An eight-course meal is $98, paired with regional French wines chosen by sommelier Mark Bright for an additional $75-90. And since there’s only one seating per night, you can plan on lingering with your group without a server dropping a check on you as soon as you finish your last bite of dessert.

There is also a new hearth on the brick outdoor terrace for whole-animal cooking (both meat and fish), where the kitchen will additionally be cooking and roasting items in the embers and ashes. You will be able to swing by and just drop in for a meal in one of the 15 or so seats on the Terrace at Saison. This section will break from the prix-fixe menu format, offering a more casual experience and an à la carte menu. Look for this option in a couple weeks.

The cuisine is centered around top-notch ingredients, from herbs procured from a local forager to poussin from Four Story Hills. Saison is cultivating its own biodynamic garden of edibles just a few miles from the restaurant as well. Check out this photo album from Grub Street for a sneak peek of the space (and kitchen).

A new restaurant called ~SONS & DAUGHTERS~ is now (suddenly) open near Union Square, in the former (and 31-year-old) Cafe Mozart space. I’ve been attempting to track details on this one for a while, in spite of the not-very-responsive/forthcoming owners—thankfully Eater caught and informed us about the actual opening last Wednesday. The restaurant is from chef-owners Teague Moriarty and Matt McNamara, who in an earlier email to me said, “Our experience ranges from an industrial kitchen for burrito carts in Oregon, Michelin 3’s throughout Europe and America, and lots in between. We are going to be doing 2 services…Morning will be fresh baked pastries, Verve coffee, and a few rotating lunch plates. Our dinner will be us cooking the food that excites us: unique, seasonal and refined combinations in a casual environment.”

For now, it’s all about dinner. There’s a four-course menu on the site for $48, with four wines paired for $32. Stylistically it has the same menu minimalism vibe that Conduit had, leaving guests to play what I call “flavor visualization games” (e.g. “sweetbreads pork crisp grapefruit purple potato”). You can also order à la carte. The wine list definitely runs at a mid-range price point. The room looks spiffy enough, with black and white photographs and hardwood floors: you can view Eater’s interior pics here. Open Wed-Sun 6pm-11pm, and reservations are only for parties of 6 or more.

Was sorry to get a call last week that the Gypsy Kitchen duo, Ryan Ostler and Katharine Zacher, will no longer be doing their awesome Southern cooking and ‘cue at ~BRUNO’S~. Sniff. Their last night will be this Saturday June 26th. It’s an amicable departure—unfortunately it was just another attempt at a food-based business at Bruno’s that couldn’t be sustained. In the meantime, Kat and Ryan will be doing some stages around town, checking out the local scene since they’re not chained to the kitchen, and hopefully some travels, too. They really want to find their own spot this next time and have their very own place—and Kat is really hoping to get back to doing more desserts. Here’s wishing them a new dream house soon.

Chef Jamie Lauren’s last day at ~ABSINTHE BRASSERIE & BAR~ is this Saturday June 26th. They have not yet hired a new executive chef, so the Absinthe kitchen team will continue to run the show until a hire is made (last I heard, the executive chef will also be overseeing Boxing Room, the name of the sister project that will be opening in the former Citizen Cake space). Meanwhile, Jamie is off to LA; she was mentioned in this recent LA Times article about a test kitchen space, where she cooked for dinner guests Steve Levine (Wilshire restaurant owner) and Richard Drapkin (Grace).

Little did I know the delicious piccola meringata I had at ~ZUNI CAFÉ~ last week was going to be the last one I was to have by pastry chef Jennifer Grantham. A tipster writes in that after 3 1/2 years, she is moving to San Diego to start her own restaurant with her husband, Burke Grantham, called Pizzeria Zingari (but first, they have to find a location). Grantham’s last day will be June 26th, so she will be showcasing some of her favorite desserts on the pastry menu this Saturday. Her assistant for the last year, Annie Callan, will be replacing her as pastry chef.

Three tidbits about places around town: SF Foodie noted that ~DYNAMO DONUT AND COFFEE~ has finally opened its back patio (and how quaint, you’ll be able to enjoy your Four Barrel coffee and chocolate spice donut in the midst of a garden of herbs and flowers). 2760 24th St. at York, 415-920-1978.

Meanwhile, over in the Marina, the new ~SUSIECAKES BAKERY~ (an import from Los Angeles) has opened in the former Miette space, and is going to throw a 1950’s Sock Hop this Saturday June 26th. There will be 50s tunes, kid-friendly activities, samples, prizes, and of course, some poodle skirts. 2pm-5pm. 2109 Chestnut St. at Steiner, 415-474-CAKE (2253).

SF Foodie also mentioned ~KINGDOM CAKE~ now has a window open in North Beach, Thu-Sat 11am-6pm. The menu “features 50 items: cupcakes, cheesecakes, and other treats of the sweet, savory, and vegan varieties. Sample flavors include mimosa, Thai tea, basil lemon blueberry, and pancakes ‘n bacon.” 524 Union St. at Grant, 415-860-1142.

~THREE TWINS ICE CREAM~ in the Lower Haight is going to replace all their normal flavors with ALL GAY FLAVORS from Friday June 25th through Sunday June 27th for Pride! So, what are LGBT flavors? How about: Rainbows Are Gay Sherbet, Pink Triangle, Hot Cookie (with cookies from the Castro’s favorite cookie shop), Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (vanilla ice cream with military ration desserts mixed in), Rice Milk Harvey Milk and Cookies—and let’s not fail to mention Salted Nuts (this is what a weekend in leather chaps can do to you). They are also having a “Gay as a Three Dollar Bill” promo, with retail pints running for only $3 (normally $5) with any purchase of $3 or more. Available flavors will include Madagascar Vanilla, Bittersweet Chocolate, Mint Confetti, Cookies and Cream, Mocha Difference, Vanilla Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and Dad’s Cardamom. Open Mon-Thu 12pm-10:30pm, Fri 12pm-11pm, Sat 11am-11pm, and Sun 11am-10:30pm. 254 Fillmore St. at Haight, 415-ITS-TWIN.

I had a chance to catch up with Brenda Buenviaje of ~BRENDA’S~ on Polk, and got an exciting update on the expansion of her little shoebox of a restaurant. She said they’re just wrapping things up with the architect, then on to getting all of the permits (they want to do things in phases so they don’t have to shut down during any part of the expansion). Once the permits are issued in a couple of weeks, they will begin remodeling the ex-laundromat next door (which is just a huge gutted space right now) into a new dining room and brand-new kitchen that will be about four times larger. Once the new side is all done, they’ll move into it while they completely overhaul the “old” side. The architect is targeting five months from now, so we shall see! In the meantime, SF Shines, a city-run façade improvement program, will be completely remodeling and updating the façade—Brenda’s won a grant to do so. How cool is that?

~THE LITTLE CHIHUAHUA~ in Noe Valley is open as of today in the former Bistro 24 space (or Miss Millie’s for you old timers). The Mexican taqueria dishes made with sustainable ingredients will be the same as the Divisadero location (say hola to their salsa bar, and their excellent plantain burrito). The 42-seat space will be joined by another 16 seats on the patio soon enough. Hours through Thursday are 11am-3pm, followed by the regular hours of 11am-10pm, starting on Friday. Brunch will be coming later on. 4123 24th St. at Castro, 415-648-4157.

I have received countless emails asking me, “Wassup with ~GRUB~ on Valencia?” (This is what happens when you have a business on Valencia at 19th Street). The current targeted opening date is July 21st. Partner Erik Reese (Mayes Oyster House on Polk) is creating a sit-down, table-service establishment (don’t let the casual name throw you), with a menu that will allow you to create your own burger combo (all-natural beef, buffalo, ahi tuna, etc.). There will also be a build-your-own mac ‘n’ cheese option, so you can request anything from Grana Padano breadcrumb topping to sharp cheddar to broccoli and ham, along with English peas, applewood bacon, lobster, white truffle, or Stilton. Nothing will be over $15, and the wine list will feature 35 bottles, with nothing over $49, and glasses priced $6-$11. Hours will be 6pm-1am, with the kitchen open until 12:30am nightly. Weekends will have brunch 10am-2:30pm, with, of course, bottomless mimosas. I’ll keep you posted on the opening date and more. 758 Valencia St. at 19th St.

This upcoming Bay Gourmet/Commonwealth Club panel, ~EATING LOCALLY ON A BUDGET~, is on Wednesday June 30th. The panel of experts will discuss how to eat locally without breaking the bank, and includes: Deborah Madison, author, What We Eat When We Eat Alone; Leda Meredith, author, The Locavore’s Handbook: The Busy Person’s Guide to Eating Locally on a Budget; Jessica Prentice, author, Three Moon Feast; and moderator Temra Costa, author, Farmer Jane: Women Changing the Way We Eat.

Seems the response to the ~COUNTY LINE HARVEST ROGUE FARMERS MARKET~ at Spruce was so good that they’re going to host it 

every Thursday! Each week, produce boxes will be filled with a delicious selection of hand-picked and super-fresh produce; $25 each. You are encouraged to pre-order by emailing Zoe, but a limited number of boxes will be available for those who did not have a chance to pre-order.

 3:30pm-5:30pm. 3640 Sacramento St. at Spruce.

A couple street food events are happening this week. Friday June 25th in Fort Mason is ~OFF THE GRID~, a for-profit market of Asian and Latin entrepreneurs who are partnering with Fort Mason Center, La Cocina, and the SF Cart Project. Participating and confirmed food vendors for this Friday include Chaac-Mool, Azalina’s Malaysian, El Huarache Loco, Kung Fu Tacos, Onigilly, Peko Peko Catering, Hapa SF, Soul on Wheels, Soul Cocina, Chairman Bao Truck, El Porteño Empanadas, Curry Up Now, and Global Soul. (Others may join the list later—keep up with it on Facebook.) Yeah, that is quite the lineup! Live music will accompany the food, and beer and wine will be available for purchase at the event (for those 21 and over). The event is 5pm-8pm, and will be happening each Friday going forward—hours may extend into the summer. I totally want to check this out. Fort Mason.

Then on Saturday June 26th is ~OUTSIDE IN 5~, from Soul Cocina, SF Cart Project, and Hands-On Gourmet. This street food crawl in Dogpatch will feature both brick and mortar locations (like Piccino, Yield Wine Bar, Serpentine) and a variety of carts, like Chile Lindo, Pizza Hacker, and Hapa Ramen (check the event Facebook page for a complete listing). It starts at 5pm, with the majority of food vendors kicking off at 6pm, followed by an outdoor film at sunset. The event is a benefit for the SF Food Bank. Various Dogpatch locations.

Rancher Mark Pasternak of Devil’s Gulch Ranch is going to be supplying the pig for the second annual ~MEET THE WINEMAKER, RANCHER, AND CHEF DINNER~ at Kuleto’s on Tuesday June 29th. Chef Bob Helstrom’s whole hog menu will be paired with wines by Mac McDonald from Vision Cellars. The menu includes: Kuleto’s house-cured salumi; crispy pork conserva; roast pork loin; and baked goat cheese ricotta with chestnut honey and fig crackers. Wines include: 2008 Napa and Santa Lucia Highlands California white wine sauvignon blanc-pinot gris blend; 2008 Mendocino County riesling; 2007 Chileno Valley Marin County pinot noir; and 2008 rosé blend.

Well, you better if you win this contest. ~WATERBAR~ is quickly approaching the sale of its half millionth oyster since the restaurant’s opening in January 2008. The guest who orders the half millionth oyster will be rewarded with a year’s supply of oysters at Waterbar: one dozen oysters a week for an entire year. And as a bonus for everyone there, when the restaurant hits the half-million mark, all the guests at Waterbar will be treated with a round of Champagne for everyone. You can try to time your visit by following the countdown on Waterbar’s Facebook and Twitter pages over the next week. As of today at high noon, the count was at 498,674.

Seems appropriate that a restaurant called ~SLOW~ will be opening in Berkeley this July from chef/owner Kyle Anderson. Chef Anderson, 28, has worked with Daniel Boulud in New York and for Charlie Trotter in Chicago; he is also working with Christopher Blue of Chocolatier Blue, along with general manager Rose Grabow. The counter-service menu will highlight California cuisine with European influences made with what I call SLO (sustainable/seasonal, local, organic) ingredients. Some examples on the menu: braised short ribs, a pulled pork sandwich, confit of salmon, and a caprese sandwich. Items will range from $6 at lunch to dinner items at $12.

There will be a takeout option with curbside pickup, as well as grab-and-go lunchtime selections. Once their liquor license kicks in, beer and wine will be available. The look will be rustic country, with lots of natural light, a polished cement floor, an exhibition kitchen, and tables and seating made with wood reclaimed from an 1822 railroad tunnel. The dining room will have room for 30, and there is also outdoor patio seating—weather permitting—for up to 30 guests who can enjoy views of a competition-level rose garden (take THAT!). Hours will be Mon-Sat 11am-9pm. 1966 University Ave. at Milvia, Berkeley, 510-647-FOOD (3663).

A new addition to the West Berkeley food scene is ~THE BEEHIVE MARKET~, a Saturday affair that features an organic food court, farmers, and food manufacturers, as well as locally made, eco-friendly lifestyle products (transportation, personal care, pets, kids apparel, garden). Neither a farmer’s market nor a flea market, you can find all kinds of unique items each week, from coffee, to Argentine barbecue from Primo’s Parilla, to a free wheelbarrow of compost—you can check out the mix of vendors on the website, which seems to be growing weekly. Every Saturday from 10am-2pm. 1701 San Pablo Ave. at Virginia (in the parking lot at the Berkeley Adult School).

Opening on Tuesday June 22nd, Tyler Florence’s ~WAYFARE TAVERN~ is once again bringing life into the historical space that once housed beloved Rubicon. The menu of authentic American dishes was inspired by the San Francisco restaurant scene of the late 1800s. You can expect hors d’oeuvres like grass-fed beef carpaccio ($16), grilled sardines ($14), and, not surprisingly, salt-roasted bone marrow ($14), along with smoked chicken wings ($9) and a selection of country hams ($18). The raw bar will feature a variety of oysters and clams ($15 for 6, $27 for 12), plus Dungeness cracked crab with Louie dressing ($18), and even Santa Barbara sea urchin ($18). Entrées will include poached petrale sole ($24) with a chorizo-mussel chowder and green garlic breadcrumbs; organic fried chicken ($22) with buttermilk brine, garlic, woody herbs and lemon; a California Cobb salad ($22); a 21-day dry-aged grass-fed sirloin ($32) with buttered mushrooms and watercress; and the classic Hangtown fry ($18). There will also be daily Blue Plate Specials, and homey desserts like strawberry shortcake and banana pudding.

In true turn-of-the-century and Barbary Coast style, the bar will figure prominently, with cocktails by Josh Harris and Scott Baird from The Bon Vivants. The bar program will feature boutique distilleries, craft-distilled spirits, and seasonal ingredients, such as the house-crafted plum and black tea shrub. The wine list is all about California wineries and vintners, along with a selection of Florence’s own label, plus a large selection of draft beers and an organic draft root beer served in frosty glasses.

The antiquarian look of the restaurant is a cross between a Victorian parlor and an Edwardian men’s club; Florence partnered with interior designer Lori Yeomans of USA Interior Design. Cool facts: the walls are lined by original bricks salvaged from the Earthquake and Great Fire of 1906, and the wood floors were sourced directly from a turn-of-the-century Kentucky barn. The open kitchen has a chef’s counter with seating for eight, and The Parlor room has a billiard table available for private parties and for diners and guests, when not reserved. For more details on the style and design of the three-story restaurant, be sure to read the hardhat column about it. Hours will be Mon-Fri 11:30am-11pm, and Sat-Sun 5pm-11pm.

Just a little reminder about the ~TABLEHOPPER INDIAN STREET FOOD LUNCH AT DOSA ON FILLMORE~ this Saturday afternoon! To recap, we’ll be sitting down for a family-style nine-course lunch of amazing dishes like what I experienced in Mumbai, including pani puri, pav bhaji, vada pav (one of the tastiest things I’ve ever eaten in my life), bhel puri, dahi papadi chaat, lamb frankies (or with paneer for the vegetarians), an array of kebabs, and one of my personal favorites, lamb baida roti. It’s gonna be so good. And very vegetarian friendly. We’ll also have some chai and sweets at the end.

We’re going to be featuring a selection of wonderful wines from Robert Oatley Vineyards in Mudgee, New South Wales. You will have the opportunity to try half-glass/tasting pours of the following wines: 2009 Pinot Grigio, 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 Sangiovese Rosé, 2008 Chardonnay, 2007 Shiraz, and the 2007 Cab-Merlot.

$45 per person (includes nine tasting courses, chai, tasting pours of the wines, gratuity, and tax). You’ll also have a chance to pick up a copy of my book (and get it signed!) for $17.50. See you there—it’s going to be a party.

Ok, this is beyond badass: the love child between a taco stand and a Schwinn will be hitting the streets of San Francisco, starting this Friday June 18th. Commissioned by Timothy Holt of Weird Fish, ~THE TACO BIKE~ will be cruising 18th Street and Dolores Park. The bike will get rolling around noon, heading up to the Castro and back to the Mission, then back again. The rotating menu will have a fish taco, shrimp taco, and a vegetarian/vegan taco, featuring produce from Roshambo Farms, Holt’s farm in Healdsburg with his girlfriend. You can follow Weird Fish on Twitter for updates. The Bite Club has great pictures and details about the bike, which was built by Todd Barricklow—you gotta check it out.

Also, Holt’s other baby, ~WEIRD FISH~ will be opening up for brunch again, starting this Saturday June 19th. They will have roasted garlic-stewed tomatoes with baked eggs and porridge, vegan pancakes, buttermilk pancakes, vegan chorizo with beans, smoked salmon hash, veggie hash, and the usual suspects when it comes to lunch (like fish ‘n’ chips, tacos, and a few interesting sandwiches, like the seitan Reuben, and the classic fried fish sammich). Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm. Plus cheap mimosas, and Four Barrel Coffee to wake you up.

The new tenants in the former U Street Lounge, ~MARENGO~, are opening their doors (and retractable roof) this Thursday. Owners Kevin Toomajian and Jim Gruettner, with Kevin’s wife, chef Rayna Toomajian, are offering a menu of sliders (up to ten kinds), plus dishes like whiskey wings and six main-dish salads, like a jerk chicken version and a chopped salad. A sneak peek at the menu reveals quality purveyors, like Long and Bailey Farms for the pulled pork slider, and Pozzi Farms ground lamb for the lamb slider. Another draw will be the long list of whiskeys from around the world, over 50 in all, and 20 wines by the glass, with 75 wines total (the wine list will primarily range from $30 to $45, with quite a few reserve selections as well). Open daily 4pm to close (until 10pm midweek, 12am on Thursdays, and 2am on the weekend); lunch and brunch coming later. With brunch sliders, oh you know it. 1980 Union St. at Buchanan, 415-441-2575.

More burger-y news in Cow Hollow: ~ROAM ARTISAN BURGERS~ is due to open next Monday June 21st. The menu will include sustainable burgers made from grass-fed beef and all-natural bison (plus a free-range turkey and an organic vegetable version), along with organic Straus Family Creamery ice cream or yogurt shakes (with flavors like Dagoba chocolate, Blue Bottle coffee, pomegranate blueberry, and salted caramel), artisan sodas (like prickly pear and caramelized pineapple), local beers, plus kombucha and wine on tap. The 49-seat space has a rustic and farmhouse vibe, with a 12-foot communal table, a walnut bar, stainless steel chairs and red accent stools, banquette seating, and a chandelier made of Straus Creamery milk bottles. (The project was built with eco-friendly practices.) Open daily 11am-10pm, and until 12am Fri-Sat.

The new TenderNob café with the sassy name, ~HOOKER’S SWEET TREATS~, is now open. Not only will you be able to get one (or more) of David Williams’s kickass sea salt-orange cream-dark chocolate caramels, but you can also get espresso drinks and French-press coffee from Sightglass Coffee, featuring their very first batches of house-roasted coffee. There will additionally be a daily batch of bread pudding with a caramel sauce, caramel corn (in the late morning), and more stuff down the road. Hours for now are Mon-Fri 7:30am-5pm, and Sat 9am-2pm. 442 Hyde St. at Ellis.

Haighteration broke the story about a three-month closure of ~RNM~ in the Lower Haight. The sign posted on the window reads: “Effective today, RNM will be closed for 3 months to undergo extensive renovations. We have loved serving the Lower Haight for almost eight years now and look forward to re-opening in this neighborhood better than ever. Thank you for supporting us, and we look forward to seeing you in the Fall.” Rumors are growing that it might be longer than that—I’ll let you know the latest once I hear back from chef-owner Justine Miner. 598 Haight St. at Steiner.

The ~COMSTOCK SALOON~ in North Beach/Chinatown is now serving lunch—the all-day menu is available 12pm-2am Tue-Fri and 2pm-2am Sat-Sun (closed Mondays). Chef Carlo Espina’s menu includes corn and jalapeño fritters or pig in a biscuit (both $8) to start with; a fisherman’s salad with preserved fish, green beans, cherry tomatoes, and pickled cauliflower ($9); chicken-fried rabbit with pepper vinegar ($13); and entrées include clams, spicy sausage, boiled potatoes, and corn ($16.50) or a Hamburg steak with caramelized onions and gravy ($17).

Bummer, a car crashed into the ~SAMOVAR TEA LOUNGE~ in the Castro on Sunday, and some folks got hurt, including a woman who got pinned to the wall. Fortunately, no one was killed, but it was a serious crash. You can watch this report on ABC, and view more pictures of the damage on Uptown Almanac. I’ll keep you posted on a reopening date. 498 Sanchez St. at 18th St., 415-626-4700.

Nothing is final on this one quite yet, but once escrow is complete, it looks like ~MEHFIL INDIAN CUISINE~ may be moving into the ~CREPEVINE~ space on Fillmore Street. Mehfil is currently located at 600 Folsom Street; this would be their second location. Stand by. 2301 Fillmore St. at Clay.

The latest addition to the pop-up scene, ~EAT RESTAURANT~ is starting its first night in The Ambassador this Wednesday June 16th (EAT is also at 111 Minna on various nights—the next event there will be Wednesday June 30th). The menu of “Californian street food tapas made with local and sustainable produce” ranges from $8-$15, and can be viewed here. The project is from executive chef Tommy Halvorson (behind The Phoenix Supper Club, and previously a sous at Bix and Adagia) and Crystal Yang. 6pm-10pm. Table reservations for this Wednesday can be made by calling 415-375-2321; walk-ins are also welcome. 673 Geary St. at Leavenworth.

Well, it’s actually ~CUESA’S 3RD ANNUAL GRILL FEST~, back with a sausage theme this year. Starting on Thursday June 24th is a Sustainable Sausage and Beer Party (5:30pm-7:30pm), with sausages from seven local chefs and beers paired by members of the San Francisco Brewers Guild. Participating chefs include Taylor Boetticher, Fatted Calf; Chris Cosentino, Boccalone; Antelmo Faria, Tacolicious; Ryan Farr, 4505 Meats; Matt Kerley, Magnolia Gastropub & Brewery; Dennis Lee, Namu; and Pierre Mange, The Plant Café Organic. Breweries include: Magnolia Gastropub & Brewery, Social Kitchen & Brewery, Thirsty Bear Brewing Co., Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, Gordon Biersch, 21st Amendment Brewery, and Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant.

CUESA will host an “Ask the Butcher” booth with Dave “the Butcher” Budworth of Avedano’s and Marina Meats, who’ll be on hand all evening to answer questions about sausage making. Doug Stonebreaker of Prather Ranch Meat Company will be in an “Ask the Rancher” booth to share behind-the-scenes stories form the ranch. Your $30 ticket buys one mini sausage from each chef and a taste of beer from each participating brewery. Buy tickets here.

The event takes place in the CUESA kitchen under the North arcade of the Ferry Building. Proceeds from this event will go to the CUESA Farmer Scholarship Fund, which is designed to help Ferry Plaza Farmers Market sellers learn how to make their operations more sustainable.

Then on Saturday June 26th is the Sausage Grill-Off from 12pm-1:30pm. For the third year in a row, local chefs will set up in the market and vie for the title of Grill Master. Last year’s burger champion, Mark Sullivan of Spruce, will return to defend his title against Dave Bazirgan of Chez Papa Resto, Peter McNee of Poggio, Thomas Odermatt of Roli Roti, and Scott Youkilis of Hog & Rocks/Maverick. Whose homemade sausages will reign supreme? This CUESA-sponsored event will be free and open to the public. Mini sausages from all the chefs will be available after the competition for a $2 donation (proceeds benefit CUESA). Event takes place in the South Driveway during the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.

Lastly, on Saturday June 26th before the Grill Off is a Seasonal Sausage Cooking Demo with Victoria Wise, author of the classic American Charcuterie and 2010’s Sausage: Recipes for Making and Cooking with Homemade Sausage. She will put on a free-to-the-public cooking demonstration in the CUESA kitchen. Attendees will take away free recipes and samples. 11am-11:45am.

Since Richie Nakano just wrapped up his last night cooking at NOPA, he’s ramping up his ~HAPA RAMEN~ appearances with business partner Kitty Gallisa. This Thursday June 17th is their debut at a booth at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market (10am-2pm), and then on Saturday June 19th, they’ll be doing a pop-up at Louie’s Bar and Grill in SoMa from 6pm-10pm (possibly later) at 55 Stevenson St. And since Louie’s is a bar, you can enjoy a few cocktails until your order is up. (You can also mark your calendar for June 29th, when Hapa is appearing at Heart wine bar from 5pm-11pm.)

The James Beard Foundation and amfAR are hosting the ~SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE SOIRÉE~ to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of San Francisco Pride at the new SoMa gallery, 12 Gallagher Lane. James Beard Foundation Award-winning chefs Gary Danko, Traci Des Jardins, Emily Luchetti, and Craig Stoll, along with JBF America’s Classic winner Yank Sing Restaurant and Taste Catering executive pastry chef Yigit Pura will all be there. VIP hosts for the evening include political and LGBT activist Anne Kronenberg, model Maggie Rizer, and James Beard Foundation President Susan Ungaro. After the VIP reception, there is the tasting soirée and live auction from 7pm until midnight.

Proceeds from the event will benefit amfAR and the James Beard Foundation. Cocktail attire. Valet parking provided. 10 percent of all proceeds of art sales made this evening will be donated to the benefiting organizations.

Celebrated cookbook author Niloufer Ichaporia-King, author of My Bombay Kitchen, returns to ~FOREIGN CINEMA~ for an exotic brunch on June 26th and 27th. The menu will be filled with flavors inspired by Niloufer’s tropical travels to the state of Veracruz, Mexico, India, and beyond; the recipes will be showcased in Niloufer’s forthcoming cookbook this year. Highlights include date “pop tarts”, prawns and yogurt rice, kheema turnovers, and “son in law” eggs. Some traditional brunch favorites on the menu will also be served. All dishes are priced à la carte. Saturday June 26th 11am-2:30pm, and Sunday June 27th 11am-3pm. Call for reservations: 415-648-7600.

Eater has details on ~CONTRABAND COFFEE BAR~, opening in the former John Barleycorn space (sniff sniff) from Josh Magnani (formerly a barista at Mission Beach Cafe) and Ron Starr (a photographer). Details include: 30 seats, a mid-July opening, a Hydra espresso machine, coffee blends from a small roaster in Oakland, plus edibles like empanadas and treats from Mission Beach Cafe. 1415 Larkin St. at California.

A couple weeks back, Haighteration had word about ~CORTADO~, which has replaced The Café at Café du Nord. The coffee and tea will be from Equator, with some Chemex pots in the house. The post also mentions, “expect upscale café fare, with breakfast items, salads, soups, quiches, sandwiches, pizzas, and a couple of Lebanese-influenced items, reflecting the owner’s family’s roots.” Beer and wine are also in the works, plus free Wi-Fi. 2168 Market St. at Church, 415-867-5309.

Lastly, ~RITUAL COFFEE ROASTERS~ has a new roasting space in SoMa, and they plan to have a café in there at a later date. Check out all the “inner sanctum” details here, on the Boor Bridges Architecture page about the project. 1050 Howard St. at Russ.

There are a couple new-ish coffee projects in the East Bay. First is ~REMEDY~, which is in Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood. They serve Ritual coffee and Teance teas, along with treats (scones, galettes, granola, focaccia) from their in-house pastry chef. The eclectic décor includes an old Pacific Bell phone booth and a vinyl record player. Coming soon will be beer and wine (with food pairings), an outdoor patio, and longer hours into the evening, plus music. Hours are Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat-Sun 8:30am-6pm. 4316 Telegraph Ave. at 43rd St.

Coming soon is ~BICA COFFEEHOUSE~ in Rockridge—either late June or early July. Bica (Portuguese for espresso) will feature only locally roasted coffee (roasters will be: De La Paz, Verve, Ritual, Flying Goat, and Barefoot), prepared by hand, cup by cup. There will also be pastries; toast with local bread, honey, and jam; and tea. The owner, Jake Bodden, lived in Portugal for a couple of years and fell in love with the people, the country, and their coffee. Tentative hours are 6:30am-6pm. 5701 College Ave. at Miles, adjacent to Rockridge BART.

Even downtown Berkeley isn’t immune to the bottomless mimosa phenomenon: ~FIVE~ is the latest to offer that handy boozy feature, and there’s a new Sunday brunch menu from chef Banks White to boot. You can choose from classics like eggs Benedict or French toast, along with newer dishes, like FIVE’s mac ‘n’ cheese with smoked Gouda and tomato jam, or smoked beef brisket aux jus. The menu is $32 for adults (includes bottomless mimosas), $16 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and under.