April 16, 2008

the tablehopper | 9:39 am | April 16, 2008 | Foodie 411

Some changes to downtown dining: Michelle Mah, who left Ponzu a while ago, will be the executive chef at midi, a new project moving into the Perry’s Downtown space that closed recently. Mah will be putting down the soy sauce in exchange for the Champagne vinegar at this California brasserie-style restaurant. Joie de Vivre Hospitality is behind the 130-seat project—it’s located in the Galleria Park Hotel. Michael Guthrie (Myth, Bix, Spoon) is handling the redesign, and midi is set to open in fall 2008. In the meantime, Perry’s is moving into the now-closed Faz Restaurant space, and will reopen sometime in June.
midi, 185 Sutter St. at Kearny.

Perry’s on the Embarcadero, 155 Steuart St. at Howard.

Folks who work downtown and in SoMa will be gaining a third Mixt Greens location, the wildly popular salad outpost featuring gourmet salads and sandwiches made with organic ingredients. After some minor delays, it looks like the third location in SoMa is on target to open on April 15th (one good thing about that day).
560 Mission St. between 1st and 2nd.

Some changes at South, the delicious Aussie and Kiwi outpost in SoMa across from the Caltrain station: opening chef de cuisine Nicole Ferguson is returning to Luke Mangan’s Glass Brasserie in Sydney, or perhaps heading to his restaurant Salt in Tokyo.

Assuming her position will be Joshua Woodall, the opening sous chef of South, and formerly a sous at the Four Seasons. Glass Brasserie executive chef Joe Pavlovich came out to supervise the transition (Mangan likes to keep a close watch on the execution of his vision). More news for fans of South’s antipodean wine list: South has launched its new e-commerce site, where you can join one (or both) of two wine clubs, steal ($39.95 a month) or splurge ($69.95 a month)—both will focus on wines that are hard to find in the U.S.

330 Townsend St., Ste. 101 at 4th St., 415-974-5599.

To celebrate the return of the baseball season, SoMa favorite Jack Falstaff has launched its baseball-friendly bar menu for fame days. There will be several beers on tap, game day cocktail specials, a fresh local oyster and raw bar on the patio, and a special bar menu (also only offered on game days) that will include prime beef mini burgers, Monterey Bay calamari, Falstaff fries, hickory-smoked beef short ribs, and Kona kampachi tartare.

Giant’s home and away games will play on the screen at the bar. And the next time the hunger for a burger strikes, do you know about Jack Falstaff’s secret burger that isn’t on the menu? It makes such an impression on people that some refer to it as “that” burger. Whatever executive chef Jonnatan Leiva is braising that day is formed into a beef patty, a fried egg goes on top, and it’s all placed into a bun. In case that wasn’t enough fat grams, there is also blue cheese that comes on the side so you can dip your fries.
 (See you on the treadmill. But it’s so worth it.)

598 Second St. at Brannan, 415-836-9239.

Come summer, the Polk Street area is going to have a new place to dine in the landmark Polk Street Station Diner space. The new project is called Booth, and Isaac Mogannam is behind the project. Mognannam is no stranger to popular San Francisco businesses: his cousins own Bi-Rite, and his father started the Burgermeister empire. Booth will be a contemporary California twist on a vintage diner concept, with breakfast classics (pancakes, French toast, omelettes) and lunchtime staples (salads, corned beef sandwiches, cheesesteaks) served all day. Ingredients will follow the local/organic/sustainable credo when possible, but especially with any proteins and vegetables. There will also be beer and wine, so you can get a mimosa with your eggs, or a microbrew with your burger. They are considering late-night hours for the busy weekends, since this area if full of nightlife activity. The atmosphere will be casual, with around 60 seats, and some fun design elements, like lighting made with vintage coffee pots. True to the name, there will be one large and assuredly coveted booth, with room for six–eight folks. The optimistic opening is slated for June or so.

1356 Polk St. at Pine.

A big event that is sure to be popular with the cocktail crowd is the upcoming second annual San Francisco Cocktail Week, from May 13–May 19. Many local bars, restaurants, and personalities will be taking part in this week of cocktail-focused events and festivities in partnership with The Museum of the American Cocktail, The United States Bartender’s Guild, Imbibe magazine, Tales of the Cocktail, and CUESA.
Co-founded and organized by San Francisco mixologists, Jeff Hollinger of Absinthe Brasserie & Bar, Duggan McDonnell of Cantina and H. Joseph Ehrmann of Elixir, the week will showcase the artistry and history of the progressive cocktail culture in the San Francisco Bay Area, to further establish a lasting tradition for years to come.

A few event highlights include:

• TUESDAY, May 13: Opening Gala (6pm–9pm) at Harry Denton’s Starlight Room at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. Returning to where he launched his career, honoree Tony Abou-Ganim, creator of the legendary Cable Car cocktail, will be tending bar and wowing the crowd with his renowned talents. Free admission includes one complimentary cocktail; charge for additional beverages.
• WEDNESDAY, May 14: Farmers’ Market Cocktails (5pm–7pm) at the CUESA Kitchen at the San Francisco Ferry Building. Guests will enjoy cocktail demos hosted by renowned Bay Area bartenders using farmers’ market-fresh ingredients plus passed appetizers prepared by executive chef Gordon Drysdale. $15 per person.
• THURSDAY, May 15: A Night of Cocktail Dinners. Locations: bacar, Conduit, The Alembic, Orson, Bong Su, and Flora. Acclaimed for their cocktail programs, each participating restaurant will individually host multi-course dinners prepared and coordinated by their executive chefs and head mixologists with each course expertly paired with complementary cocktails.
• MONDAY, May 19: Finale (6pm–10pm) at Absinthe Brasserie & Bar. $45 per person.

Cocktail Week finishes with a flourish.

For further event details, tickets and reservations, please visit www.SFCocktailWeek.com or participating bars Absinthe Brasserie & Bar, Cantina and Elixir.

Marcia Gagliardi writes a popular weekly e-column about the SF dining scene, “the tablehopper.” Subscribe for free at www.tablehopper.com and get it in your inbox every Tuesday.