the tablehopper | 6:03 pm | November 24, 2009 | Foodie 411 | Add a comment
A new addition to the Financial District is Stone Korean Kitchen in Embarcadero Four, in the old Oishii Sushi space. Three best friends have come together to offer a menu featuring Korean dishes from their families. They are starting with a limited menu, which will expand over the coming weeks. You’ll be able to check it out for lunch during the week and happy hour (Thu–Fri), with dinner launching after Thanksgiving. Gi Paoletti Design Lab designed the 75-seat space, and there’s also a patio that will be developed and quite nice in less-chilly weather.
Right on schedule, Nombe Restaurant, the new izakaya from Gil Payne and Mari Takahashi (formerly of the now-closed Sozai Restaurant) and chef Nicolaus Balla (most recently of O Izakaya and Lounge) opened on Friday November 20th. The izakaya is in the former Tacos Santana Bar & Grill space. The website is already up with the menu; I am very happy to see Balla’s pork belly on there, with not one but two different executions, plus quite the selection of yakimono (grilled) items. There will be 80 seats, and over 75 brands of sake, plus shochu cocktails, and eight Japanese and local beers on tap. Look for a window with Japanese street food offerings on the weekends that will start at 11pm (keep track on their Twitter feed). Sun–Thu 6pm–11pm, Fri–Sat 11am–2am.
Over in the Marina, Tacolicious will be taking over Laïola for T-Lish Tuesdays every Tuesday from now until the end of the year, from 5pm to close. You can peek at the menu here (it’s a PDF). T-Lish Tuesdays will bring six kinds of tacos (three for $10, including fried fish), plus salads, ceviche, pozole, and cocktails! And then there’s this irresistible special: a shot of Don Julio Reposado, a can of Tecate, and the taco del dia for only $10.
Over in SoMa, Ozone Thai is now open in the previous Jack Falstaff space. Ozone is open for lunch Mon–Fri, dinner nightly until 11pm, and offering late-night bites in the bar after 10pm Thu–Sat. There is a happy hour from 3pm–6pm, and then again from 10pm–1:30am Thu–Sat, with $4 apps and drinks. Delivery to the neighborhood is sporadic, so call and see.
Also heard Bossa Nova is now serving lunch Mon–Fri from 11am–2:30pm. The recession-friendly dishes cost $8.50–$9.50, including coconut laced Rio-style moqueca (fish stew) and feijoada (slow-braised pork and black beans), plus sandwiches and a hamburger. Since I am always on a perfect Cubano quest, the Bossa Nova pork sandwich definitely caught my eye: it features a 12-hour slow-roasted pork, seasoned with Brazilian spices, sliced, and paired with Manchego cheese, thin-sliced ham, slivers of cornichons, and a fiery Dijon mustard.
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. Got news? Email Marcia at taste@sanfrancisco.travel.
the tablehopper | 5:47 pm | | Foodie 411 | Add a comment
Chef-owner David Gingrass has closed his restaurant TWO (previously it was Hawthorne Lane) after 15 years in the space. As for who is taking over the location, it’s none other than Corey Lee, who has worked with Thomas Keller for the past eight years (both at The French Laundry–where he was the head chef during the latter half of his time with Keller–and for a year opening per se in New York City). He will be opening benu in the spring of 2010, perhaps May or June.
Lee will be completely gutting the space and starting from scratch, so the dining room will be an entirely new layout and experience. There will be two menus available: a set tasting menu designed to last two to two and a half hours, and an à la carte menu, where guests are at liberty to order as much or as little as they’d like. There will be some fine dining elements (with very polished service, natch), but it will also feel like an urban setting. I asked Lee what we’re going to see stylistically from him, and he said his cooking style will certainly have classical roots and feature quality ingredients, but there will also be modern touches, with some global influences as well. I’ll certainly keep you posted about his team, timing, and more in the New Year.
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. Got news? Email Marcia at taste@sanfrancisco.travel.
the tablehopper | 5:32 pm | | Foodie 411 | Add a comment
Looking for a place to take the kids during holiday shopping in Union Square? The Westin St. Francis is home to one of the country’s largest sugar castles and it’s sure to capture their imagination. Executive pastry chef Jean Francois Houdré originally created it in 2005, and it continually grows larger and more spectacular each year. Resembling a French chateau, the nearly 100% edible castle weighs over 1,200 pounds and features more than 20 grand circular towers, approximately 30 rooms, illuminated windows, and is surrounded by a village and a running train.
The castle will be unveiled in the main lobby on November 27th (on display until January 3rd). The hotel is clearing out all of the lobby furniture to have the focus just on the castle.
Also on November 27th, the hotel will be decorated in all of its holiday glory, so it’s the perfect spot stop by for a holiday drink such as a peppermint mocha or a eggnog latte (available in newly remodeled Caruso’s in the Tower Lobby).
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. Got news? Email Marcia at taste@sanfrancisco.travel.
the tablehopper | 1:50 pm | November 23, 2009 | Events, Foodie 411 | Add a comment
Coming up on Saturday afternoon on November 21st is PinotFest, which is in its eleventh year. The pinot noir bacchanalia returns to Farallon Restaurant, with an extensive tasting of pinot noirs from over 50 of Oregon and California’s best producers. In addition, the afternoon features hors d’oeuvres to complement the wines (last year’s spread included foie gras torchon on brioche and truffled grilled cheese sandwiches), plus the opportunity to meet the winemakers.
Participating wineries include: Adelsheim, Alma Rosa, Argyle, Au Bon Climat, Bonaccorsi, Brewer Clifton, Byron, Calera, Cambria, Chehalem, Cobb, Costa de Oro, Domaine Drouhin, Domaine Serene, El Molino, Etude, Failla, Fiddlehead, Flowers, Fort Ross, Foxen, Freestone, Gloria Ferrer, Greenwood Ridge, Handley, Hartford, Hendry, Hitching Post, Iron Horse, J Vineyards, Keller Estate, Kosta Browne, Littorai, Londer, Lynmar, Marimar Torres, Melville, Merry Edwards, Michaud, Morgan, Patz & Hall, Paul Hobbs, Peay, Pey-Marin, Ponzi, Rex Hill, Radio Coteau, Saintsbury, Robert Sinskey, Siduri, Skewis, Soter, Talisman, Talley, Testarossa, Thomas Fogarty, Whitcraft, and Williams Selyem. 3pm–6pm. Admission to the event is $100 per person. In the week leading up to the tasting (November 15th–21st), Farallon will also feature flights of pinot noir from several of the participating wineries in the restaurant, and a special five-course chef’s tasting menu paired with pinot. For tickets, click here or call 415-956-6969.
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. Got news? Email Marcia at taste@sanfrancisco.travel.
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