Upcoming Projects“0 Comments”

the tablehopper | 3:58 pm | November 5, 2009 | Events, Foodie 411 | Add a comment

Things just keep getting interesting over at Aqua: now the Bacchus Management Group (Spruce, Village Pub) is taking it over completely. They ended up having the winning bid for the lease, and hope to retain the Aqua name as well. As for next steps, the restaurant will remain open until the end of the year, and will then be closing for a little bit around the New Year. Bacchus will be bringing in a new chef, but maintaining the fine dining atmosphere that Aqua has always been known for since 1991. Here’s hoping the name continues to live on.

252 California St. at Battery.

Opening soon at 2401 Lombard St.

Things are getting close for Republic, the project in the Marina in the former Jones space, brought to you by the Bin 38 crew (Shaw Amirghassemkhany, Don Davis, Peter Scully and David Sheridan). Executive chef Brian Beach (The Waterfront, Adagia) has put together a menu focused on updated bar and grill classics and comfort food made with local ingredients, like a burger made with sustainable, ground-to-order beef; grilled romaine salad and Parmesan flan; and Phillies (mini cheese steak bites). There will also be clever bar snacks, including local Dungeness crab jalapeno poppers.

One thing that is sure to prick up a lot of ears around town is that the beverage program will have the largest all-American craft beer list in San Francisco (classic cocktails will also be available). Jim Maxwell of Architects II redid the interior to be more upscale, and the entrance has been moved to Scott Street. Game watchers: there will be TV/sports viewing, although the TVs can and will be covered by artwork or sliding panels based on game times (except for three TVs in the bar area, which will remain uncovered). Hours will include weekend brunch (starting at 9am, and open continuously until 2am on Sat and 12am on Sun), and snacks, drinks, and dinner Mon—Wed 4pm—12am and until 2am Thu—Fri. The opening is looking like Friday November 13th for now.

2401 Lombard St. at Scott, 415-817-1337.

Things are brewing (heh) in the Inner Sunset at the former site of Golden Gate Brewery, Eldo’s Grill and Brewery, and Wunder Brewing Company: a new group is taking it over and plan to reopen the brewery, and if all goes well with the ABC license, it will be serving beer and food in January. On the menu: you’ll find American fare (although the chef is TBD), and things are also in final negotiations with the brewer, so that is under wraps as well. One of the partners, Rex Tabora of Zebulon downtown, said he’s especially excited about the project because he grew up just four blocks away. We’ll know more in 45—60 days once the license (hopefully) goes through.

1326 9th Ave. at Irving.

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.

Make a Wish (Gingerbread Ones)“0 Comments”

the tablehopper | 3:44 pm | | Events, Foodie 411 | Add a comment

Lark Creek Restaurant Group and pastry chef Patti Dellamonica-Bauler will host a Cookie Decorating Party at One Market Restaurant as part of the Group’s annual month-long “Gingerbread Wishes” event on Saturday November 7th from 11am–1pm. Make-A-Wish kids and their families, along with the public, are invited to attend the event.

For $20.00, each guest will receive a cookie decorating kit designed by pastry chef Patti, which will include three freshly baked “Gingerbread Wishes” star-shaped cookies and icing, sprinkles, and candies. Guests will also be served a variety of non-alcoholic beverages and finger sandwiches. Additional cookies will be available for $5.00 each and 100% of proceeds from the event will benefit the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation.

For reservations, please call 415-777-5577 and specify “Gingerbread Wishes Decorating Party.”

One Market: 1 Market Street at Steuart.

NOTE: Throughout the month of November, each of the Group’s restaurants* will offer a star-shaped gingerbread cookie on their dessert menu for $10, served tableside with a decorating kit, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

*Lark Creek Restaurant Group’s participating Bay Area restaurants include The Tavern at Lark Creek in Larkspur; One Market Restaurant and LarkCreekSteak in San Francisco; Lark Creek Walnut Creek; and Yankee Pier in Larkspur, Lafayette and Santana Row in San Jose.

A Taste of Spain“0 Comments”

the tablehopper | 3:30 pm | | Events, Foodie 411 | Add a comment

Sherry

San Francisco is lucky to have industry folks at places like nopa and Gitane who have put together extensive sherry lists and cocktails for us to taste, but unless you’ve tried an oloroso before, you’re not likely to take a leap of faith and just order it, right? Well, let’s fix that. The first step is to attend the second tablehopper tasting with yours truly on Tuesday November 10th about sherry.

There is going to be quite the teacher at the event: César Saldaña, the director of the Consejo Regulador de Jerez (translation: the council that regulates sherry in Spain). He is one of the most passionate educators about sherry, and definitely one of the top experts.

The event begins with an opening reception in the kitchen at Stable Café (a very cool space), with some tastes of fino and manzanilla, along with Spanish-inspired bites from James Stolich of CookWithJames (you may know him from his CookWithJames Underground Supper Club dinners). Bartender Neyah White from nopa will also get things started with a sherry-based cocktail, the Pear Brown Sugar Shrub.

Once everyone sits down in the gallery for the education portion of the evening, guests will be tasting other sherry styles, like an amontillado, palo cortado, oloroso, and Pedro Ximénez and cream sherry to finish. Oh yes, and Neyah is going to have a cocktail to wrap up with, the Barrel to Barrel, made with single malt scotch, oloroso, Pedro Ximénez, and nocino. Please don’t expect a full meal, but there will definitely be plenty of savory bites for you to enjoy throughout the evening.

César is going to give you an introduction to sherry like no one else could—even if you already know the difference between a palo cortado and an amontillado, you’ll still come away with deeper sherry knowledge in this tasting. Suffice to say, this is going to be a rare and one-of-a-kind evening with the (very charming) César in the casa.

Tue. Nov. 10th, 2009
Stable Cafe
2128 Folsom St.
Cross: 17th St.
San Francisco, CA 94110

6:30pm reception
7pm—9pm wine and food tasting

$59 (includes ticket processing fees)
buy tickets here

Sweets and Treats“0 Comments”

the tablehopper | 2:53 pm | October 30, 2009 | Events, Foodie 411 | Add a comment

Thursday November 12th

Sugar Rush is back on Thursday November 12th, a night of dessert tastings from the Bay Area’s best restaurants, plus a silent auction, and cocktails to help support Spark’s youth programs.

There will be dessert tastings from Boulevard, Chez Panisse, Michael Mina, Millennium, Range, Recchiuti Confections, Sibby’s Cupcakery, Humphry Slocombe, and Spruce.

100% of the proceeds from Sugar Rush go to support Spark’s youth apprenticeship programs. Spark is the only program in the nation addressing the dropout crisis by re-engaging at-risk middle school students in their education with individualized, hands-on apprenticeships. Attend Sugar Rush and help support empowering apprenticeships for Bay Area middle school youth!

$50 online; $60 at the door. Group discounts are available online.

111 Minna Gallery, 111 Minna St. at 2nd St.

There’s a new dessert café from Dennis and Eloise Leung, DeLise. (This talented duo used to run the pastry kitchen at Bong Su.) The small space is open in the morning, serving muffins and breakfast scones (both sweet and savory, like a tomato basil scone), plus Four Barrel coffee and espresso, hot chocolate, and chai lattes, in addition to teas from Red Blossom. There are also cookies made with healthy ingredients like whole-wheat flour. Look for the special ice creams and sorbets made with Asian flavors, including toasted rice, sesame, and pandan, plus vegan/soy-based ice creams as well. There are some inventive ice cream flavors, like a deconstructed pesto, with basil and pine nuts; you can get ice cream in a cup or pint—homemade cones are coming soon. There’s talk about sandwiches coming later as well. Opening hours are Mon–Fri 8:30am–8:30pm, and Sat–Sun 10:30am–6pm (tentatively)—so call first before heading over.