the tablehopper | 11:57 am | November 13, 2009 | Foodie 411, Mission | Add a comment
Ryan Ostler and Katharine Zacher of (former) Broken Record fame are (quietly) ready to begin feeding folks at Bruno’s. They’re going to be making adjustments to the menu, staffing, and more in the coming weeks, but locals will be pleased that their delicious and affordable Southern-American fare is back on our culinary scene. They will be serving their much-loved Southern-American fare, like brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and yes, rotating dishes like gumbo and their famed Frito pie, plus delicious desserts, and some new seasonally driven dishes, like salads. I also hear a special sous vide fried chicken (a la Thomas Keller style) and waffle are in the works.
Bar opens at 5:30pm, and the kitchen will be open Tue–Sat from 6pm–10:30pm (perhaps later, to be determined).
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 | 11:54 am | | Events, Foodie 411, Wine Country | Add a comment
The Twelve Days of Christmas is a Meadowood signature event, when twelve renowned chefs from around the country collaborate with twelve of Napa Valley’s preeminent vintners to present holiday feasts on twelve December evenings (Dec. 4th–19th). Here’s a two-minute short film about the event.
The event is a fundraiser for Share Our Strength, a national organization working to end childhood hunger in America by 2015. Share Our Strength receives a percentage of the dinner seating revenue throughout the event. Meadowood will also make a $2,000 donation to Share Our Strength in the name of each of the twelve chefs who have generously donated their time and talent.
The 2009 Twelve Days of Christmas line-up of guest chefs and partner vintners includes:
Day 1 ~ December 4th
Mark Sullivan, Spruce, San Francisco
Chuck & Ann McMinn, Vineyard 29
Day 2 ~ December 5th
Marcus Samuelsson, Aquavit, New York
Philip & Carol Norfleet, The Napa Valley Reserve
Day 3 ~ December 8th
Josiah Citrin, Melisse, Santa Monica, CA
Darioush Khaledi, Darioush
Day 4 ~ December 9th
Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook, Animal, Los Angeles
Hugh Davies, Schramsberg Vineyards and J. Davies Vineyards
Day 5 ~ December 10th
Gabriel Rucker (Le Pigeon), Jason Barwikowski (Clyde Common)
and Naomi Pomeroy, (Beast) in Portland
Susan Boswell, Chateau Boswell and Joshua & Jacquelynn Peeples, Jacquelynn Wines
Day 6 ~ December 11th
Michael Cimarusti, Providence, Los Angeles
Michael Polenske, Blackbird Vineyards
Day 7~ December 12th
Nancy Oakes and Ravi Kapur, Boulevard, San Francisco
Kelly & Paul Fleming, Kelly Fleming Wines
Day 8 ~ December 15th
Paul Liebrandt, Corton, New York
John Conover, PlumpJack and CADE Wineries
Day 9 ~ December 16th
Laurent Gras, L20, Chicago
Bob & Stacy Bressler, Bressler Vineyards and Mia Klein, Selene Wines
Day 10: December 17th
Cat Cora, Bon Appetit Magazine
The Stephens Family, HUNNICUTT and D.R. Stephens Estate
Day 11~ December 18th
Nancy Silverton and Matt Molina, Pizzeria Mozza and Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles
Lindy, Mary and Beth Novak, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery
Day 12: December 19th
Christopher Kostow, The Restaurant at Meadowood
Bill and Deborah Harlan, Harlan Estate
There will only be one seating per evening and space for each dinner is very limited. A sparkling wine reception runs from 6pm–7pm, and dinner is 7pm–10pm. Pricing begins at $950 per couple per night, and includes one night’s lodging at Meadowood and dinner seating for two.
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 | 3:35 pm | October 22, 2009 | Foodie 411, Union Square | Add a comment
Plenty of burger fanatics will be happy with the news that Hubert Keller’s Burger Bar is now open on the sixth floor of Macy’s Union Square. It’s spacious: 240 seats in all, including a private room. The menu has quite the list of burgers that you get to pick your patty from (and there is an in-house butcher room where the meat is ground daily). You can choose either Black Angus beef ($9.75), sustainable Country Natural beef ($10.50), American Kobe beef from Snake River ($16.50), or buffalo ($16.50), plus vegetarian, salmon, free-range turkey, or hormone-free chicken options. There are all kinds of toppings, from nine kinds of cheeses to foie gras. And speaking of, yes, the famed Rossini burger (the $$$ one you heard about in Vegas) is on there: $60 will get you a burger made with Kobe beef, sautéed foie gras, shaved Perigord truffles, and Madeira sauce on an onion bun. Oh, and you can pick Fleur de Lys sauces, like rich red wine and shallots reduction ($2.50), or black Perigord truffle sauce ($5.50).
There are sweet burgers to finish, but fear not, there’s no beef—they’re more like a donut with chocolate and passion fruit inside, or a cheesecake version with caramelized pineapple. The cocktail list by Nikola Varsic has a nice range of cocktails, from whiskey to rum to pisco-based drinks made with good ingredients. Hours are Sun–Thurs 10:30am–11pm, and Fri–Sat 10:30am–2am. Yup: burgers until 2am on the weekend.
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 | 2:27 pm | September 25, 2009 | Events, Foodie 411, Wine Country | Add a comment
Starlight Wine Bar & Restaurant in Sebastopol is hosting an emergency benefit for chef Thaddeus Palmese, who is fighting a second round with cancer and needs to raise funds for treatment (Thaddeus is the cousin of Starlight’s chef Ted Van Doon). A casual and lively benefit is planned: for $25, the fun and true-to-Starlight-fashion Creole menu will include red beans and rice and cornbread. A no-host bar will also be offered as well as live entertainment. All proceeds will go to support Thaddeus’ medical costs. The event is being held at Sassafras rather than Starlight to accommodate a larger crowd. A silent auction for which donations are still being accepted is also being organized. It’s on Monday September 28th, from 5pm to 8pm.
Domaine Chandon is hosting its fourth annual Pink Party on Thursday, October 1st, a bubbly benefit for breast cancer research. Domaine Chandon’s beautiful landscaped gardens will be bubbling with 600 pink-attired revelers celebrating with pink sparkling wine and dancing under the stars to the sounds of DJ Dukes from 7pm to midnight. étoile, the fine dining restaurant located on-site, will feature pink-hued appetizers and small bites (beet panna cotta, salmon and beef tartare, house-made charcuterie and black mission figs) paired with the sparkling rosé for the event. Complimentary shuttle service is available from select stops to the event. Pick-up and drop off points include the Napa River Inn, Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa, Embassy Suites Hotel Napa Valley, Yountville Inn, and Villagio. Discounted private transportation is also available through Pure Luxury Transportation. étoile will be open for dinner from 6pm–9:30pm for those wishing a sit-down meal before the event. Throughout the entire month of October, the restaurant will offer a special three-course menu paired with rosé wines ($75 lunch/$95 dinner).
Tickets are $50 per person and proceeds from sales and a silent auction featuring fine wines and luxury items will go to benefit breast cancer research at the Queen of the Valley Hospital Foundation. Buy tickets soon since this event sells out; tickets are available at www.chandon.com. Additionally, for the entire month of October, $1.00 from every bottle of rosé (of which the winery sells four varieties) sold at the winery will go to Queen of the Valley. Last year, Domaine Chandon raised $10,000 with the combined proceeds from the Pink Party and rosé sales.
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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