Eater SF

EaterWire: Mill Valley Chef at Four Barrel; Millennium Agave Dinner

2013-05-18T00:56:20Z

Inside Four Barrel Coffee. [Photo: Kenn Wilson/Flickr]

THE MISSION—Looking for a taste of Mill Valley Beerworks' acclaimed food, minus a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge? Head to Four Barrel Coffee tomorrow afternoon, when regular customer and MVB chef David Wilcox will offer $9 Prather Ranch porchetta sandwiches with radishes, pickled mustard seeds, and aioli, or beet Reuben sandwiches with cucumber, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing, as well as $4 pickles. No beer will be served, though, so be advised. The pop-up is out back on Caledonia St. from 11 am-3 pm. [EaterWire]

UNION SQUARE—Millennium is holding an agave-centric dinner next Wednesday, May 22, with six courses of tequila and mezcal shots and cocktails paired with dishes like cherry salad with spinach and purslane, sweet pepper relleno, and masa dumplings with porcini mole. Admission is $95 and includes the drinks. Call Alison at (415) 345-3900, ext. 13, to reserve. [EaterWire]

]]> HAYES VALLEY—Boxing Room is bringing in a whole goat from Rossotti Ranch for a special dinner this Monday, May 20, and chef Brian West of Petaluma's Risibisi is coming down to give Justin Simoneaux a hand with preparing the five-course dinner. Dishes will include smoked goat ham, goat-neck tortellini, and goat's milk cheesecake, paired with three beers and two wines. Dinner is $100 all-inclusive, with two 20-person seatings at 6 and 8:30 pm; call (415) 430-6590 to reserve. [EaterWire]

HAYES VALLEY—Tomorrow marks the third edition of Hayes Valley's annual Ham and Eggs Fire Brunch, which commemorates the fire caused by a local back in 1906 while making the titular breakfast dish. This year's brunch will be at Biergarten at noon, with proceeds going to the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association; those who feel like getting up early can take a walking tour at 10 am before they dine. [Hayeswire]

Week in Reviews: Bauer Likes Madrona Manor; Boer Into Juhu Beach Club

2013-05-17T23:35:00Z

Madrona Manor. [Photo: Wikimedia Commons]

The Bauer Power Hour descends on Healdsburg's Madrona Manor this week, where Jesse Mallgren, "one of the Bay Area's most underrated chefs," is putting out "a finely honed meal that seemed generous and a great value" at $91 for five courses, plus another $68 for wine pairings. Unfortunately, the service is "personable and well-meaning, but doesn't match the sophistication of the food," and the staff's uniforms get special mention: "The staff at restaurants of this caliber generally is impeccably dressed; here they wear ill-fitting black suits and scuffed shoes, like a ragtag team." (Perhaps they're the Bad News Bears on their day off.) In the end, though "Madrona delivers in a Sonoma sort of way," and could even be dubbed "a poor man's Meadowood." Final verdict: three stars. [Chron]

Meanwhile, Nicholas Boer continues on the East Bay beat with a trip to Juhu Beach Club, where "the best word to describe" the cuisine is "fun." He's enamored with most of the pavs, particularly the meat versions; the vegetarian Sloppy Lil' P is "too starchy" for his taste. He's also not big on "the sulfur-y punch of black salt," which chef Preeti Mistry thinks "Americans are totally ready for." But with a "hard to forget" atmosphere and servers "obviously jazzed about the food," Boer thinks Mistry has "a bright future built on her food." Two stars. [Chron]

]]> Anna Roth scooted over to Divisadero's Wine Kitchen, which she sees as a metaphor for the under-construction neighborhood: on every block between Fell and Geary, "there's at least one storefront boarded up with plywood or a land parcel set aside for condo development." She digs Wine Kitchen's "impressive wine selection" and "ambitious, though less impressive, small plates menu," but dubs the space "strangely soulless," with a "lack of personality that starts with the interior" and carries through to the yuppie crowd. "Gentrification is par for the course in a city like San Francisco, and there's nothing wrong with ambition when it's executed well. I just hope that it doesn't mean a neighborhood as gritty as Divisadero has to lose its roots." [SF Weekly]

Josh Sens did a double-dip this month, visiting Charles Phan at both of his new Southern outposts, South at SFJAZZ and Hard Water. South is the weaker of the two, in his opinion: it "hits a lot of flat notes, like a saxophonist with shoddy embouchure." The cocktails are excellent, and bar bites are good, but the whole thing feels messed-up as a dinner concept: "Sit for a full-length dinner, and you're asking for frustration." Meanwhile, Hard Water's "terrific" cocktails, "more composed" food like sausage and Gulf flounder, and "clearer sense of identity" are all to the good, until it's time to flag down a server: even Phan himself, who unwittingly sat down next to Sens, had some trouble getting his order in. Two stars for Hard Water, and 1.5 stars for South. [SF Mag]

The Examiner's Cynthia Salaysay was also on the scene at Hard Water, where the "towering shrine to brown liquor...outshines the accompanying food." Though there were a few standouts, like buttery oysters St. Charles and the much-lauded fried celery hearts, and the "rustic-meets-Space Age" room is a winner, Salaysay wasn't impressed by her entrees: "None of the entrees I ordered lived up to the beauty of the drinks," and to make matters worse, "dining at the bar made for some confusion." Overall, she gets "the sense that Hard Water is still figuring out its marriage of top-notch bartending and fine dining, [but she'll] surely be back to drink a few more whiskeys." [Examiner]

Jonathan Kauffman found the tortas at closet-size (well, "practically an armoire") La Ciudad de Mexico in the Richmond to be worth packing into the small space: Chef Luis Bolaños, a La Torta Gorda alum, makes tortas "as good as anything you'll eat in the Mission or Oakland," and burritos should be ignored in favor of "freshly-made quesadillas" with nopales or squash blossoms. One out of three stars. [Tasting Table]

Luke Tsai headlines his review of Ben's Restaurant as "The Best Chinese Restaurant in Oakland That You've Never Heard Of," and indeed, he's pleased by the "simple, tasty, inexpensive Chinese food — mainly rice plates, priced at around six bucks each." Westernized standards rule the menu, but ingredients are fresh and "even the most Americanized dishes are cooked the way the chef himself would like to eat them." Off-menu specials like Wednesday fried chicken or curry chicken fried rice are his favorites, and it's best to go sooner rather than later: Ben's a one-man kitchen operation, and he's retiring in a couple of years. [EBX]

EATER DATING: Last-Minute Date Starters

2013-05-17T23:00:27Z

[Photos: Wes Rowe]

The sun is shining and it is finally feeling like Spring. So shed some layers, join Eater Dating, and take your new partner on one of these Eater-approved dates.

How about we...
...juice it up at Thrive Juicery.
...sit on the rooftop at El Techo de Lolinda.
...try the Korean steak sandwich at Rhea's Cafe.
...taste some South African cuisine at Amawele's South African Kitchen.
...head to Kitchen Mojo and try the popcorn shrimp kimchi po'boys.

Join Eater Dating Today. >>

·Eater Dating [~E~]

Kickstartin': Andrea de Francisco, who managed The...

2013-05-17T21:45:54Z

Andrea de Francisco, who managed The Grind in the Lower Haight, is planning to open a cafe of her own in the Bernal Heights/La Lengua area, at 3438 Mission St. It'll be called Cafe St. Jorge after her family's hometown in the Azores, and will feature Stumptown coffee and Portuguese-inspired sandwiches and salads. She's running a $30K Kickstarter campaign to get it up and running: $10 gets donors a treat or a cup of coffee, and $5 buys a good old-fashioned hug. [Haighteration]

On the Racked: Swimsuit Shopping; Bay to Breakers Costumes; Ethical SF Brands; More!

2013-05-17T21:37:00Z

Photo by Sara Iravani

SAN FRANCISCO—It's that time of year that no one likes to think about: swimsuit shopping season. Never fear, we've mapped out nine shopping spots that will make it a little more pleasant.

EMBARCADERO, TIBURON—We have two wine festivals to look forward to in the Bay Area this weekend, one in the potentially chilly city, on in potentially balmy Tiburon. What will you wear?

]]> SAN FRANCISCO—In light of the recent deaths in Bangladesh at clothing factories, people want to know where and how their garments are being made. Here are nine great ethical options in the Bay Area.

NAPA—The inaugural Bottle Rock Napa Valley music festival went down last weekend, and we snapped some sweet street styles from the flower crown and maxi dress loving audience.

EVERYWHERE—From our Editor's Picks, we've got $6 nail polish that's perfect to kick off you summer, a colorful dress/cover up that will lure you away from always wearing black, and a chic wallet that will keep the craziest lives somewhat organized.

UNION SQUARE—Don't miss the big party at Uniqlo tonight. They're celebrating the launch of their rad new limited edition rocker tees, featuring the likes of The Sex Pistols, David Bowie, Andy Warhol and Keith Haring.

Expansion Wire: Speaking of West Portal, it's one...

2013-05-17T19:36:41Z

Speaking of West Portal, it's one of the few places where there isn't a La Boulange outlet yet. But that's about to change: undaunted by that whole enormous Starbucks rollout, Pascal Rigo just signed a lease to open La Boulange #14 (#15 if you count the still-pending Inner Sunset edition) in the former St. Francis Market space at 16 West Portal Avenue. It'll have a cute little patio area, too. [Inside Scoop]

OPENING ALERT: Trattoria da Vittorio, West Portal Italian

2013-05-17T19:10:09Z

Trattoria da Vittorio
150 West Portal Ave., West Portal
Phone: (415) 742-0300
Web: trattoriadavittorio.com
Status: Opened yesterday

Trattoria da Vittorio, the new Southern Italian spot from Vittorio d'Urzo, officially opened last night in the former Cafe For All Seasons space. D'Urzo, who used to manage Italian restaurants on the Peninsula, has brought in chef Filippo Cannone (AcquaPazza) and Neapolitan pizzaiolo Antonio Luongo, and while there's no menu online yet, a Yelp review mentions orange-studded arancini, potato croquettes, pizza margherita, pappardelle with wild boar ragu, and short ribs Genovese with polenta.

The restaurant doesn't have its beer and wine license yet, but is expecting it to come through sometime next week. The dining room features wood tables, a marble bar, and a cherry-red pizza oven. Hours are 11 am-10 pm Tuesday-Friday, and 9 am-10 pm Saturday and Sunday.

Update, 5:19 pm: The full dinner menu is now online.

· Trattoria da Vittorio [Facebook]
· Three New Italian Spots Arriving Soon [~ ESF ~]

Expansions: Melissa Perello Considering Lower Haight Expansion

2013-05-17T18:05:48Z

Frances chef Melissa Perello is a longtime resident of the Lower Haight, having purchased a TIC there eleven years ago (she even redid the kitchen herself!) Now she's considering opening her second restaurant there, as she tells Haighteration: "I'm thinking about starting to think about Frances #2. I love Nopa, the area and the restaurant both, and everybody wants me to look in that area, but it's becoming saturated. I think there's interest in what's going on [in the Lower Haight]." Her reasoning behind an expansion is that things finally feel settled at the four-year-old restaurant. "I'm looking to replicate [Frances] on a larger scale. I'm just contemplating it. 18 months into Frances, I was like, I'm never going to do this to myself again, this is torture. It was hard. But now the kinks have been worked out and the systems are in place and I'm finally taking a deep breath and thinking it would be fun to do something else. I'm sure I'll curse myself."

Though she hasn't started shopping for spaces yet and an actual announcement is still a ways off, Perello says she's already thinking about what the neighborhood needs: "I wonder what the people in this neighborhood want. That was a big thing for me going into the Frances location. We're just off Castro, close to the Mission, it's a cute little neighborhood spot, but there's no parking, it's not very big. What do people want from us? I think it would be the same moving into this area. What do people need? What services do we need to provide? Give people what they want and they'll come."

· Meet Melissa, Chef/Owner of Frances [Haighteration]

Book Club: For those anxiously awaiting the release...

2013-05-17T17:21:44Z

For those anxiously awaiting the release of Daniel Patterson's Coi cookbook, our buddies at Eater National are here to serve: they scored a special preview of the forthcoming tome, the first from artsy publisher Phaidon to focus on an American chef. It looks stunning, we must admit. [~ EN ~]

Controversies: Burlingame Restaurant Selling Lion Meat

2013-05-17T17:10:17Z

Mokutanya's dining room, plus lion. [Photo: Facebook]

Mokutanya, a Burlingame izakaya, has definitely stirred up some controversy with the latest addition to its menu: for the next two weeks, they're serving a skewer of what they dub "Real African Lion Meat!!!" Some diners are livid about the new menu item, and many have taken to the restaurant's Facebook page to protest the offering, with comments ranging from "You should go out of business" to "Offensive." The restaurant responded to the complaints with a statement that "Lion is not an endangered animal, and also the one we use is farm raised lion."

While Mokutanya is correct in stating that lions are not endangered, African lions are considered vulnerable. The lion population in Africa is down to an estimated 32,000, compared to more than 100,000 in the 1960s, due to habitat loss and poaching. Lion meat can also be dangerous, given the animal's predator status, with lion carcasses more prone to accumulating parasites and diseases.

Mokutanya isn't the first restaurant to serve lion: Tampa-based Taco Fusion drew headlines this week after they served a $35 taco made with lion meat. The restaurant ultimately opted to pull the dish after protests from lion advocates.

· Mokutanya Introduces Lion Skewers [Facebook]
· Restaurant's Lion Tacos Renew Exotic Meat Debate [National Geographic]

Hot Dog: Oscar Mayer is now making bacon-studded...

2013-05-17T16:51:56Z

Oscar Mayer is now making bacon-studded hot dogs, but Ryan Farr of 4505 Meats, who originally invented them, tells Grub Street he's not offended: "I guess I'm flattered...the reason the idea popped into my head originally was because I had those cheese-studded hot dogs that Oscar Mayer used to make. I used the childhood memory of that juicy, cheesy hot dog, so it's kind of like it's come full circle...Bacon makes a damn good hot dog. I guess they've verified that fact." [Grub Street]

Listage: Top Bloody Marys; Cynar Artichoke Dinner

2013-05-17T16:00:37Z

A bustling weekend at Zeitgeist. [Photo: cjmartin/Flickr]

· Best Bloody Marys in San Francisco [SFist]
· Snapshots from the "Choke" Cynar/Artichoke Dinner [Serious Eats]
· Occupy the Farm Not Giving Up [Berkeleyside Nosh]
· A Chat with Thomas McNaughton [7x7]
· JBF on the Air: Neurogastronomy [JBFA]
· Yelp Gets Defensive [HuffPo]
· Pabst Blue Ribbon to Blame for Cheap Beer Price Hikes [NYDN]
· Can Mushrooms Help Us Get Rid of Styrofoam? [New Yorker]
· Police Called to Free Grown Man Stuck in High Chair at McDonald's [Gawker]
· Prisoner Sues Taco Bell, Says Doritos Locos Were His Idea [-EN-]
· Nordic Food Lab Gets Funding for 'Insect Gastronomy' [-EN-]

EaterWire: Tosca Closing Sunday; Lyrics Born on Check, Please!

2013-05-17T00:50:43Z

Soon, this is all you'll see of Tosca. [Photo: Hugo Pardo Kuklinski/Flickr]

NORTH BEACH—Last call for Tosca Cafe in its original incarnation has been sounded a few times, but this is finally it: Jeannette Etheredge and the house cappuccinos are going dark on Sunday, until the cafe returns in the fall as April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman's first West Coast venture. [Inside Scoop]

THE AIRWAVES—This is charming: Oakland-based rapper Lyrics Born (known in regular life as Tom Shimura) was one of the three panelists on tonight's episode of Check Please! Bay Area. The trio spotlighted Radius in SOMA, Hunan Home's in Chinatown, and Guerrilla Cafe in Berkeley; Shimura chose that last one. Also, there is a photo of him signing Leslie Sbrocco's foot, so we're guessing everyone had plenty of wine. You can watch the episode right here. [Bay Area Bites via SFoodie]

]]> TENDERLOIN—Lots of folks will be streaming into town for this weekend's ArtMRKT event, as well as the affiliated ArtPad gallery showing that will take over all the rooms of the Phoenix Hotel with cool new work. If you're stopping by to scope out the art, consider staying for brunch or dinner at Chambers: they're offering 15% off to those with an ArtPad ticket. Brunch runs 10:30 am-2:30 pm Saturday and Sunday, and dinner is 6-11 pm Friday and Saturday. [EaterWire]

SOMA—Next Sunday, B Bar is hosting a special Sunday Supper in honor of Memorial Day, with a whole North Carolina-style pig roast, corn on the cob, beans, watermelon salad, and plenty of beer. The view over Yerba Buena Gardens is always nice on a warm day, and the current forecast is 70 and sunny, so that's looking possible. Tickets are $25; booze sold separately. [EaterWire]

Curbed Cuts: Big Money Spent; Luxury Waterfront Condo Development Drama; Interviewing Architect Jonathan Feldman; More!

2013-05-16T21:30:58Z

Photos via Patricia Chang
MARINA—It's very possible that we've stumbled upon the most amenities ever on a single roof deck. This tricked out roof is three levels and features a hot tub, BBQ area, outdoor television, and a putting green.

PACIFIC HEIGHTS—The late Lee Herbst Gruhn's mansion atop Pacific Heights is currently playing host to the 2013 Decorator Showcase. It's also back on the market. The 5-bed, 4.5-bath, 8,100 square foot home was last listed for $9.75M. It's now asking $11.995M.

THE EMBARCADERO—The drama continues for the luxury condo development at 8 Washington. Opponents of the project are throwing a fit because it's becoming more apparent that a s**tstorm would happen if a nearby pressurized sewer pipeline gets damaged during construction.

]]> PACIFIC HEIGHTS—A stately abode on Vallejo Street just took a $2.505M price chop, but that doesn't mean the 8-bed, 5.75-bath Neo-Tuscan property moved down a few spots on the Most Expensive List. Nope, it's still the third most expensive home for sale in San Francisco.

HAYES VALLEY—We visited Koshland Community Park and Learning Garden to break down all the details of the park. Check it out (and the gallery, too!)

CIVIC CENTER—What's the deal with the Richard Meier & Partners tower at 1 Van Ness? Will it be built? A reader asked and we have answers and pretty renderings.

SAN FRANCISCO—The top three sales of the week go to some pretty pricey properties. The number three spot goes to a 3-bedroom co-op in Pacific Heights that sold for $3.575M, and the most expensive sale of the week is a 5-bedroom home in Presidio Heights that sold for $9.5M.

BAY AREA—We sat down with architect and Bay Area native Jonathan Feldman to discuss what it's like to build sustainably in the Bay Area. Check out his interview here.

Book Club: Congrats to La Cocina grad Onigilly...

2013-05-16T20:42:57Z

Congrats to La Cocina grad Onigilly and Joshu-ya Brasserie in Berkeley, whose owner-chefs announced cookbook releases this week. Savory Books will release Koji Kanematsu's The Onigilly Cookbook and Jason Kwon's The Joshu-Ya Cookbook on the same day, December 1, and considering they play with upscale and casual Japanese influences, respectively, they do make a great duo. [Zagat]

Coming Attractions: La Urbana on Divis Now Targeting Mid-July

2013-05-16T20:18:26Z

Plant It Earth, pre-renovation. [Photo: Google Street View]

Though it initially looked like the makeover (and the re-permitting hellscape) for La Urbana would take longer, the owners told Inside Scoop that they're now targeting a July opening for the latest offering in Divisadero gentrification. The 3,600-square-foot former Plant It Earth space will actually be three concepts in one: an 85-seat Mexican restaurant, a 10-12 seat mezcaleria with 40-50 bottles of the good stuff, and Mercado Urbano, a taco shop by day and lounge by night (which won't open until the fall, unlike the other two parts).

The owners are Alessandra Bonisoli (also the operations manager), entrepreneur Eduardo Rallo, and Juan Garduño, who runs Mexican architecture firm Garduño Arquitectos and will be designing the space. He's using lots of high-end antique and modern design components that he shipped in from south of the border, in an attempt to make the space look like a trendy spot in Mexico City.

· Let's talk about La Urbana, coming to Divisadero this summer [Inside Scoop]
· La Urbana Coming to Divis [~ ESF ~]

Kickstartin': Humphry Slocombe is running an adorably-named...

2013-05-16T18:38:05Z

Humphry Slocombe is running an adorably-named "lickstarter" for that second Ferry Building location they're getting together, and regular visitors should take note: give them $100 towards construction now, and they'll give you back $150 in sweet, sweet ice cream (or duck-fat pecan pies, we suppose, if that's more your thing). Shippable goods are included in the deal. [@humphryslocombe]

Awards Season: StarChefs Names 2013 Bay Area Rising Stars

2013-05-16T17:57:27Z

The folks of StarChefs swing into town every three years to select a new crop of Rising Star Chefs, and they just announced the latest batch today. The list reads like a who's-who of the hottest spots in the area, with honorees everywhere from Bar Tartine to Verve Coffee Roasters to Trick Dog to Linden Street Brewery. Some younger talents from established restaurants, including Quince, Manresa, and Absinthe, were also recognized for their contributions, and two of our three Eater Young Guns nominees from the Bay Area were also on the list.

Chefs are required to be under 40 in order to be chosen for the honor, and must have 10 or fewer years as an executive chef; chefs de cuisine are required to exert "near-total menu control," and sommeliers must be responsible for at least half of a restaurant's wine-buying activity.

]]> The 2013 honorees:

Chefs

Nick Balla, Bar Tartine

Brett Cooper, Outerlands

Jacob des Voignes, Local Mission Eatery

Jason Fox, Commonwealth

Duncan Holmes, Sons & Daughters

Jessica Largey, Manresa

Mark Liberman, AQ

Sarah and Evan Rich, Rich Table

Pastry Chefs

Juan Contreras, Atelier Crenn

Matt Tinder, Coi

Stephanie Prida, Manresa

Hotel Pastry Chef

Mellisa Root, Madera

Sustainability Chef

Sean Baker, Gather

Artisans

Ryan Farr, 4505 Meats

William Werner, Craftsman & Wolves

Fresh Concept

Yigit Pura, Tout Sweet Patisserie

Community

Richie Nakano, Hapa Ramen

Restaurateur

Matt Semmelhack, AQ

Sommeliers

Esteban Brunello, Oliveto

Bobby Conroy, Benu

Roaster

Colby Barr and Ryan O'Donovan, Verve Coffee Roasters

Mixologists

Scott Baird and Josh Harris, Trick Dog

Matt Conway, formerly of Absinthe Brasserie & Bar

Brewer

Adam Lamoreaux, Linden Street Brewery

VIP Chef

Robbie Lewis, Bon Appétit Management Company

· StarChefs announces 2013 San Francisco Bay Area Rising Stars [Inside Scoop]
· 2010 Rising Star Chef Gala [~ ESF ~]

BRB: Boulettes Larder is now officially closed...

2013-05-16T17:33:40Z

Boulettes Larder is now officially closed for renovations, as construction gets underway on adjoining full-service offshoot Bouli Bar (which first came online back in August). Bouli Bar and the restaurant's new prepared-foods window next to Prather Ranch's American Eatery are scheduled to open in early June, while original-recipe Boulettes will be back in July. [Inside Scoop]

Expansions: Wise Sons Taking CJM Cafe Space

2013-05-16T17:12:04Z

The Contemporary Jewish Museum. [Photo: Bruce Damonte]

Leo Beckerman and Evan Bloom of Wise Sons Deli are now officially in expansion mode: after acquiring a commissary kitchen for baking and meat production at 22nd and Mission a few months back (they're moving in this week), they've now announced that they'll be taking over the operation of the Contemporary Jewish Museum's cafe, which went dark in December of last year. The menu at the new cafe will be a miniature version of the 24th Street mothership's, with Jewish deli sandwiches, salads, and soups. Another key addition: a takeout window, which will double as SF's only outpost for purchasing Beauty's Bagels from Oakland.

The plan is to operate the 30-seat cafe during museum hours, with the takeout window offering extended hours on days the museum is closed or opening later. Diners won't need a museum ticket, though they will have to go through security (just pretend you're in Israel). Online and phone ordering for the takeout window will be available for local office types, who can pick up and devour their pastrami in the lovely CJM courtyard. Wise Sons will have to double their 20-person staff to pull off the dual locations; no word on how that'll affect their timeline for expanding the mothership to dinnertime, though they do have recently-acquired third chef Matt Shapiro to help with the transition. The plan is to open sometime this summer.

· Wise Sons Deli expansion, part one [Inside Scoop]
· Wise Sons Deli expansion, part two [Inside Scoop]

Listage: Mission Community Market; Michael Pollan Chat

2013-05-16T16:00:29Z

The Mission Community Market. [Photo: sfbike/Flickr]

· Scenes from the Mission Community Market [Serious Eats]
· A Chat with Michael Pollan [Berkeleyside]
· 8 Great Dog-Friendly Restaurants and Bars [Zagat]
· Kale Salads, Trendy [NYT]
· McDonald's Serves Up a Feast of Characters for Fast-Food Photog [Wired]
· Exploring the Future of the Cookbook [Seattle Weekly]
· Against Hoppy Beer [Slate]
· Americans Disgusted by Water that Lacks Artificial Flavoring [Gawker]
· Q&A: Bourdain and Vaughn Talk Books and Barbecue [-EN-]
· Watch the Trailer For ABC's New TV Show Mixology [-EN-]

EaterWire: Food Snob Listicles; Bourbon & Beef to Rockridge

2013-05-16T00:19:55Z

Ferry Plaza, snobby foodie heaven. [Photo: vipnyc/Flickr]

SAN FRANCISCO—Grub Street rounded up a Buzzfeed-esque listicle of the 27 signs that you might be a Bay Area food snob, including being over pork belly and chardonnay and hitting up Zuni and the farmers' market on a regular basis. [Grub Street]

ROCKRIDGE—The former Water Lounge space is going to become a restaurant called Bourbon & Beef, from an established Bay Area restaurant group that's insisting on staying anonymous. The name suggests clubby steakhouse territory, but weirdly, it'll actually be a family-style Latin restaurant, although with a big wine and spirits list. They're targeting late summer/early fall. [Diablo Dish]

]]> OAKLAND—Chop Bar is doing its first pig roast of the season this year on Saturday, which will be on-site at Linden Street Brewery. Tickets for pigging out are $20, and they'll be selling Linden brews for $4, and Fernet-Branca shots or Pastena wine for $5. Brass Mafia will play. More info here. [Facebook via EBX]

OAKLAND—Sweet Bar Bakery is holding a pop-up dinner series beginning tomorrow, with Baia Pasta's Renato Sardo in the kitchen making mac and cheese and salad to pair with owner Mani Niall's strawberry "crumbletart." It's just $15 to dine, and Belcampo sausage, wine, and beer will be sold a la carte to complete the meal. More info here. [Zagat]

Marketeering: Because a neighborhood just isn't a...

2013-05-15T23:19:04Z

Because a neighborhood just isn't a neighborhood until it gets its own farmers' market, the Richmond will most likely be having a vegetable free-for-all of its very own, very shortly. The proposed market would take place on Sunday mornings at Clement between 2nd and 4th Avenues, and they're currently collecting letters of support for a targeted June 9 opening. Visit the Richmond SF blog to learn more about making your voice heard. [Richmond SF]

FireWire: Forbes Island Back in Action on Friday

2013-05-15T22:08:52Z

Good news over at Forbes Island: this Friday, exactly one week after a fire in the floating restaurant's private Sea Lion Room caused enough damage to force them to close, they're reopening their doors. Erick Hendricks, one of the restaurant's partners, told Inside Scoop that they could actually open today or tomorrow, but they chose Friday to play it safe.

The blaze and the subsequent water damage left the restaurant and kitchen untouched, so the quick return was expected. They actually could have reopened even earlier if they had a freezer on the converted houseboat, but without one, all the food had to be tossed after the fire, and it took a few days to get deliveries back on track. No word on what they're planning to do long-term to repair the damaged room, which will require an expensive replacement of part of the boat.

· Forbes Island ready to reopen after fire [Inside Scoop]
· Forbes Island Damaged in Fire [~ ESF ~]

OPENING ALERT: Elmira Rosticceria, Firing Up Civic Center

2013-05-15T20:17:51Z

Elmira Rosticceria
154 McAllister St., Civic Center
Phone: (415) 551-7332
Web: facebook.com/elmirasanfrancisco
Status: Opened yesterday

Civic Center has a strong new lunch option in Elmira Rosticceria, the first venture from former Fairmont chef Marc Passetti. Named for the SF street on which his parents and grandparents grew up, it's focused on hearty Italian breakfast and lunch fare, like spit-roasted pork with fennel and salsa verde, roast potatoes, farro salad, crispy pork salad, roasted eggplant with smoked mozzarella, and even lampredotto (a Florentine tripe sandwich). More offerings are forthcoming, with seasonal produce from the adjacent Heart of the City farmers' market.

On the morning side, there's oatmeal, housemade pastries, omelets, and egg sandwiches with bacon or speck. Bicycle is providing the coffee, and there are a few beers on hand from the likes of 21st Amendment and Anchor. A wine list and more beer selections are still being firmed up, but once they're available, happy hour will launch as well. The space is cheerful and cute, with enough wood tables and bar seating to accommodate 35 or so souls. Hours are currently 7:30 am-7 pm daily, with breakfast served until 10:30 am.

· Elmira Rosticceria Opens [Tablehopper]

Bar Shuffles: Two tidbits from the bar scene...

2013-05-15T19:50:27Z

Two tidbits from the bar scene come to us from Tablehopper today: first, Ethan Terry is out at AQ, and has been replaced by Jason Rager, who formerly led the Beard-nominated bar program at Atlanta's Holeman & Finch. (Timothy Zohn remains AQ's bar manager.) A bit up the road in Hayes Valley, the replacement for Marlena's (which will remain a gay bar) now has a name, Brass Tacks, and construction is underway. [Tablehopper]

Do-Goodery: The Coolest Food Items in La Cocina's Auction

2013-05-15T19:06:41Z

La Cocina's Mission headquarters. [Photo: Jim 'N' Nicks]

La Cocina has long been a pet charity for San Francisco chefs, who come out in force at its annual Street Food Festival and offer support to the budding culinary entrepreneurs (primarily women and immigrants) who go through its incubator program. So it's no surprise that the auction items the charity has been able to rustle up from local restaurants this year are best described as sick, and can be purchased guilt-free despite their hefty price tags, as they benefit a very good cause. Here's some of the best stuff up for bid this year, and the current price of each item:

]]> · A cooking demo and dinner for 12 from Craig Stoll (Delfina), Daniel Patterson (Coi), and Bill Corbett (The Absinthe Group) at the San Francisco Cooking School. $10,000 minimum; no bidders as of yet.

· Brew beer with Magnolia's Dave McLean, then have lunch. $300 minimum; no bidders as of yet.

· Skip the line at RoliRoti, and tote back 12 porchetta sandwiches. (If time is money, then avoiding the hour-long line at peak hours has to be worth plenty.) Currently at $300, with one bidder.

· A cooking class for six from Hoss Zare, who'll teach you to make his famous Persian meatballs. $750 minimum; no bidders as of yet.

· A reservation anytime you want, dinner for four, and two bottles of wine at State Bird Provisions. Unsurprisingly, this is one of the most popular items available. Currently at $875, with 19 bids.

· Learn to make your own ice cream at Three Twins, and never buy a cone of Lemon Cookie again. Currently at $375, with one bidder.

· Create and name your own sandwich at Wise Sons Deli, which will be on the menu for two weeks, and get eight of them for free. Currently at $218, with six bids.

· A tequila tasting with Joanne Weir and Dilsa Lugo of Los Cilantros at Weir's house, plus three bottles of tequila and a $100 Copita gift card. Currently at $218, with six bids. $1,200 minimum; no bidders as of yet.

Other opportunities include a Tacolicious taco bar for 20, DIY salumi with Fatted Calf, and a VIP tour of St. George Spirits. Most auctions end in the next 3-4 days, so get bidding.

· La Cocina's Online Auction [La Cocina]
· Got Cash To Burn? La Cocina's Online Auction Has Sweet S.F. Prizes [SFoodie]

Food TV: Amy's Baking Company — the Scottsdale,...

2013-05-15T18:36:06Z

Amy's Baking Company — the Scottsdale, AZ restaurant that had an epic meltdown on their Facebook page after being on Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares — is now claiming they were hacked and the FBI is involved. And sure why not, Guy Fieri chimed in on the story, saying, "I'm actually in awe." [-EN-]

Coming Attractions: Major Complex, Mad Monk, Headed to Berkeley

2013-05-15T18:28:49Z

Mad Monk, the ambitious new two-story project from Rasputin Music and Blondie's Pizza owner Ken Sarachan, is currently working its way through the permitting process in Berkeley, and just secured some major approvals last week. Housed in the iconic former Cody's Bookstore building that's been shuttered since 2006, the complex would celebrate "anachronistic media" with a performance space, flower kiosk, coffee shop, vinyl record shop, and most relevant to our interests, a 50-seat restaurant with a full bar, called Commissar. The culinary focus would be Russian-influenced "upscale peasant's and worker's food...The recipes are primarily vegetarian/world vegetarian prepared in a manner that would suit a discriminating Soviet Official's culinary tastes," Sarachan writes in his permit application.

Events like readings, poetry slams, comedy shows, and indie/folk rock concerts would be held in the performance space five nights a week, and Craig Becker, the president of the Telegraph Avenue Business Improvement District, thinks it would bring a much-needed booster shot to the area's declining nightlife options. "We need nightlife on Telegraph. It's not enough to depend on books and music," he told the board, according to Berkeleyside.

]]> Mad Monk (which is, appropriately, named after a nickname for Rasputin), secured a batch of permits from the Berkeley zoning commissioners last week, and is also relying on the assistance of Guest Chef and Bariata impresario Scott Cameron, who will be the on-site manager. The space will have frontage on both Haste and Telegraph Aves., and be open until 2 am every night save Sunday. The next step is seismic upgrades and accessibility compliance, which the space is undergoing right now. The hope is to open sometime in the fall.

· Berkeley approves Mad Monk Center and Commissar [Inside Scoop]
· Mad Monk Center to rise on Telegraph [Berkeleyside Nosh]

Willie's World: Mayor-about-town Willie Brown (whose regular Chron...

2013-05-15T17:11:52Z

Mayor-about-town Willie Brown (whose regular Chron column continues to draw criticism for its questionable journalistic ethics) has made a mid-year's resolution: in the next 12 months, he's aiming to sample every last one of Michael Bauer's top 100 restaurants, starting with Park Tavern tonight and Outerlands later this week. The inevitable dining culture clashes for a man who regularly gets comped desserts in rarefied political power haunts should be comedy gold; allow this GIF to sum up our feelings. [Inside Scoop]

Listage: Checking Out Sydney Town; 1906 Dining

2013-05-15T16:00:43Z

The patio at brand-new Glaze Teriyaki Grill. [Photo: thefuzzytraveler/Flickr]

· Checking Out Sydney Town Tavern [SFoodie]
· Dining Opportunities in 1906 [Burrito Justice]
· Reclaiming the 99-Cent Menu at Lena's Soul Food Cafe [EBX]
· Reservations: The New Jiu-Jitsu of the Restaurant Industry [Fox]
· Politics of Food Writing [Esquire]
· Chris Hadfield: Space Chef in Chief [NPR]
· The 20 Most Absurd Quotes From Guy Fieri's New Book [Flavorwire]
· The Cocktail Chart of Film & Literature by Pop Chart Lab [Laughing Squid]
· The Taste Actually Got Renewed for a 2nd Season [-EN-]
· Top Chef Gets $375,000 From NOLA and Louisiana [-EN-]

EaterWire: Ferry Plaza Market's Birthday; Prospect's Ballpark Fare

2013-05-15T02:42:25Z

From the CUESA archives: the Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market, back in the day. [Photo: CUESA/Flickr]

THE EMBARCADERO—As you've likely read in other outlets, this weekend is a big one for the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market, which is turning 20 years old. (Hard to believe they and Suppenküche started in the same month in 1993, both taking advantage of disappeared freeways.) Tomorrow night, they'll have a cocktail party ($40) with lots of great bartenders from Trick Dog, Lolinda, 15 Romolo, Maven, and Hard Water, plus cupcakes from local chefs; on Saturday morning, they'll offer a shortcake bar from Craftsman & Wolves, Batter Bakery, Fifth Floor, and Les Elements, plus a mimosa bar with tons of fresh juices ($20). [EaterWire]

SOMA—Those attending a game at AT&T Park and seeking snack options on either end should consider Prospect, which is opening up its typically formal atmosphere to welcome Giants fans at the bar for braised short-rib taquitos ($8) and $5 draft brews, including Allagash White and Boont Amber Ale. Diners can also grab a $5 bag of chef Pam Mazzola's caramel-cocoa nib popcorn for enjoying at the game. [EaterWire]

]]> SOMA—The SF Brewers' Guild is taking over the Old Mint next Thursday, May 23 for a "Hops & History" night, featuring unlimited samples from the likes of Magnolia, Speakeasy, Anchor, Pine Street, and MateVeza. They'll have presentations on the history of brewing, a brewers' panel discussion, tours of the space, and an exhibit of historical brewing memorabilia. Tickets are $30. [EaterWire]

THE MISSION—Chef Anthony Yang, a Per Se and Adour Alain Ducasse alum who's currently a sous under Ron Siegel at Michael Mina, apparently has energy to spare: in addition to that tough gig, he's doing a pop-up brunch at Dear Mom a week from Saturday (May 25). Under the name Ante Meridian, Yang will offer beef-fat-toasted everything bagels with sturgeon cream cheese and charred-scallion mayo, black truffle waffles with honey-black pepper butter, and brioche donut holes with strawberry jam. (Yeah, we're salivating too.) Be sure to mark your calendars. [EaterWire]

DOH Chronicles: Allegro Romano Owner Slapped a Health Inspector

2013-05-15T01:48:59Z

Allegro Romano. [Photo: TripAdvisor]

Political power-meal perennial Allegro Romano has to be one of the city's most vocally hated restaurants, and its detractors are about to have a field day with this one: according to Inside Scoop, owner Lorenzo Logoreci has been cited by the Health Department for allegedly slapping a city health inspector on Friday. After receiving some bad news from the inspector, Logoreci got into a heated argument during dinner service, culminating in the slap. The inspector pressed charges, and Logoreci now faces a court hearing for battery.

The inspector, whose name has not been released, popped in unplanned on the way to another appointment, after noticing that the restaurant had committed an unspecified environmental health violation. Logoreci had just been visited by the DOH the previous day, after a complaint was filed saying he'd been doing unpermitted work on the space. That report was dismissed, saying all Logoreci was up to were allowable minor repairs and painting, but clearly, something was amiss a day later. "Our inspector saw that there was work being done in that facility, more than just painting, so that's why we ordered a cease and desist," says Richard Lee, the DOH's Food Safety Program director.

Logoreci, for his part, says he's been targeted unfairly, and is considering taking legal action himself. In the meantime, the restaurateur, who scored a respectable 85 and 100 on his past two inspections, will henceforth be visited by two health inspectors, not one—and the second inspector's pay is required to come from his pocket.

· Restaurant owner cited for battery [Inside Scoop]

Opening Wire: Longtime Eater correspondent Tamara Palmer is...

2013-05-14T23:30:29Z

Longtime Eater correspondent Tamara Palmer is now pounding the pavement for Zagat, and as usual, she's snagged an interesting discovery: 15-year-old roast duck specialist Toon Kee (2191 Irving) has been replaced by a new Cantonese spot, Guangdong Barbecue Tea House. The specialty of the house? Roast pigeon. Consider it revenge for all those annoying ones cluttering up your airshaft. [Zagat]

Switcheroos: Pisto's Tacos Closed, Becoming More Upscale Pisto's

2013-05-14T22:31:11Z

Multiple readers had let us know that recently-opened Pisto's Tacos had closed just as suddenly, and while we were waiting to hear back from them, SF Mag snagged the intel: apparently Pete Mrabe (also of Don Pisto's and Chubby Noodle) wasn't happy with how the new space was going, so he shut it down and is reincarnating it as Pisto's, a more upscale spot with table service, ceviche, a raw bar, and fancier entrees like aged ribeye and barbacoa with chickpeas and masa. But you'll have to have serious connections to get in the door: reservations are only available via a special phone number Mrabe is distributing by hand, and at 35 seats, those tables will be at a premium for walk-ins.

Mrabe hopes to reopen Pisto's on Thursday, by which time we'll try to have the full menu and some more details. (One tidbit: The only menu item that will remain is the $6 miniature take on Don Pisto's famed hamburguesa torta.) In the meantime, the tacos that were scheduled to leave the menu at Don Pisto's are back for good. And we're wondering if the specter of upcoming neighbor Tacolicious was too much to bear.

· Pisto's Tacos Becoming Pisto's [SF Mag]
· Pisto's Tacos, Spicing Up North Beach [~ ESF ~]
· Pete Mrabe Opening Pisto's Tacos in North Beach [~ ESF ~]

Book Club: Eater National's Summer cookbook and food...

2013-05-14T21:50:50Z

Eater National's Summer cookbook and food book preview is out today, showcasing titles coming out between May 1 and August 31. Highlights include books from Chicago's hot dog emporium Hot Doug's, Swedish chef Björn Frantzén, beloved Brooklyn neighborhood restaurant Franny's, London barmaster Tony Conigliaro, local whiskey expert Daniel Yaffe, and more. [Eater National]

Help Wanted: Alert: Eater SF Seeks Associate Editor. Is It You?

2013-05-14T19:46:09Z

Attention, would-be Eater writers: effective this very second, we're looking to hire a San Francisco resident who's mainlined into the soul of the city's dining scene to take on the job of Eater San Francisco associate editor. This is a freelance gig with commensurate pay; you'll be able to work from anywhere you want so long as it keeps your ear close to the ground for good restaurant and nightlife intel, and you're available to blog for us on a daily basis.

If you think you fit the bill, drop an email to jobs@eater.com with a brief description of yourself and a paragraph or two about why you're interested in the job. If you've got a blog and/or a Twitter account, please include a link to them as well. No resumes, please. If we like what we see, we'll be in touch quickly. Thanks.

Delivery Wire: Those who've been meaning to try...

2013-05-14T18:29:14Z

Those who've been meaning to try out Hayes Valley sandwich pop-up The Lunchpad but haven't been able to make it over to that side of the world on a workday will be pleased to learn that they're now offering delivery through the redoubtable resto-bike messengers of TCB Courier. Call (415) 522-6647 to place an order; here's the menu. Unfamiliar with TCB? They also deliver for the likes of Rhea's, Pal's Takeaway, Wing Wings, Memphis Minnie's, and Hi-Lo BBQ. Good people, those couriers. [@thelunchpadsf]

OPENING ALERT: Thrive Juicery, Juicing Embarcadero Center

2013-05-14T18:18:29Z

Thrive Juicery
One Embarcadero Center, street level (Battery St. between Clay and Sacramento Sts.)
Phone: (415) 926-5669
Web: thrive-cleanse.com
Status: Open

The juice trend continues to explode locally, as the Thrive Juicery duo of Megan Propp and Stephanie Hubbard, who have been serving their juices and mimosas at Nectar Wine Lounge for the past year or so, have opened their first brick-and-mortar shop at One Embarcadero Center. All the standards are here, in hefty 16-ounce containers ($9), from three kinds of green juice (including a "tropical" pineapple version) to cashew and almond milk and cayenne lemonade. Fresh coconut water (with pulp) is also available, as are 3-5 day cleanse packages ($65-75/day).

Both owners studied at New York's Institute of Integrative Nutrition, and their juices are cold-pressed for maximum nutritional punch. The space is simple and cheerful, with a big front case of juices for hauling back to the office or gym. Hours are 6 am-7 pm Monday-Friday, and 9 am-3 pm Saturday and Sunday. Their Nectar pop-up also continues to run daily from 8 am-3 pm, with mimosas on the weekends.

· Nectar Wine Lounge Gets Brunch, Thrive Mimosas [~ ESF ~]

Festival Wire: Plans are firming up for Chipotle's...

2013-05-14T17:31:14Z

Plans are firming up for Chipotle's food-centric Cultivate festival, which will hit Golden Gate Park's Hellman Hollow on Saturday, June 8. Ludo Lefebvre, Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo, Top Chef-er Richard Blais, Michael Chiarello, Evan and Sarah Rich, and the Wise Sons guys will all be there, as will onetime A16 chef/current Chipotle menumonger Nate Appleman. Speakeasy is brewing a special saison for the occasion, too. Admission is free—quite an expenditure on Chipotle's part. [EaterWire]

Eater Inside: El Techo de Lolinda, A Glorious Mission Rooftop

2013-05-14T17:14:13Z

[Photos: Wes Rowe]

The photos above are really more of an Eater Outside, but with arguably the most notable rooftop space in the whole city in play, we couldn't resist getting a few photos of El Techo de Lolinda, the Lolinda offshoot that opened yesterday. (The name, in Spanish, translates to "the roof of Lolinda," which is about as accurate as you can get.) Many will remember this space as the infamous Medjool, which drew a decidedly ill-behaved crowd, but the new incarnation is focused more on tableside bar bites than meat-market antics, and craft cocktails instead of vodka Red Bulls.

As with the downstairs, chef Alejandro Morgan's culinary focus is Argentine, with lots of sharing-oriented plates like chuzos (skewers) with beef, chicken, shrimp, chorizo, or vegetables; sanguches (sandwiches) of braised pork, black beans, and salsa verde or steak, avocado, chimichurri, and red onion; and chicharrones by the pound, accompanied by limes, tortillas, salsa, and escabeche. There's also some more Mexican-influenced fare in the mix, like guacamole, chicken flautas, chili-lime-crema corn, and quesadillas with Oaxaca cheese. Prices are approachable, with most non-shared items under $10. See the full menu here.

]]> On the booze side of things, cocktails from bar manager Chris Lane are simpler without sacrificing mixology touches, from the pisco subbing for rum in a take on a Hotel Nacional to the white rum and Mexican Coke in a Cuba Libre. Caipirinhas and mezcal-tinged margaritas are available by the glass or pitcher, and Mexican lagers arrive with a tequila or mezcal back and housemade sangrita. See the cocktail menu here.

While the joint will inevitably be packed on the rare hot day, the owners have also taken care to make it enjoyable on an average SF night, with a heated tent (removable when the weather takes a turn for the better) and a big glass wall capable of withstanding 150 mph winds. Other than that, decor is simple, with a bright green tiled bar and long communal tables with metal stools. The hours are different from Lolinda's, with the roof open Sunday-Thursday from 4-10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4-11 p.m. There's also weekend brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

· Inside Lolinda, Sultry and Spacious on Mission Street [~ ESF ~]
· El Techo de Lolinda [Official website]

Food TV: On the latest episode of Kitchen...

2013-05-14T16:38:04Z

On the latest episode of Kitchen Nightmares, shouty chef Gordon Ramsay quit after the delusional owners of the Scottsdale restaurant Amy's Baking Company proved to be beyond saving. And then they took to Facebook to fight back against "the Yelpers and Reddits [sic]" and their "WITCH HUNT," calling them "trash," "pathetic," and "OPRESSORS [sic]." It gets so much worse. [Eater National]

Listage: Spring Berry Dishes; White Horse Turns 80

2013-05-14T16:00:17Z

Food trucks at rest. [Photo: eviloars/Flickr]

· SF Restaurants' Berry Dishes [7x7]
· The 80th Anniversary of Oakland Gay Bar White Horse [Chron]
· Berkeley Working to Save Schools' Edible Programs [Berkeleyside]
· Farm-to-Hotel Dining, for Foodies on the Road [NYT]
· UN Says: Why Not Eat More Insects? [AP]
· Antiques Dealer Puts Coke's 'Secret Formula' on eBay for $15M [Daily Mail]
· Restaurant Marketers Wake Up to $50B Breakfast Opportunity [Ad Age]
· Might the Coffee Nerds Be Right? [Gawker]
· Waffle Tacos: Taco Bell Is Testing a Taco-Waffle Hybrid [-EN-]
· Gordon Ramsay Wimps Out, Won't Cook vs Bobby Flay [-EN-]

EaterWire:

2013-05-13T23:50:38Z

A drink and a menu at the Hideout at Dalva. [Photo: Kendra Aronson/The Big Drink]

THE MISSION—No plans on this sunny Monday? Consider swinging by The Hideout at Dalva, which is launching its new spring cocktail menu tonight. The party runs from 7 pm-2 am, and all of the new drinks (which they've insisted on keeping under wraps) will be 20% off. They'll also have, and we quote, "snacks and shenanigans." Shenanigan lovers, now is your time. [EaterWire]

THE MISSION—Other than the frankly disturbing blue booze named for them, most Americans don't know much about the Caribbean island of Curaçao, whose cuisine blends Dutch and tropical influences. The de Young Museum is aiming to change that with a special Curaçao Night on Friday, and since everyone from that party will still be in town on Saturday, they're double-dipping with a party at Stable Cafe. The $25 admission buys bites, authentic Curaçao cocktails, and live music; scarves and artwork will also be for sale. [EaterWire]

]]> THE MISSION—Beer-loving barflies will be pleased to learn that The Abbot's Cellar is offering a new bar menu, specially designed to soak up all those artisanal brews. From 5:30-7 pm every night, chef Adam Dulye will offer a short menu of three shareable bites ($7-9 each); the current lineup features meatballs, crispy cauliflower with caper aioli, and duck rillettes on toast. [EaterWire]

INNER SUNSET—Wednesday marks the third anniversary of Social Kitchen & Brewery's opening, and they're partying with a special offering: every beer in the joint, including the New World anniversary lager, is $3 all day long. They'll also have Humphry Slocombe ice cream made from their beers, and live music by Feelosophy from 7-10 pm. The doors open at 4 pm, and a big crowd is expected, so get there early. [EaterWire]

OPENING ALERT: Rhea's Cafe, Sandwiching the Mission

2013-05-13T23:17:59Z

Rhea's Cafe
2200 Bryant St., Mission
Status: Softly open

After its transformation from a standard Valencia corner store into an unstoppable sandwich juggernaut, there was nowhere to go but up for Rhea's, which soft-opened its second location at 20th and Bryant last week. The new space is much bigger and more designed for dining in than the mothership, with seating for 28 at the counter and tables, and plans to seat another 15-20 at outdoor tables that are coming soon.

Chef Matt Butler is manning the kitchen, and all of the favorites from Rhea's 1.0 are on the menu, including the Korean steak sandwich (also in a vegetarian version), the Valencia (with turkey, havarti, bacon, and avocado), and the Barney Rubble with pastrami and Swiss. (At $10-12, they're also a little pricier than the original location.) The other big change is that the new location is permitted for a fryer, which means that the late, much-lamented pork and chicken katsu sandwiches are back (praise the Lord), and a new player as well: Korean fried chicken wings, available plain or with sweet honey-garlic sauce ($8 for 5 or $14 for 10). A trio of salads, including beet-orange-watercress and a romaine salad with fried oysters, round out the group, and fries both regular and garlic are also on the scene. The owners sent us some cellphone snaps of the menu, viewable below the jump.

]]> On the drinks side, the new location has a beer and wine license, and there are currently seven 12-ounce brews on the list, including Sierra Nevada, Rogue Dead Guy, Boddington's, and Anchor California Lager. (They're priced very reasonably, too, at $3-4.) The owners tell us they're in the process of putting together a wine list, and plan to offer a handful of drafts and 10-15 bottled beers when all is said and done. Hours are currently 11 am-9 pm daily, but they're looking to expand to 10 pm on weeknights and midnight on Friday and Saturday in the next few weeks. The local drunk-food options just got awesomer.

Here are those menus (click to make them bigger):

· The New Rhea's Is OPEN!!!! [Mission Mission]
· Second Mission Rhea's Deli Location Is Here [SFoodie]
· Rhea's Deli and Market [Facebook]

Food As Art: SFMOMA Cooking Up Art-Inspired Dishes

2013-05-13T22:00:35Z

Ben Kinmont with chef Fabien Vellos, part of his exhibit On becoming something else. [Photo: Bruno Serralongue]

The SFMOMA has long had street cred for their cafe's lineup of desserts inspired by the exhibits (which recently got the cookbook treatment as Modern Art Desserts, from pastry chef Caitlin Freeman). Now, they're getting into the savory side of things as well, recruiting six top local chefs to make dishes inspired by the exhibition Ben Kinmont: Prospectus, which closed yesterday. Part of the exhibit was called On becoming something else, and focused on artists who left the art world to pursue other careers, including farming and politics. To extend the exhibition another month, they've gotten the chefs of Rich Table, State Bird Provisions, Bar Tartine, Camino, Outerlands, and Bar Jules, plus independent chef Leif Heidendal, on board to offer special dishes inspired by On becoming something else at their respective restaurants from now until June 12. Some are straightforward, while others are esoteric. Here's the full list:

]]> Evan and Sarah Rich
Rich Table
Recipe title: The road that leads into the tunnel

Brett Cooper
Outerlands
Recipe title: Glazed young carrots, fresh curds, savory oats, eucalyptus honey

Leif Hedendal
Dinner Discussions
Recipe title: Frozen rhubarb with dandelion, strawberry, Kaffir lime, Thai chile, Vietnamese herbs, olive oil

Jessica Boncutter
Bar Jules
Recipe title: The bee's knees

Nick Balla & Cortney Burns
Bar Tartine
Recipe title: Stone soup

Stuart Brioza & Nicole Krasinski
State Bird Provisions
Recipe title: Melting chocolate pistachio torte, honey & cayenne infused figs

Russell Moore
Camino
Recipe title: Consommé with bitter herb dumplings

If anyone ends up trying any of these creations (we're particularly curious about "the road that leads into the tunnel" and "the bee's knees"), let us know what they were and what you thought.

· Ben Kinmont Closing Reception and Reactivation [SFMOMA]

Yelp Wanted: How much is the soul of...

2013-05-13T20:06:46Z

How much is the soul of a Yelper worth? According to one Craigslist posting, $25. Someone is hiring Yelpers with 50 reviews or more to write five star reviews of restaurants. And there's an extra $25 in it for you if "cut and paste that same review onto a couple other social media websites." [Eater National]

OPENING ALERT: Amawele's, South African in the FiDi

2013-05-13T19:12:51Z

Amawele's South African Kitchen
Rincon Center, 101 Spear St., Financial District
Phone: (415) 536-5900
Web: amawelessouthafricankitchen.com
Status: Open

San Francisco is making a foray into South African cuisine with the debut of Amawele's South African Kitchen, owned by twin sisters Pamela and Wendy Michaelson, who share chef duties with their mother, Nadia Drew. ("Amawele" is the Zulu/Ubuntu word for "twins.") South African cuisine is a hodgepodge of influences, incorporating traditional Khoisan, Xhosa, Zulu, and Sotho fare and ingredients with influences from the Dutch colonization, Indian laborers who emigrated in the 19th century, and the onetime sister Dutch colony of Indonesia. The resulting dishes include Cape Malay curry, which is fruity and not too spicy, heavy on turmeric and cumin; it's available here over rice or quinoa, with chicken or vegetables. Roti wraps are another option, filled with beans or chicken curry, and there's also bunny chow, bread stuffed with curried chicken; frikadella, meatballs with french fries inside a roll; and vetkoek, deep-fried dough balls stuffed with curried ground beef. See the full menu here.

The space is primarily a takeout/food-court operation, with some seating in the main Rincon Center plaza. Hours are 10 am-3 pm, Monday-Friday; you can call them before 10:30 to order food in advance for lunchtime.

· Amawele's South African Kitchen [Facebook]

Expansions: Brenda's Launching Libby Jane Cafe, A Coffee Shop

2013-05-13T16:53:12Z

First expansion taking too long to come down the pike? Take a page from Brenda Buenviaje and Libby Truesdell, and try another. The dynamic wife duo behind Brenda's French Soul Food are still mired in getting their Fillmore po'boy shop online, but they've decided to plow forward by opening a quick-service cafe in the former City Smoke Shop two doors down from Brenda's. It'll be named Libby Jane Cafe after Truesdell, and will serve Ritual espresso, chicory coffee, and those famous biscuits at breakfast, followed by sandwiches and soups at lunch.

The intent is to provide a to-go compatriot to the ever-bustling lunch and brunch scene at Brenda's, and while they'll have a counter that will seat 6-8, most of the items are meant to be carried back to the office. They're shooting for a midsummer launch (ahead of the po'boy shop, which has no firm date yet), opening at 7 am on weekdays and 8 on weekends and running until 3 pm.

· Big News from Brenda's: Libby Jane Café on Polk St. [Tablehopper]
· Brenda's Original Po' Boys Location REVEALED [~ ESF ~]
· Brenda's Original Po' Boys To Fatten Up Fillmore [~ ESF ~]