Yup, the holiday crush is on, and it’s time to schedule some fun lunches. While I’m sorry I won’t be hosting another two-martini lunch event at ~BIX~ this year, you can still duplicate it by swinging by during their holiday lunch hours. Bix will be open for lunch all week, instead of just Fridays, from December 5th-23rd. Cheers.
LE COLONIAL is getting in on the action and will be opening for lunch for four Fridays in December: the 2nd, 9th, 16th, and the 23rd. Hours are 11:30am-2:30pm, and there’s a $35 three-course prix-fixe menu from recently hired chef Jean-Paul Peluffo. Or you can order à la carte specials—and a cocktail, of course. 20 Cosmo Pl. between Sutter and Post and Jones and Taylor, 415-931-3600.
This Sunday December 4th is the second annual Holiday Brunch Market at ~THE PROGRESS~, with 20 artisans, craftsmen, and makers, who will take over the entire restaurant and also the private dining room upstairs, The Workshop. There will be walk-around brunch items and a full bar. 11am-2:45pm.
Also on Sunday December 4th is an Annual Holiday Brunch & Toy Drive and brunch at RED DOG RESTAURANT, which is partnering with the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program. Come by from 11am-5pm with a donation of an unwrapped toy or nonperishable food item, and for just $20, you can dive into a holiday brunch buffet with your choice of refreshments (yes, there are mimosas). There’s also a silent auction, with prizes ranging from a 10-person Fire Boat Experience on the bay to an exclusive Firehouse Dinner with the SFFD (hey, fireman!). There will even be a bouncy house and Santa will be there for photos, so bring the kiddies. 303 2nd St. at Folsom, 415-692-0211.
DANDELION CHOCOLATE is continuing their annual 12 Nights of Chocolate. Some of the events are sold out, but there are still spots for this Thursday December 1st with Avery Ruzicka (Manresa Bread) and for Sunday December 4th’s ultimate bake sale with Ron Mendoza (Revival Ice+Cream), Ben Spungin (Post Ranch Inn), and Yulanda Santos (Aubergine), plus a few more events. All proceeds go to the SF-Marin Food Bank, for whom last year’s event raised more than 60,000 meals.
La Cocina is hosting their holiday market, El Mercado, on Sunday December 11th at The Women’s Building (you should come to the tablehopper Jook Joint brunch, and then head on over!). There will be a marketplace of 40 food vendors, artisans, crafts, music, and more, plus bites and drinks too! Check out the ticketed events, from the holiday cocktail party to the tamale classes. 11am-8pm. 3543 18th St. at Lapidge.
While you’re ice skating at the Holiday Ice Rink at Embarcadero Center, you can grab a bite to eat at Off the Grid: Justin Herman Plaza, which is running every Sunday from 12pm-4pm through January 8th, 2017. Five rotating food trucks will set up shop, including Happy Dumplings, Lobsta Truck, Judie’s Tacos Locos, Kome Truck, Drums & Crumbs, Me So Hungry Too, Don Pablo, Dum Truck, Kokio Republic, and Soulnese.
The classic two-olive martini at the just as classic Bix. Photo: Kristen Loken.
