According to a tweet, it looks like VENGA EMPANADAS is planning to softly open its tiny empanada shop this Friday. You can drool over the menu here, which includes a nice array of vegetarian empanadas, like a five pepper-manchego version I can’t wait to sink my choppers into. Follow Venga on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news. Hours will be daily 7:30am-10pm. 443 Valencia St. at 15th St., 415-552-5895.
Over at 331 Cortland, BIG DIPPER BABY FOOD is the latest addition to the Bernal Heights marketplace. Owner Claire Hoyt makes organic baby food made fresh from local ingredients. Recent menus posted on Facebook offer purées ($7 per pound) like roasted garnet yams, braised carrots and baked Fuji apples, and chicken with parsnips and green beans, plus toddler meals of noodle kugel or chicken with spring vegetables with a side of sweet potatoes. 11am-6pm daily except Sun ‘til 5pm, and closed Thu. Delivery available Sundays starting June 26th. 331 Cortland Ave. at Bennington.
As I mentioned last month, ~DOSA ON VALENCIA~ is closing for a week to update their space and prepare the bar for their upcoming liquor license. They will be closed from Wed June 22nd-Thu June 30th, and plan to reopen on Fri July 1st.
One door closes, another one opens: ~MISSION CHINESE FOOD~ is slated to reopen this week, on Friday June 24th.
And CAFÉ SOPHIE is scheduled to open this Saturday; read more details in this past tablehopper article. Hours will be 7am-9pm. 3463 16th St. at Sanchez.
Ever-trusty tablehopper informant Jason B. writes in with these tidbits: in the Financial District, it appears TON YONG THAI CAFÉ has closed, but there’s a new-looking GREAT SAIGON that has opened a few doors down, 915 Kearny St. at Jackson, 415-772-9882.
He also mentions PREET’S, a small pizza place on Market, has become VEGAN PLAZA. He says, “They have a spot in Berkeley and I thought it was exceptional. Whole wheat crust, vegan cheese, awesome.” 995 Market St. at 6th St.
Jason also mentions there’s a mini build-your-own Belgian waffle space that has opened near the BART entrance in the Westfield. SFoodie has filed an initial taste test of BLOEM ‘N SUGAR. 865 Market St. at Fifth St. in the Westfield San Francisco Centre, 415-615-0064.
Lastly, Jason mentions half of the Martha & Bros. locations in the city have changed to CUMAICA COFFEE, whose website states they have four SF locations, and a roastery in South City.
Photo from Venga Empanadas.
