The Chatterbox

A couple weeks ago, I couldn’t believe I was walking a block in Hayes Valley, chatting with Alice Waters, both of us on our way to an event at the former CALA restaurant, celebrating the launch of Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore’s Refettorio San Francisco. It was also…

I wanted to fill you in on a couple tasty takeout/delivery options you’ll want to weave into your at-home meals, starting with THE ROOST. A former catering operation from Merchant Roots, owner Ryan Shelton and executive chef Ashley Keeler have rebooted the business to be a public-facing eatery,…

In a previous issue of tablehopper, I mentioned the new ITRIA opening in the former Obispo space in the Mission, and hey now, it’s open. They’ve starting with pan pizzas, which have been selling out, so don’t get mad like you didn’t know. There are also…

Some quick updates of projects that are coming soon… A hopper reader let me know the folks at THE EPICUREAN TRADER have taken over the lease from La Boulangerie next door to their location on Union Street, and will be opening the walls between the two spaces to expand their…

I wanted to make sure you saw these announcements from some of our favorite SF organizations. First, SF New Deal just launched an exciting grant opportunity for SF-based small businesses that have been financially hit by the pandemic (not just restaurants—any small business in the city can apply, like…

A tablehopper reached out to me a month ago, letting me know he heard ~OUT THE DOOR~ on Bush Street in Pacific Heights wouldn’t be reopening. I reached out but wasn’t able to get any confirmation from the team until a month later, when they announced it publicly…

I kept running out of time and didn’t include any East Bay updates the past couple columns, ugh, but let’s dive in! It’s June gloom time, so head on over to Backyard at Broc at Broc Cellars to escape the fog and wind. You can enjoy wine…

At the end of 2019, and just before the beginning of the pandemic, chef Nancy Oakes (Boulevard), restaurateur Anna Weinberg, and designer Ken Fulk took over our treasured North Beach bohemian hangout, ~TOSCA CAFE~, from April Bloomfield, after the horrendous Ken Friedman harassment debacle. Byyyyyyyye. The new ownership group tried…

Our local obsessive of all things pizza and dough, Tony Gemignani, has branched out his field of floury expertise to include bagels, baguettes, and Italian breads at his recently opened North Beach bakery, TOSCANO BROTHERS BAKERY. I’ve been watching him on Facebook get his mixers and stone mill and…

A big, glam opening is the upcoming EMPRESS BY BOON, in the iconic Empress of China space on Grant Avenue in Chinatown, a project announced back in the fall of 2019. Chef Ho Chee Boon (Hakkasan) will be offering an upscale and modern Cantonese experience, and doors open June 18th.…