The Chatterbox

It’s that time of the year, when you start plotting who you’re excited to see at Outside Lands (on my list: The Seshen, Childish Gambino, Leon Bridges, Yaeji, Paul Simon, Toro y Moi, Santigold, Bob Moses, DJ Koze, Luttrell) and what you’re going to eat and drink…

Some unfortunate closures, including the PRATHER RANCH shop at the Ferry Building Marketplace. I reached out to Prather for a comment but didn’t hear anything back. According to a letter forwarded to me, it sounded like employees were told to hang on for a reboot, but were laid off…

So, the very first part of the multi-level ONE65 from chef/partner Claude Le Tohic has opened in Union Square: ONE65 Patisserie & Boutique. Located on the street level, you’ll find a contemporary French patisserie experience, with breakfast and lunch service, and classic bistro seating in a black-and-white space…

Great news for folks who were previously loving chef Nora Haron’s Singaporean-Indonesian-Californian cuisine while she was at Oakland’s Drip Line Cafe—she is now in San Francisco at LOCAL KITCHEN, a 10-year-old SoMa restaurant from owner Jeff Handy. She will reprise some of her popular dishes, like chicken…

First, Heena Patel of Besharam announced she was splitting off from Daniel Patterson’s Alta Group, and now Nigel Jones of Kaya has ended his partnership and closed the restaurant (you’ll still be able to find him at Kingston 11, his restaurant in Oakland). And this just in: Reem…

It’s time to add some extra-deliciousness to your weekend brunch lineup. Serving brunch both Sat-Sun is PRAIRIE, with chef-owner Anthony Strong cookin’ up some truly creative dishes that speak to me, like a grilled pork blade chop with a Calabrian XO fried egg. You can also get that egg…

Opening tonight, Tuesday April 30th, is CHE FICO ALIMENTARI, from partners David Nayfeld, Angela Pinkerton, and Matt Brewer, below their wildly popular Che Fico in the short-lived Theorita space. Anyone who has been fortunate to dine at Roscioli in Rome is going to be reminded of it here (it’s…

If you follow me on Instagram, you already saw all the pics of the newly renovated and updated SAM’S ANCHOR CAFE in Tiburon, and it really is a looker. Nothing like getting a big facelift at 99! Redesigned by ROY (Hannah and Emily Collins) in an unheard of six…

Some fast bites: Heena Patel of BESHARAM at Minnesota Street Project has parted ways with Daniel Patterson’s Alta Group (a mutual decision) and has assumed full operational control of the restaurant. She will be making some changes to the concept, becoming more family-friendly in format, plus some other tweaks.…

Last week, I had the incredible good fortune to attend the pre-opening party of DANDELION CHOCOLATE’s new factory, café, and retail shop in the Mission. It’s a staggering, 28,000-square-foot space designed by Chris Harrelson of architecture firm Gensler. The building is quite a beaut: it’s 107…