You ready for a medley mash-up of news? Here goes. First, ~PERA~ in Potrero Hill has made some changes: there is more of a dedicated wine bar where you can hang out, and co-owner Irfan Yalcin has been leading the kitchen since their former chef Muhammet Culha left earlier this year. Yalcin is reportedly turning out new delicious dishes using old-world recipes that are very Turkish in origin. Which is why they are adding weekend brunch! On the weekends, you will get a classic Turkish breakfast of eggs cooked to order, menemen (my favorite breakfast in Turkey: eggs and peppers), sliced cucumbers and tomatoes, three kinds of cheese and olives, homemade jam, honey, hot bread, herb and feta omelets, fresh fruit, and traditional red tea brewed in a samovar. There are a few other dishes like French toast and their regular lunch menu.
A tablehopper tipster let me know about a new downtown chocolate shop and café, NEWTREE CAFE & CHOCOLATE SHOP, which sells soup, salads, coffee, and lots of chocolate. The interior is reportedly very welcoming. Open Mon-Fri 7am-5:30pm. 1 Ecker Pl. (base of Market Street Plaza between Jessie and Stevenson), 415-524-6416.
Tipster Jason B. let me know about another cute café: this one is near Ghirardelli Square, and is called BLACKPOINT CAFE. It has a nice-looking style, and is serving Equator coffee, along with breakfast burritos, gelato, and breakfast pastries—there’s also free Wi-Fi. 882 N Point St. at Larkin, 415-800-8448.
Now open on Franklin is the (unfortunately named) KAKA UDON KITCHEN. The menu lets you build your own udon bowl, with your choice of broth and toppings, from kara-age fried chicken to inari (tofu skin); check out the menu here. There are also lunch bento boxes, nigiri, maki rolls, and a selection of appetizers like fried oysters, soft-shell crab, and sashimi. (And there is probably the cutest ESL missive ever on their About Me page.) Open daily 10am-2:30pm and 6pm-10pm. 1535 Franklin St. at Pine, 415-577-2380.
This Friday June 29th will be the last day for VICTORIA PASTRY CO. in their current location (1362 Stockton St.) in North Beach, according to a post on Yelp. Scoop announced the 98-year-old bakery is moving to a new location at 700 Filbert Street. Stand by for details on when they will reopen. New location: 700 Filbert St. at Columbus, 415-781-2015.
~BLUESTEM BRASSERIE~ announced the promotion of Josh Lucas and Francis Hogan to the position of co-executive chefs. Both have been on board almost since day one, and they just unveiled a new salumi program, which has been six months in the making: look for soppressata, fenular (Norwegian lamb ham), and bresaola (Piemontese-style dried beef).
Over in Russian Hill, a tipster let me know SUSHI GROOVE is planning to reopen in July after their vermin issue (ahem), reportedly with a new owner who used to work there. The interior is currently under construction. 1916 Hyde St. at Green, 415-440-1905.
Co-executive chefs Francis Hogan and Josh Lucas of Bluestem; photo by Brooke Heckaman.
