Big news from the 12-year-old ~HEIRLOOM CAFÉ~: a few weeks ago, owner Matt Straus passed the reins to new co-owners and managing partners Amy Siemers and Stephen Hallenbeck, who have been longtime associates at the restaurant. In his farewell/announcement letter, Straus says, “There have been a few projects simmering on my stove, and when they become official (fingers crossed, in the next few weeks), I will send flares to tell you about them, before I sign off. I have also been working on an Heirloom Café cookbook, which has been great fun. It’s a collection of chapters built around favorite dishes from my ten years of food and wine at Heirloom. (If anyone knows an agent or publisher who might be interested?)” He adds: “There is also some likelihood that I’ll host a dinner on Folsom Street here and there, perhaps even once or twice a year. Just thinking about it makes the gears turn and the palate start to water.” Thanks for creating such a personal and true neighborhood restaurant, am happy to hear it will continue with folks “in the family.”
I haven’t had time or bandwidth to report on East Bay openings, so I wanted to point you to this handy recap in Nosh, with news on Cafe Colucci, Cafe Ohlone/’ottoy, the new Humphry Slocombe, and so much more.
Up in Healdsburg, I was sorry to see a friend’s Facebook post about the closing of CAMPO FINA, a true local’s joint—here’s their farewell letter.
How about a great comeback story? CYRUS RESTAURANT from Douglas Keane and Nick Peyton has reopened in new, modern digs in Geyserville, here’s the dining format: “The Cyrus Dining Journey invites an intimate group of just 12 guests per seating to move through different spaces during the course of the evening. Our menu features locally sourced peak produce from family farms as well as the freshest seafood and ethically raised beef, pork and fowl. The cuisine is highly seasonal with Asian influences. Reservations for the full Dining Journey are ticketed and released in monthly blocks two months in advance. Tickets: $295.” Book here. Also worth noting: they will open their lounge on October 6th for casual cocktails, Champagne, and a curated menu for walk-in guests, 5pm-9pm.
The lovely bar at Heirloom Café. Photo: © tablehopper.com.
