Howdy, fair citizens. Have some of you shaken off your Bay to Breakers hangover? I hope so, because the shame can last forever. I spent Sunday successfully avoiding my neighborhood at a garden party in the Castro, and then enjoyed the Sunday supper later that evening at Cotogna. (I saw the Devil’s Gulch fried rabbit on the menu and hopped right over.)
I’m fired up to finally visit Devil’s Gulch Ranch in Nicasio this Saturday at an upcoming (and sold-out, sorry) Outstanding in the Field dinner with Melissa Perello of Frances (I know, awesome). In case you don’t have any plans on Sunday, there is a second OITF dinner with chefs Jason Halverson of Michael Mina, Omri Aflalo of Bourbon Steak, and John Fink of The Whole Beast, and wine from Pey-Marin Vineyards and Dutton-Goldfield. It starts at 4pm, you can get more info and tickets here.
Speaking of events: next Tuesday May 28th, I will be moderating a panel about our local coffee roasting scene at the Commonwealth Club, and then on Thursday May 30th is the first tablehopper singles event. There are only tickets for men left for this one (sorry ladies!). And then on Friday June 7th, I hope you have bought your ticket for the SummerTini benefit, which I will be emceeing. This is an event and organization very near and dear to my heart, I hope you can join us! The auction packages are amazing (jus’ sayin’!).
Am sorry to hear about the shuttering of all the non-NYC Grub Street city blogs—Jay Barmann has done a hell of a job reporting our local restaurant news. Wishing him all the best in his next gig(s). But here’s a piece of good/non-shuttering news: Esta Noche’s fundraising efforts were successful this past weekend, and that tawdry, saucy place will continue to party on! Arriba!
With the passing of Ray Manzarek, I was reminiscing yesterday about when I was really young, and my dad took out his cherished The Doors record to play it for me for the first time. He put it on the record player and said, “Honey, this is The Doors. You need to know this.” He listened to that album a lot when he was in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. My dad says he still listens to The Doors almost every day on his walks. So yeah, I grew up listening to them quite a bit. RIP, Ray! Play on! For fellow Doors fans, you gotta check out this video of Ray Manzarek talking about how the song Riders on the Storm came to be. It’s a good one.
And man, poor Oklahoma. We are all sending love, but here’s how you can also send them money and support.
Peaches are here! Oven-roasted white peach with lemon verbena ice cream and Marcona almonds at Cotogna. Photo: © tablehopper.com.View tablehopper Newsletter from Tuesday, May 21 2013
