Howdy gang! How are y’all doing out there? I’m still descending from the rainbow I was flying all weekend—this year was one of my top five Pride weekends in SF, and I’ve had a bunch! Such great parties, gatherings, reunions, dancing, lewks, and vibes! Wow, people. You can check out some photos over on @tablehopper or on Facebook, I was definitely the party-hopper this past weekend. It provided a much-needed blast of why I love SF and all its incredible inhabitants who really make this city special—and those of you who aren’t here, you were in my pocket and in my heart! Love you!
You’d think today’s column was late because I’m moving a little slow after this wild weekend, but I actually had some crazy tech difficulties over here an hour before post time. Grrrrreat! Anyway, all systems are back to go, so let’s get on with it—I have a lot of news for you.
Since we last connected, I’ve had some pretty special meals, and I want to be sure you can say the same! If you don’t follow me on Instagram (or Facebook), you will have missed this post about the wonderful dinner I recently had at Sam’s Grill, one of my old-school, SF favorites. It ends up David Gingrass has been consulting for them, and the food has been delightfully dialed a few notches up! Go get some celery Victor and fried smelts and sand dabs in a booth with friends over martinis and thank me later. We are so lucky to have Sam’s, now more than ever. What a place.
I was also pretty blown away with a tasting menu I experienced at Oji, a pop-up that offers an elegant exploration of Japanese washoku (home cooking) cuisine from some crew from Californios (David Yoshimura and Casey Kusaka). Their next pop-up is July 21st, and lucky you, they’re mostly repeating the phenomenal menu I had. Get your ticket ASAP! And spring for the wine pairings.
Are you around this weekend and looking for somewhere fun to go for Sunday brunch? Hit up Prairie for a delicious brunch that is not like the others. Get dishes like whipped uni and Japanese milk bread, and the Carolina Gold rice waffle with a Calabrian XO fried egg, and be sure to try their Bloody Mary (with charred onion-infused vodka and a cheese-stuffed Castelvetrano). I’m also going to start putting spicy sauerkraut in scrambled egg and cheese sandwiches—thanks for the inspo, chef Anthony Strong.
I have a couple other meals I’m about to post pics from (a weekend prime rib feast at One Market, and a soulful Singaporean dinner at Local), so stand by!
One last thing: I know some of you had issues with the discount code for Silvercar by Audi. Sorry about that! They fixed it, so if you want to try again, use my code Silvercarhopper for 30 percent off (you won’t find that discount anywhere!) until July 31st. Don’t get any tickets, those cars are fast.
Here’s wishing you a Happy Fourth (yay, colored fog, again!) with lots of good barbecue and pie and hopefully a long weekend too.
Ciao! Marcia Gagliardi
Smoked burrata and oven-roasted tomatoes at the new Il Casaro Castro. Photo: © tablehopper.com.View tablehopper Newsletter from Tuesday, Jul 2 2019
