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• Mayor Ed Lee is backing the stricter plastic-bag ban, which would impose a ten-cent fee for bags given out in stores, and likely ban those ubiquitous pink ones all over Chinatown. [Chron] • Remember the Chron food department's 49 Square Miles project? They're still at it! And they're only on Square 19, the intersection of SoMa and the Mission, where Rainbow Grocery is the iconic establishment. [Chron] • Regarding the "straightforward, French dip-style behemoths" served at Prime Dip (518 Larkin Street). [SFoodie] • Puerto Rico has cold-blooded plans to murder its iguanas and export their meat, since there are too many of the critters roaming the country. Interesting plan, but who's buying? [NYDN] • Juicing is huge, both with Starbucks folks and all over. [NRN] • New research shows that friends eating together mimic each other bite for bite; so if your lunch buddy is a scarfer, you might put on weight. [NYDN] • Basically, all the fun foods (coffee, booze, chocolate, ice cream) are terrible for digestion, while boring ones like bananas are what you should eat. [Health.com via Fox News] • This woman must've really wanted her French fries: She pulled up to the McDonald's pick-up window and tried to order there, blocking drive-through traffic until police finally had to come tase her. [Fay Observer] Filed Under: mediavore, |
Grub Street San Francisco
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Richie Nakano More ramen news! Hapa Ramen, which still has plans for a brick-and-mortar spot next door to State Bird Provisions on Fillmore, is popping up tonight at Wing Wings (422 Haight) from 6 to 9 p.m. Mr. Nakano will be serving up his usual braised pork, fried chicken, or vegetarian miso market bowls, containing some new items like fried shrimp with Meyer lemon, onion-garlic paté, and pork rillette, and sides of crispy smoked trotter cake and angry Korean dumplings. [Haighteration] Read more posts by Jay Barmann Filed Under: nonstaurants, hapa ramen, wing wings |  |
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Ron Siegel "I just didn't want to do all the [prix-fixe] menus all the time — to always be nine-course this, or salt-and-pepper-truffle-menu that, including all the canapés that would go with all that stuff. I just want [a restaurant to] be like, 'Come, order what you want, and we'll cook it for you hot.'" — Chef Ron Siegel discussing the decision to convert the Dining Room at the Ritz to the more casual Parallel 37. [SFoodie] Read more posts by Jay Barmann Filed Under: quote of the day, parallel 37, ron siegel |  |
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They know where their priorities are. Effective immediately, the folks behind Hayes Valley's Sauce (131 Gough) have taken over the operations at Trademark (56 Belden Place), and a name change is imminent. As the Scoop reports, escrow still hasn't closed on the deal, but a temporary liquor license has already transferred, and the Sauce team has already assumed control. Sauce #2, along with a new menu of New American/comfort food stuff, will be coming along next month. [Scoop] Read more posts by Jay Barmann Filed Under: ch-ch-ch-changes, closings, empire buildling, sauce, trademark |  |
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Outerlands chef Brett Cooper The successful, tiny — and pretty stellar — Outer Sunset eatery Outerlands (4001 Judah at 45th) is expanding into a space next door that will in effect double the size of the restaurant, and allow for more tables, more bar space, better lunch service, and an expanding bakery and pastry program too. As the Scoop reports, they're taking over a former Chinese restaurant with the same footprint as their existing restaurant, and as owner Dave Muller tells Grub Street this afternoon, the kitchen will get to grow too, and "some of the wall will come down to create a larger, integrated room." Chef Brett Cooper, who previously did stints at Coi and Saison, has been crafting a sophisticated menu of California flavors in the casual, driftwood-paneled, usually fogged-in spot since early last year, and has one a lot of praise all around. Additionally, Muller is in charge of the cocktail program, which we've previously raved about, and which features seasonal details and well-balanced concoctions that pair well with Cooper's plates. As Muller further explains, there will be an added 20 or so more seats, including bar seats where people can dine and or drink, and there will now be more options for larger parties than the current tiny space allows. Additionally, "The bread and pastry program will be growing as well, to offer more baked goods throughout the day and for take out too. And our parklet construction will be occurring simultaneously on 45th avenue which will create more space for folks who are waiting to do so comfortably." Muller says to look for more diverse lunch and brunch options as well as possibly expanded hours as the summer progresses, and something else they haven't had: table service at lunch. Outerlands - 4001 Judah Street at 45th Avenue - 415.661.6140 - Open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch, and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for brunch. Earlier: Our Year In Seven Stellar Meals Read more posts by Jay Barmann Filed Under: ch-ch-ch-changes, brett cooper, dave muller, empire building, menu changes, outerlands |  |
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A rendering of the proposed solution for the former Sequoia Building site. Following a November fire that destroyed a building at the corner of Telegraph and Haste in Berkeley, the building owner has teamed with an architect to create a Proxy-like complex that would house three businesses: Gabriella's, a restaurant that was set to open in the former building but had not by the time the fire struck; and Raleigh's and Café Intermezzo, which were former tenants. As Berkeleyside reports, if all goes well with city approvals, the collection of temporary tented dining rooms and shipping-container kitchens might open by May. [Berkeleyside] Read more posts by Jay Barmann Filed Under: previews, gabriella's, nonstaurants, proxy |  |
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Mmm... bagels. Wise Sons Jewish Deli, which has been but a plucky pop-up lo these last twelve months, is just about ready to open in their new brick-and-mortar space on 24th Street, a.k.a. the former El Tonayense at 3150 24th Street (at Shotwell). Some of you may have missed them today at their usual spot at the Ferry Building, and that's because they're in the final stretch before opening their restaurant, which will launch with a Thrillist-affiliated soft-opening brunch on Sunday, February 12. The deal is $29 for Thrillist Rewards members, and includes bottomless beer (craft brew from Pac Brewing Labs), and includes a bagel or bialy, smoked-trout lox, corned beef or vegetable hash, and sides like potato salad, coleslaw, and homemade seasonal pickles. There are three 90-minute seatings, and you need to reserve here. The actual opening date looks to be Brunch at Wise Sons' Soft-Opening Resto [Thrillist] Read more posts by Jay Barmann Filed Under: openings, brunch, deals, wise sons jewish deli |  |
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Aaron London Everyone's been pretty curious about the fate of Ubuntu, which made the odd move last fall of taking a five-month hiatus over the late fall and winter. Now comes word that chef Aaron London has decided to leave altogether, though on good terms with owner Sandy Lawrence, who still sounds intent on reopening in some shape or form — though possibly without any of the former kitchen staff, most of whom have taken jobs in San Francisco or Oakland. London has recently been spotted behind the bar at Locanda, as the Scoop notes today, and Grub Street had also spotted him in the gym. Today we caught up with him about his plans, which include a solo project here in the city in the not too distant future. The Beard-nominated London says he's incredibly grateful for his four years at Ubuntu, both under former chef Jeremy Fox and at the helm himself beginning in 2010. "I learned a lot of stuff, grew really well. And after four years and with this break, it seemed like the perfect time to move on without upsetting things too much there." As for what he has planned here, he won't give the exact location but says he's getting close to a deal. "I've got my eyes set on a specific space," he says. "I don't want to jinx myself until it's a done deal. It's going to be a small space for sure, and it'll be really interestingly designed." As for whether he'll be continuing in an all-vegetable vein, as he has for the past four years, he says, "I'd rather not answer that right now. Put it this way, it's not a one-word answer. But it'll definitely be highly influenced by my time at Ubuntu, as well as all the other places I've worked." (Take a look at some of his Ubuntu work here and here.) London seems to be adjusting well to city life, however. "I really like the style down here," he says, having lived in the North Bay for years. "And Locanda's a good place to work. Great food. I'm learning a lot there." He also says that he just spoke with former boss Sandy Lawrence in the last few days who was slightly cagey about her plans for Ubuntu, but it sounds like she will reopen, as planned, this spring. Whether or not it will still be the same, or a similar concept restaurant is unclear. "We always talked about how we could tweak it, and how it might change," London says. "But all she said to me was 'It's going to be really interesting.'" Read more posts by Jay Barmann Filed Under: chef shuffles, aaron london, previews, ubuntu |  |
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The Ozumo bowl. Ramen has officially migrated to the Financial District as Ozumo launches a lunchtime ramen-ya, featuring three different ramen bowl options to choose from. Executive chef Alejandro Morgan considers himself a ramen aficionado, and all the broths are made in-house. The ramen-ya goes from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Ozumo Ramen Menu Ozumo ($13) - Braised pork jowl, poached egg and snow crab in a shoyu stock Kimchi ($13) - Chef’s favorite - Braised pork shoulder and house-made kimchi in tonkatsu stock Spicy Miso ($12) - Shredded chicken, poached egg and cabbage in a rich, spicy miso stock Kaisen ($14) - Snow crab and prawns in a spicy lobster stock Ozumo - 161 Steuart Street - 415.882.1333 Earlier: Ozumo Maître d’ Is a Superhero Read more posts by Jay Barmann Filed Under: lunch, menus, ozumo, what to eat |  |
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The flagship Roam in Cow Hollow. And in further expansion news, Roam Artisan Burgers is moving in on the former Osaka space (1923 Fillmore), which has been closed "for renovations" for a couple of months. As the Scoop learns, the sustainably focused Roam is plotting a second location just as Super Duper has opened four Bay Area locations with plans for more, and Umami Burger has traveled from L.A. to open in Cow Hollow with another location in Oakland coming shortly. If all goes well, the second Roam will open by summer. Yes, high-end burger saturation seems all but guaranteed, but no one's likely to complain. [Scoop] Read more posts by Jay Barmann Filed Under: burgers, closings, empire building, roam artisan burgers |  |