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August 2009 - Posts
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The popular pop-up restaurant Mission St. Foods – which hosts guest chefs who cook dinners Thursdays and Saturdays at the Lung Shan Restaurant (2234 Mission St.) – has started flipping burgers . Everyday except Thursday, they are now offering Read More...
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– After decades of deep-dish dominance, thin crust is encroaching on Chicago. [ MSNBC ] – The Tavern on the Green name might cost $19 million. Plus, talking with the restaurant's new operator. [ NYP , Grub Street ] – French toque Read More...
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Charles Phan Photo: courtesy of Out the Door After much delay, the long-awaited Upper Fillmore location of the Charles Phan family’s casual Vietnamese venue Out the Door is slated to open the last weekend of September. According to Angkana Phan, Read More...
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– American farms are starting to feel the downturn and are expected to see profits fall 38% this year. [ WSJ ] – You don't see missing children on milk cartons anymore. [ NYT ] – With water sales down, enter coconut water. [ WSJ Read More...
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Fifth Floor photo: Kevin Bond New Fifth Floor chef Jennie Lorenzo’s upcoming menu promises to be more affordable, but before then here’s a deal that's hard to refuse: from now through Labor Day, bottles and half-bottles in sommelier Emily Read More...
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Ozumo Photo: courtesy of the restaurant The new Oakland branch of Japanese restaurant Ozumo has launched a weekly “Flight Night” special. Saturdays from 5–10:30 PM, diners at the restaurant and bar can enjoy a four-course, weekly changing Read More...
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Chipotle's iPhone app Photo: courtesy of Chipotle It's easy to bash restaurant chains when they make a blunder, but what about the rare instance when they get things right? This just-released free Chipotle iPhone app seems pretty handy, providing Read More...
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– Beer prices are set to rise. [ WSJ ] – In fact, it looks like grocery prices are set to rise as well. [ NYT ] – Gizmodo goes food-friendly for a week to fun results. [ Gizmodo ] – Kraft and others are very proud to be HFCS-free. Read More...
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Labor Day. The symbolic end of summer, the last three-day weekend before school starts and a perfect opportunity for one more summer trip out of town. And if you like to tipple, where better to head than the 2009 Sonoma Wine Country Weekend . Featuring Read More...
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Starbelly Photo: courtesy of the restaurant A plethora of meat-oriented bar snacks (e.g. mini-corndogs and charcuterie), plus affordable flatbread pizzas, salads and other Californian comfort foods are served continuously from 11 AM till midnight daily Read More...
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At the annual Eat Real festival, happening August 28–30 in Oakland's Jack London Square, street food gets a showcase with everything from locavore updates on tacos and banh mi to ice cream sold from the back of a bike. To accompany the parade Read More...
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Frank Bruni Photo: Soo-Jeong Kang In the foodie circles of New York City, Frank Bruni needs no introduction: up until last week, he was The New York Times ’ restaurant critic. Upon the occasion of the release of his memoir, Born Round: The Secret Read More...
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– New Orleans now has more restaurants open than before Katrina. [ NRN ] – 48 years later, Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking is topping the best-seller list. [ NYT ] – The E.U. considers a bluefin tuna ban. [ FT ] Read More...
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At stylishly rustic Castro watering hole Blackbird , vintage newspapers plaster one wall, old-fashioned Edison-style bulbs hover above the long mahogany bar and you’re equally likely to see straights congregating at the rear pool table, gays canoodling Read More...
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– Food television is as hot as ever. Just ask the Food Network. [ Bloomberg ] – Is the sugar shortage real? [ Atlantic Food ] – Bruni, Bruni everywhere. [ NYer , TONY , Daily Beast , Grub Street , SE , Nightline , Metromix and more ] Read More...
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Chinatown’s answer to the Soup Nazi, House of Nanking , is aiming to open its SoMa offshoot, Fang, next Thursday. It’ll be run by the same owner, but wok up some additional new dishes. No word yet if he’ll chose your food there too (660 Read More...
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Fans of TV cooking get a double shot of appointment viewing on Bravo tonight. First at 9 PM (8 Central) is the premiere of the Las Vegas season of Top Chef , which offers a whole new set of cheftestants to watch get burned by Tom, Padma, Gail and Toby. Read More...
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Lake Chalet Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Lake Chalet, a waterside bar and grill in Oakland’s newly restored, century-old Lake Merritt Boathouse, follows the lead of SF siblings Beach Chalet Brewery and Park Chalet , reviving a vintage setting Read More...
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– Bruni looks back on the guests he took to dinner. [ NYT ] – Related: how a food critic keeps off the pounds. [ Men's Health ] – Hong Kong looks to tea. [ Bloomberg ] – Behind the Fiji Water curtain. [ Mother Jones , via Accidental Read More...
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Sakoon Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Swanky Indian newcomer Sakoon in Mountain View lures in Google-ites and Silicon Valley expats alike with its playful juxtaposition of contemporary and traditional tastes served in a setting decked out with carved Read More...
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Absinthe is participating in this weekend's street-food fest Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Street food is so hot these days, it even has its own fest. La Cocina , a local micro-entrepreneur incubator, is hosting a daylong block party on August Read More...
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Oakland’s revitalized Jack London Square will be home to a massive culinary marketplace three times larger than San Francisco’s Ferry Building come April 2010. More than 15 restaurants are set to open in the waterfront area adjacent to the Read More...
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– Restaurants turn to coupons... [ NRN ] – Along with myriad other options. [ MarketWatch ] – Fruit giant Dole has filed for an IPO. [ Reuters ] – Planning meals for... Mars? [ LAT ] – Move over, anorexia: orthorexia nervosa Read More...
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It's hard to describe the service, as we saw so little of it. Read More...
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On Monday night, Downtown French Masa's hosts the Share Our Strength benefit " A Tasteful Pursuit ," which raises money and awareness to fight hunger. The star-studded event features a five-course dinner co-produced by Masa's executive Read More...
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– Large agra firms are worried about the financial impact of climate-change legislation. [ WSJ ] – Ever wonder where Bernie Madoff liked to eat? [ Eater ] – Sugar prices are caught in a "perfect storm" and may climb another Read More...
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ZAGAT.com has just gotten a whole lot more Facebook -friendly. Facebook Connect allows members of the social site to register for a Zagat account in one simple step. Already registered with us? Merge your Zagat and Facebook accounts, and the reviews you Read More...
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photo: zed.cat They're baaaa-ack. With summer in full swing, Downtown's BIX has reintroduced its annual "Return of the Killer Tomatoes Cart" – a tableside offering of heirloom tomatoes served with fresh basil, olive oil and hand-pulled Read More...
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Goose Island brewmaster Greg Hall Photo: courtesy of the brewery Before he became Goose Island Beer Company ’s award-winning brewmaster, Greg Hall toured breweries around the world to hone his beer knowledge. We chatted with Hall about the ascendance Read More...
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Might we call this the hot-dog days of summer? On August 20, frank fans can sample the best of the wurst at Acme Chophouse ’s “ Haute Dog ” happy-hour event. From 4–8 PM, snap up $5 top dogs from nine artisan frank vendors, including Read More...
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– Labor disputes at the Bel-Air and Disneyland. [ LAT ] – Five Italian wineries are being accused of making fraudulent brunellos. [ NYT ] – Julia Child's book sales are soaring. [ Crain's ] – Even Martha Stewart's tomatoes Read More...
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SFGate is reporting three more restaurants have closed their doors: Downtown Med Cortez , Berkeley European Eccolo and Presidio Eclectic Pres a Vi . Read More...
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A chip off the old bloc, Schmidt's, the Walzwerk deli/bierhaus spin-off in the Mission, is winning over new customers with more than eight kinds of sausages, along with schnitzel, spaetzle and other German-inspired fare; unlike its kitschy sibling, Read More...
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Il Cane Rosso Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Pedigreed chefs Daniel Patterson ( Coi ) and Lauren Kiino (ex Delfina ) are up to new tricks at Il Cane Rosso , a quick-service arrival in the Embarcadero’s Ferry Building where the Southern Italian–inspired, Read More...
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Our unique Zagat nru phone application – which acts like a radar to find the nearest restaurants, nightspots and shops in over 75 cities around the world – has been nominated for an Android Network Award (it's up for Best Location-Based Read More...
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A little more than a year after taking over Clémentine , Chapeau! chef-owner Philippe Gardelle has decided that running two operations was too much for his hands-on style. As of this week, he's closing his original petite Outer Richmond bistro Read More...
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– Forget box wine: how about wine in a plastic bottle? [ LAT ] – Sugar prices are up 40%. [ Bloomberg ] – Dan Barber talks tomato blight. [ NYT ] – How to start your own NYC food truck. [ Grub Street ] – DIY butchering is Read More...
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The owner said the lamb was from New Zealand. Must've walked. Read More...
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Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Now that their remodeled Inner Sunset flagship has reopened, the Ebisu owners are turning their attention to readying the forthcoming Downtown branch at 336 Kearny St. Like their SFO branch , the Downtown outpost, expected Read More...
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– Let the Scots keep their haggis. [ NYT ] – The changing definition of a "food snob." [ NYDN ] – Seeing a slip in sales, Whole Foods pushes for healthier eating. [ WSJ ] – Related: the Whole Foods in London's Kensington Read More...
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By Nina and Tim Zagat Tim and Nina Zagat share their thoughts on the film . So just how good is Meryl Streep as Julia Child in Julie & Julia, the Nora Ephron film that's had the food world salivating for months? Last Thursday we attended the movie's Read More...
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Figs Photo: courtesy of CUESA Was the last fig you ate in the form of a Newton cookie appearing in your grade school lunch box? If there was ever a time to give the ancient treat another shot, it would be now when they're in their ripest glory. To Read More...
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Though we're sure one could never forget, if roaming town looking for something to do now through August 9, a gentle reminder: the massively popular SF Chefs. Food. Wine. event is happening in Union Square. To enjoy the weekend's festivities, Read More...
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Sakoon's bar Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Mountain View's new Indian Sakoon has expanded its happy hour to every day from 5–7 PM. Barflies can enjoy half-priced Bombay bites, $2 beers and $5 suggestively named organic-based cocktails Read More...
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– Detroit is close to becoming a fresh food desert. [ Guernica ] – The price of sugar is soaring, and many Indian farmers are hurting for it. [ NYT ] – Inside the booming Cook's Illustrated empire. [ Boston Globe ] – Is Walmart Read More...
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Metro Café Photo: Kevin Bond The owner of the Western Addition's Metro Kathmandu has returned it to its original name, Metro Café , and its more mainstream roots, jettisoning the Nepalese menu (with the exception of the signature momos) Read More...
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Bistro Aix bid adieu last month, but only temporarily. Owner Jonathan Beard plans to completely renovate his long-running bistro and reopen by the end of December or early January 2010. When it returns, the restaurant will feature a new oak fireplace Read More...
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Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia Photo: copyright Columbia Pictures The stars were out last week for New York City's red-carpet premiere of Julie & Julia , opening this Friday, August 7. Zagat Buzz was also there , and we scored some tasty quips Read More...
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– The House voted to give the FDA more authority to prevent food-borne illnesses. [ WSJ , WP ] – Trying to fix the Australian wine industry. [ WSJ ] – So organic food isn't more nutritious than normal food. And? [ The Atlantic ] Read More...
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