Poggio features special dinner deals to celebrate Easter and the coming of spring

Next week, Chef Peter McNee of Poggio Trattoria is preparing Spiedo Misto della Pasqua, or a variety of spit-roasted meats including rabbit, goat, young pig and assorted game birds for $19. Poggio, which means "hill" in Italian, is appropriately named since it has a hillside garden overlooking the San Francisco skyline where they grow organic herbs and vegetables such as radicchio, kale, watercress and peppercress. They also make their own pastas, burrata, mozzarella and house-cured salami. Dine in casual elegance at this classic Italian trattoria located in the Casa Madrona Hotel and Spa in Sausalito. Spiedo Misto della Pasqua will be served April 7-11. 415.332.7771

Where to have a kid-friendly Easter

Looking for someplace both you and the kids will enjoy for Easter? Here are a handful of places that have family friendly offerings. Whether you have a hankering for something savory or sweet, you will undoubtedly have a hopping good time!

18th Annual Union Street Spring Celebration and Easter Parade, Marina. Sunday, April 12th, 10am-5pm. Parade starts at 10am. Numerous Union Street restaurants will be serving food in an outdoor bistro setting. There will be a petting zoo, pony rides, jumpers, a climbing wall, kids' rides and games and costumed characters.

Park Chalet, Sunset. Sunday, April 12th, 10am-3pm. Brunch buffet, $35 for adults and $18.95 for children. Bottomless champagne for adults and the Easter bunny with an egg hunt for the kids at 11:45am. A live, kid-friendly band will perform from 11am-1pm.

Foreign Cinema, Mission. Sunday, April 12th, 11am-3pm. They will have a special three course meal, $40 for adults and $15 for children.

Easter Bunny Brunch at McCormick and Kuleto's, Ghiradelli Square. Saturday, April 11th, 10-11:30am. Take your own pictures with the Easter bunny. Adults: $30, children 6-12: $20, children under 6: $5. Advance reservations are required.

Old Fashioned Spring Egg Hunt at Dunsmuir House, Oakland. Saturday, April 11th, 12-3pm. Kids can greet the Easter bunny, go on age-appropriate egg hunts, play games, see tap dancing bunnies and watch puppet shows. Go on a tour of the mansion and bring your own picnic lunch to enjoy on the estate. Adults: $5, children 5 and up: $2, children under 5 are free. Family price: $12. Tour and games included.

Brunch with the Easter Bunnies at the Jelly Belly Factory, Fairfield. Saturday, April 11th, 10:30am. Meet Mr. Jelly Belly, Wendy and Wendell Bunny, and Kelly the Clown. Adults and children 3 and up: $19.99, children under 3 are free.

Charles Chocolates Factory and Store, Emeryville. Saturday, April 11th, 1-4pm. Paint your own chocolate Easter bunny. They will be giving samples away of their Easter chocolates. Bunny $9.75 plus $3 to paint with colored cocoa butters.



Go to Opentable.com for more restaurants, About.com for a list of Easter events , and Kiddie Koncierge for Easter egg hunts all around the Bay Area.

New manager infuses Hawaiian vibe into Sundance Kitchen

Earlier this month, Pat Da Silva-Fong took over as manager of the Sundance Kitchen located next door to the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas on Post at Fillmore in Japantown. The former owner of Honu's Island Grinds has introduced a new Hawaiian inspired menu featuring assorted appetizers, poke, salads, main dishes and pizzas. Her executive chef Sal Chen, who worked at Butterfly and Honu's prior to Sundance Kitchen, whips up items like Kobe beef sliders and an Ultimate Hawaiian pizza topped with kalua pork and pineapple. Some of Honu's classics like chicken adobo, kalbi short ribs and kalua pig cheese fries can also be found on the revamped menu. In three weeks, they will start serving lunch from 11:30am to 2:00pm. Da Silva-Fong expanded their bar by adding draft beers on tap, including several specialty Hawaiian beers. She has brought island beats to Sundance Kitchen as well. Every Friday and Saturday night, from 9:00pm until midnight, contemporary bands perform live on the upstairs dining room stage.

Dinner is served from 5:00-10:00pm Wednesday through Saturday, and on Sundays from 5:00- 9:00pm. Happy hour begins at 4:00pm. Sundance Kitchen is available for private events on Mondays and Tuesdays. For reservations, call 415.346.3243 after 5:00pm.

For more info: Sundance Cinemas

Okay, so The Candy Store isn't a restaurant, but my kids love their inventory of sweet treats so much they would make a meal of it any day. Owners Diane and Brian Campbell showcase a wide-range of products in their bright, clean, well-stocked Russian Hill boutique. For the past two years, they have been bringing smiles to the faces of big and little kids alike and it's nice to see their success on the rise. Here is the latest news straight from Diane and Brian.

"It's a really exciting time for the store! In just the past week, Diane was interviewed on "Dining Around With Gene Burns" on KGO radio (her 4th appearance) and was also quoted in an article about candy on the front page of the New York Times.

Also, Macy's Union Square is about to kick off their 63rd Annual Flower Show, where The Candy Store has been selected as their spotlight boutique (they choose one small business per year). The boutique will be located in the middle of the main floor of Macy's, where they are building out a scaled-down version of our Russian Hill store. In addition, one of their enormous display windows on Stockton Street will be devoted entirely to The Candy Store. It's been a real pleasure working with Macy's Visual Merchandising team - they are really going all out for us, replicating our store's wall of jars and even creating custom wallpaper from our logo. We hope you'll be able to come visit us - we'll be there from April 3rd through the 19th. We'll be selling some great Easter candy (Macy's is offering a "build-a-basket" service) as well as many of our everyday store favorites.

Our Vallejo Street location will, of course, continue to be open its regular hours. Spring is such a fantastic time for candy, and we hope you'll take full advantage of it. We just got in a new shipment of chocolates and other confections from Italy, as well as elegant boxes of Hazelnut Feuilletines made by local pastry chefs (Diane's new fave). Another of our favorites is a selection of amazing truffles made especially for The Candy Store by Oakland's Michael Mischer. And lastly, you won't want to miss the abundance of Easter specialties we have in stock right now - everything from chocolate floppy-eared bunnies to candy-filled acrylic ducks to lovely boxes of Easter marzipan.

We can't thank you enough for your continued support of our store, and we hope to see you soon."

The Candy Store: 1507 Vallejo Street, SF 415.921.8000

Bushi-tei's sibling bistro opens April 1st

Bushi-Tei Bistro, the long-awaited offshoot of the upscale French California fusion restaurant Bushi-tei, is slated for a soft opening on Wednesday, April 1st. Owner Tak Matsuba says that Bushi-tei's executive chef, Seiji "Waka" Wakabayashi, will run both kitchens. Under Wakabayashi's culinary leadership, Bushi-tei earned a coveted star from the Michelin Guide as well as three stars from San Francisco Chronicle's Michael Bauer. He has worked with Wolfgang Puck at Spago and was the executive chef at Ondine in Sausalito. This more casual spinoff will offer California fusion food with greater Asian influences such as "tonkatsu" or Japanese style pork cutlets, and Thai curry style crab. The average tab per person will be between $25 and $30.

Roughly the same size as its sibling, the bistro can seat up to 130 people and has a private banquet room for 40. Given its spaciousness, affordable prices and proximity to the Sundance Kabuki theaters, it is bound to be a popular spot for many movie-goers. Starting this Wednesday, Bushi-tei Bistro will be open for lunch and dinner service from 11:30am-9:30pm everyday except Tuesdays. Wine and beer. Location: 1581 Webster Street at Post in Japantown.

Underdog's a winner for organic and vegetarian hotdogs

Who would have imagined that you could find an organic hotdog joint in the Inner Sunset? Underdog is a tiny place that offers organic meats and vegetarian sausages, as well as organic salads, desserts, sodas and juices. This busy Irving Street spot has a line out the door on weekends and turns out pretty tasty dogs on toasted buns such as fire-roasted red pepper chicken and turkey, vegetarian bratwurst, and vegan kielbasa. You can pile on the condiments yourself - organic sauerkraut, pickled relish and onions. Their potato salad and tater tots are popular, although the taters are not as crispy as I like them.

There are just two small tables inside, and an outdoor bench with a handful of TV trays for makeshift alfresco eating. It has such a comfortable, casual vibe that people even sit on the sidewalk and devour their meal. And, there's a bucket of chalk for your little crumb-grinder and a bowl of water for your pooch. The next time you have a hankering for a hotdog, try one here.

In this lively, even noisy FiDi eatery, Chef Staffan Terje and his team turn out delicious Northern Italian dishes that make the din seem like a communal celebration of how good the food is. Perbacco shines with cooking that spotlights the Piemonte region and elements from Liguria and Provence. The slow roasted veal appetizer with lemon and albacore tuna sauce is so tender and tasty, they should seriously make giant sandwiches out of that stuff. While I thought about having the Salumi Misti, house cured meats and salami - after all, it is #18 on 7x7's list of places to try before you die - I opted for the squid which was also impressively tender and nicely accented with lemon and red chili flakes. The folks here make their own pasta daily, and you can taste the freshness in dishes such as the roasted rabbit agnolotti. The Subrich, or Piemontese meatballs, were perfectly prepared, not too dense or mushy, with a rich and savory spiced red wine jus offset by slightly sweet apples and potato puree. Don't forget dessert. They have a lot of chocolatey and nutty decadence on the menu, but they also have interesting items like citrus and vanilla infused rice pudding with a caramel crust, a cross between rice pudding and creme brulee. At noon, the suit set converges upon this place, so be sure to have reservations.

To celebrate their newly rennovated interior, Three Degrees at the Lodge of Tiburon is having a soft opening tomorrow with dinner service from 5-11pm. On Saturday, they are doing away with brunch and introducing their breakfast buffet menu, all you can eat for $10.95. On Sunday, they are launching their all-day Sunday happy hour. Yes, that's all-day, every Sunday. Drafts are $3, well drinks and martinis are $6. They also have a rotating wine-by-the-glass for $6. About 20 items on their menu will be half off, including classic style clam chowder in a bread bowl for $4, fish tacos for $6, Tavern burgers for $6.50, and braised pork nachos for $6.

What's better than affordable food and libations? Enjoying them on a patio with a firepit or while lounging on the new couch, big chairs and ottomans next to the double-sided fireplace inside. Sounds like this is the place for lunch on Sunday.

Breakfast 7-9am, Monday through Friday and 7-10am on weekends. Lunch seven days a week 11am-2pm. Happy hour 4-7pm, Monday through Saturday; all-day happy hour 11am-10pm, Sundays. Their new menu is not posted on their web site yet so call for more info: 415.435.5996.

Places to catch some rays during Spring Break

Keep your fingers and toes crossed that the fog stays away so that everyone can enjoy the school break and soak in some sunshine. Here are a handful of alfresco dining ideas. Enjoy, and pack a sweater just in case.

Belden Place restaurants for sidewalk dining in the FiDi, excluding Voda which is not open for lunch: B44, Brindisi, Cafe Bastille, Cafe Tiramisu, Plouf, Sam's Grill, Taverna

Chez Papa Resto - the flavors of Provence with an outdoor patio at Mint Plaza

Chow on Church - comfort food in the Castro with a back patio

La Mar - elegant cebicheria with a patio that boasts views of the Bay and Treasure Island

La Terrasse - the Presidio's French bistro with a heated terrace patio

Pier 23 - casual seafood with an eclectic mix of people on the waterfront deck

Rose Pistola - tasty Italian eats in North Beach with sidewalk tables

Sam's - casual seafood with great people watching on a deck in Tiburon

Sociale - charming Italian eatery with a heated garden patio

Steelhead Brewery - family-friendly environs with California eats and outdoor seating in Burlingame

Taylor's Refresher - good quality diner food with outdoor seating along the Embarcadero

The Ramp - American fare with a patio next to a boatyard by the Bay

Waterbar - upscale seafood spot along the Embarcadero with a terrace that has its own private bar and a great view of the Bay Bridge

Zazie - French bistro with a heated garden patio in Cole Valley

Let me know where your favorite outdoor lunch spots are and why. An updated list will come out in time for summer sun-worshippers. Looking forward to your comments!

Happy eating and don't forget your sunscreen,
Dina

In December of last year, Anjan and Emily Mitra opened a second branch of their South Indian eatery, DOSA on Fillmore. They brought their executive chef, Senthil Kumar, from Valencia Street to run the kitchen in this bright, spacious building that has been beautifully transformed from its former Goodwill digs.

My father has enjoyed traveling to India, so I invited him to sample DOSA's dishes. Once we ordered, our server gave us a plate of papardam, large black pepper crisps made with lentil butter. We nibbled while listening to an interesting mix of American pop and traditional Indian music in the background. We shared Blackened Sardines ($9.50), a pair of deliciously crispy fried sardines rubbed with green chiles, coriander, cumin, pepper, chopped greens and onions accompanied with lime and a cucumber, tomato and red onion salad. The Chennai Chicken ($9.50) came out next, organic chicken marinated in organic yogurt with coriander and cumin, then fried. It packs a perfect amount of heat from all the spices. It came with a slaw of cabbage, carrot, beet, red onion and spinach lightly dressed with a sweet cilantro vinaigrette. There are a variety of Dosa, or savory rice and lentil crepes, and Uttapam, a slightly thicker pancake version of Dosa, to choose from. Both come with three condiments - a fresh tomato chutney, coconut chutney, and sambar, a warm lentil dipping soup made of assorted vegetables and spices. My father had the Chile and Cilantro Uttapam ($10) with green chiles, onion and cilantro which was tasty but much milder than I expected. I ordered the Spring Dosa ($11), crunchy veggie rolls filled with fresh cabbage, carrots, red onion, peas and typically, cashews, but I opted to go without. They delivered a Spring Uttapam by mistake, but quickly replaced it with a Dosa, and plated it with an extra piece to make up for their error. We tried Coconut Basmati Rice ($3) cooked in a myriad of flavors including coconut milk, yellow lentils, mustard seeds, red chiles, and South Indian drumstick leaves which are mostly strained out before serving. It was interesting, didn't love it, didn't hate it.

Today, DOSA on Fillmore was a sunny, quiet setting for a liesurely lunch, but I hear it packs a weekend crowd who enjoy the dinner and lively bar scene. Speaking of the bar, we each enjoyed a signature cocktail. The Bengali Gimlet ($10) was a refreshing blend of Tanqueray Rangpur Gin, "curried" nectar, Kaffir lime leaf and juice, served up with a lime wedge. I tried the Mood Indigo ($10) with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, jackfruit marmalade, Angostura bitters, chilled and topped with sparkling wine which was fruity with a nice bite from the bitters.

All in all, it was a pleasant dining experience. Despite being a little heavy on the fried treats and a tad steep for everday lunching - our total bill came to more than $70 - this is a fun place to go occasionally with family or friends when you are not in a big hurry. Good variety for vegetarians and wheat and gluten-free eaters. Lunch is served daily from 11:30am-3:00pm.

The Presidio: Old Army Post Boasts Culinary Gem

Tucked inside the historic Presidio is Pres a Vi, an impressively spacious wine bar that offers an eclectic menu of small and big plates. Loosely translated in Catalan, "pres a vi" means "captivated by wine." And captivated they are, with over 300 wines and 16 flights on the menu. Chef Kelly Degala, a native of Hawaii, creates globally inspired food that pairs well with their vino. His Yellow Tail Peruvian 'Teradito' ($15) is a delectably refreshing combination of sushi grade yellow tail, red jalapeno, anju pepper aioli, blood orange oil and micro cilantro. Every time I go, I hoard the dish to myself. I recently discovered that they took the teradito off the lunch menu so you can only get it at dinner - oh the horror! My husband and I enjoy the Duck Buns ($13) - pillowy soft steamed buns filled with savory goodness. Hubby also digs the Rock Shrimp-Avocado 'Lumpia'($12), those crispy little Filipino summer rolls with ponzu and wasabi-orange cream. There is the 8 oz. Wagyu Beef Cheeseburger ($15) made with apple-wood smoked bacon, tomato aioli, and mezzo secco cheese on a brioche roll. While I found it a tad dry, it was tasty nonetheless, and worth another try down the road. Servers there are friendly, knowledgeable, and conscientious about pacing when you order multiple dishes. That's a good thing since my main complaint about this place is that their tables are too small. Located on the Letterman Digital Arts Center campus, this elegant but casual eatery has a heated patio and private dining options. They are open for lunch, dinner and brunch, and are closed on Mondays. It is definitely worth a trip to the scenic Presidio! I want to check out its sister spot, Va de Vi, in Walnut Creek - maybe I'll go the next time I book a hair appt. with Dawn at DiPietro Todd...On the grubalicious meter, this place gets two and a half lip smacks.

Midi is marvelous!

Feeling under the weather, I knew, unfortunately, that having a big dinner party tonight to celebrate my husband's birthday was out of the question, so my three year old daughter and I offered to take him to lunch at Midi instead. What a great idea that was! Midi is a modern yet inviting, two-level California brasserie that opened yesterday in the busy "mid district" areas of the Financial District and Union Square shopping district. This newly refurbished spot in the Galleria Park Hotel, formerly known as Perry's, offers satisfying food in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Executive Chef Michelle Mah was named one of San Francisco Chronicle's Rising Star Chefs in 2006 during her stint as Executive Chef at Ponzu. She uses many local, sustainable and organic products.

We were immediately greeted at the bar and escorted upstairs to the "best table" in the house. Michael, our server, was charming and attentive. From the lunch menu, he highly recommended the papardelle. So for my daughter, I ordered the roasted chicken breast with fines herbes papardelle, mixed mushrooms, baby spinach, pea tendrils and sorrel cream sauce ($16). Of course, mommy had to take a taste and after I did, I didn't want to give it back. The skin was crispy and flavorful while the meat was tender and juicy. Michael was right, the pasta was a great complement, and the sauce was creamy but not overwhelming. They have two types of sandwiches, hot-pressed with fries and open-faced tartines with mesclun salad. My husband and I opted for the tartines. He had the braised sliced lamb with mixed chicory, pinenut-currant chutney and fontina atop Acme bread ($14). He enjoyed the perfectly cooked lamb and chicory and wished there was a bit more chutney for spreading. I had the ham and gruyere with oven-dried tomato and a poached egg ($13) which was good but a tad bland.

When given the choice between savory or sweet, I always pick savory. However, the lemon curd parfait may be the new exception. It was creamy and refreshing with strawberries, a thin meringue-like "crust" and a candied lemon peel wheel. The crustless goat cheese cheesecake with fresh raspberries and raspberry granite was surprisingly light and smooth. All desserts are $7 and mini portions are $4.

Midi is a great place for business lunches, and I will be back soon, either after my next retail therapy spree with my girlfriends or to meet my husband after work for their fun cocktails and bar bites! This food find gets three lip smacks on the grubalicious meter!