The Eater (wannabe) Blog

FiDi Radar
Credo – Chef Mario Maggi’s Milanese-inspired menu goes beyond run of the mill pizza and pasta. TastingTable recently cited the 14-oz. whopper of a bone-in pork chop as particularly noteworthy, as is Maggi’s risotto which “needs no fleshly assistance (a reference to osso bucco). His is suffused with the musky edge of saffron and fortified with the unconventional addition of asparagus. If you've always equated risotto with rice gruel, Maggi will explode your preconceptions.” For those looking for the lighter side, rest assured that Maggi loves you, too, offering items such as: Paper thin ahi tuna carpaccio encrusted in aromatic herbs and topped with shaved cucumber; lightly dressed grilled salmon salad with crisp green beans, tomato, Kalamata olives and hard-boiled egg; and spinach salad with pancetta, goat cheese, pine nuts and tomatoes with either shrimp or chicken as add ons. Service, albeit a tad forgetful – as in, the spinach salad with shrimp arrived at the table sans shrimp during a recent lunch visit – is not lackluster enough to warrant skimping on the tip. Speaking of which, take a look at this story about a woman who was banned for bad tipping. [TT]


The Dish
1)Oakland: GrubStreet has a copy of the menu at SR24 which opened in Oakland yesterday. If you're feeling a little forelorn after rocker Tyler Grady got booted off of American Idol this week, then perhaps a bowl of chowder, buttermilk fried chicken with mashers and gravy, and Nana's chocolate cake might provide some comfort. [GS]

2)Palo Alto: It’s the Baume- Michelin-starred chef Bruno Chemel has opened Baume, named after the French chemist Antoine Baume, bringing molecular gastronomy and modern French fare to Palo Alto. The 41-year old Frenchie whose most recent stint was as exec chef at Chez TJ now serves lunch and dinner in a prix fixe format in his intimate 22-seat resto. [EaterWire]




The Downside of Success
According to the NYT, there's a bit of a brouhaha over Ike’s and Bi-Rite Creamery. Residents in the Castro and Dolores Park, respectively, are tired of the congestion and noise caused by patrons clamoring for their Fat Basturds with extra dirty sauce and salted caramel cones, compelling both establishments to respond. Ike’s now closes at 7:00 p.m. and Bi-Rite is expanding and adding seating. Ike's and Bi-Rite have Yelpers largely to thank for the boom in business, and in this economy, bursting at the seams is a pretty nice problem to have. But it's probably not the last they'll hear from the neighbors about that. [NYT]


Eaterwire - A16 Salutes Women, Nombe Demystifies Sake and Incanto Goes Head to Tail

MARINA - A16 will celebrate International Women's Day, or Festa Della Donna on Monday, March 8. Exec chef Liza Shaw and pastry chef Lori Rich will prepare specials in addition to their regular menu that wine director Shelley Lindgren will pair with wines produced by female winemakers. Sunny yellow mimosa flowers will be plentiful to commemorate the occasion. Profits will go to La Cocina and the Red Cross for Haiti. [EaterWire]

MISSION – Nombe, which recently earned 2 1/2 stars from Michael Bauer, has announced that its inaugural monthly Sake Tasting and Food Pairing Event will take place on Thursday, March 18. It will explore the world of Namazake, "one of the most straight-forward, clean and refreshing types of sake available, and therefore a good place to begin one's sake journey," says chef and co-owner Nicolaus Balla. He will prepare four dishes to be paired with sake hand-picked by Nombe co-owner and sake sommelier, Gil Payne. Payne just might be able to demystify sake for the average Joe, one sip at a time. Kanpai! [EaterWire]

NOE VALLEY—Incanto's 7th Annual Head to Tail dinners are confirmed to take place on Monday, March 22 and Wednesday, March 24. Lamb mincemeat pie with lavender-hay ice cream, anyone? The rest of the preliminary menu is up now. [EaterWire]


Week in Reviews
The Chron gives two stars to Mythos in San Carlos, saying that its Greek-Cali menu offers "blessedly straighforward" food in cozy environs covered in "dusky lemon walls," with "dark wood accents and black marble bar." Good to know for all those Silicon Valley-ites who are always looking for new places to send visiting clients north of Palo Alto. [SFChronicle]

The Examiner recently dined at the two-week-old Ristobar (Emporio Rulli reborn) in the Marina and had good things to say about the food and service. [Examiner] (Note to Editor: Just to be clear, I would never engage in this type of self-promotion if given the job).


The Junior Set
SusieCakes bakery is treating young athletes to complimentary treats starting Monday, April 5th through the end of the month. Every child under 12 who shows up clad in their school or community team uniform will receive a free, personalized "Frosting-Filled" cupcake in favorite flavors such as peanut butter and chocolate mint. Sounds like a potentially enticing post-game destination if you're in or around Greenbrae. [EaterWire]

Healthy, easy, peanut-free lunches for your preschooler

From time to time, I will write about my passion for cooking, using fresh, healthy, seasonal ingredients. Some of you have expressed an interest in seeing recipes on my blog, and your wish is my command! I hope you will find some of these food-related posts inspirational in your day to day cooking.

As the mother of two school-age kids, I am constantly trying to make lunch a meal that the children enjoy and that I can feel good about giving them. By spending just a few more minutes each week, planning, grocery shopping and preparing meals in advance, kids can have a healthy meal everyday. All of my meals are peanut-free since one of us has a life-threatening allergy to all peanut products. We make it a rule to not stock items in the house that have peanuts outright or may be cross-contaminated. My older son attends a peanut free elementary school so these menus which were originally created for my three-year old daughter have come in handy on days when my son opts to bring a lunch rather than eat cafeteria food.

Here are some of my kids' favorites which can be easily mixed and matched, and swapped for seasonal ingredients. I always pack either milk or 100% fruit juice slightly diluted with water. They love apple, white grape, cranberry and pomegranate sweetened with a little stevia, acai, and strawberry-banana. Be sure to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold in appropriately insulated containers.

In future posts, I will share my recipes for several of the items listed below. I often cook with gluten-free products so you will see these indicated accordingly.

1. -soy nut butter sandwich, (jam or thin banana slices optional)
-fresh fruit cup using your child's favorites e.g., grapes, oranges,nectarines,
strawberries, peaches, blueberries
-string cheese

2. -ham and spinach pinwheel with onion and chive cream cheese spread, cut into thirds
-small container of barley soup
-a couple of strawberries with chocolate chips

3. -broiled salmon teriyaki atop brown rice
-steamed broccoli florettes
-dried fruit such as craisins, pineapple, prunes

4. -grilled cheese sandwich, (thin slice turkey or ham optional)
-baked sweet potato chips
-apple slices, (caramel sauce optional)

5. -turkey and Swiss slices with crackers
-boiled egg
-applesauce

6. -Chinese chicken pasta salad
-trail mix using peanut-free items such as almonds or walnuts, cereal (Rice Chex
and Cheerios work well),raisins, dried mango, banana chips,chocolate covered
sunflower seeds, flax seeds

7. -fried rice loaded with your kid's favorite vegetables
-cherries
-yogurt

8. -homemade macaroni and cheese with cauliflower florettes
-zucchini and blueberry bread

9. -baked pasta with turkey meatballs
-small container of black olives and Gherkin pickles
-blueberries

10.-bagel with your child's favorite cream cheese flavor
-apricot

11.-sliced ham and pineapple lightly tossed with your favorite BBQ sauce and broiled for 5 minutes, atop rice - carrot and jicama sticks, (Ranch dressing or hummus
optional

12.-sliced, roasted chicken (my kids love rosemary-garlic-lemon) with orzo pasta or
better yet, quinoa (add vegetables such as corn, diced red bell pepper)
-cottage cheese with fresh fruit

13.-homemade chicken noodle soup with crackers
-banana
-popcorn

14.-veggie sushi rolls - try cucumber, takuwan, avocado
-small slice carrot-raisin bread
-nectarine

Darla's - kids eat free on Tuesdays

Darla's is a traditional American eatery in the Inner Sunset that offers burgers - 'possibly one of the best in SF' - sandwiches, salads, soups, and breakfast items like omelettes, pancakes and breakfast burritos served all day. For dinner, they have comforting plates of prime rib, pork chops, chicken fried steak and fish and chips which all come with salad, fresh vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes and are priced between $10 and $16. They make homemade milkshakes and rootbeer floats, too.

Every Tuesday past 5:00 p.m., Darla's serves up to two kids under the age of 12 free off the kids' menu with the purchase of an adult entree. If your child brings in a colored picture from their web site, he or she gets a free kids' meal any day of the week with the purchase of one adult entree. Youngsters can enjoy classic kiddie fare such as corn dogs with french fries, grilled cheese sandwiches, and mini burgers. They can have milk, apple juice or lemonade to wash it all down.

There's a patio in the back which is nice when it's good weather. And, how about that little signature chocolate chip brownie that comes with your bill? How cute.

For more info: Darla's, open 7 days a week. 822 Irving Street at 9th Avenue. 415.753.3275.

Foreign Cinema: A year-round favorite in the Mission

For years, my husband and I have loved the unique Cal-Med style food, professional service and "industrial chic" environs at Foreign Cinema. We've enjoyed romantic champagne brunches - they carry one of my favorite bubbles, Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé - many a dinner with friends, and a few family meals with the kids. After 10 years in business, this place still impresses.

It was around 1:00 p.m. when we arrived last weekend and both the dining room and courtyard were packed. Good thing we had reservations. The hostess, coffee server and waiter were all friendly and performed their jobs seamlessly. The food was great, as always. I like that they change their menu everyday, it keeps each visit interesting and fun. Our three-year-old daughter seemed to enjoy our brunch as much as we did. And, she had a good time drawing with crayons on the white butcher paper they conscientiously placed over our white tablecloth.

During the day, the patio is a bright, cheery space and after sunset, a flicker and glow emanate from nightly films they project onto the brick wall. The dining room has a warm yet urban feel and casual elegance that makes dining here feel like a treat. Whether you sit inside or out, it is a hip place to hang out and break bread with friends any time.

This Mission District destination is also a cool setting for private parties. There are several options, including a spacious art gallery adjacent to the patio, a mezzanine and a small Director’s Table. Lazlo bar located in front of the restaurant is also available for buyouts. My friends and I have often boogied to the grooves of the DJ and enjoyed late night drinks there.

Here is the line up of food we ordered:

Baked eggs in chicken hash ($15) - Oooh, my kind of dish! Two eggs sat atop chicken hash, kale, tomatoes, onions, and chickpeas in a spicy red sauce. I loved all the ingredients and especially liked that it packed some heat. The grilled papad, or thin Indian flatbread, was nice although a hunk of French bread would have soaked up that sauce better.

Madras curry roast chicken ($16) - Another delightfully spicy dish. There was a perfectly roasted half chicken with crispy skin and juicy, tender meat. It was accompanied by basmati rice with golden raisins, red onion raita and broccoli rabe. Mmmmmmm.

Fruit "pop tarts" ($6.75) - There was a choice of apple and strawberry that day and we opted for apple. It looked kind of like a pop tart dusted with confectioner's sugar but tasted much better. Unlike the sickeningly sweet kiddie version, this was like a warm apple turnover.

Kids' portion of French toast with a side of slow-cooked brown sugar smoked bacon - Our daughter had two pieces of baguette French toast with maple syrup and an order of delectable, chewy, slightly sweet bacon. Mommy had no self control and ate half of the bacon, oops! The kids' menu ($10) consists of a three course meal starting with fresh fruit and ending with two scoops of homemade ice cream with whipped cream. Besides French toast, entree choices included scrambled eggs and a grilled cheese sandwich.

I also give them thumbs up for serving delicious decaf coffee from Caffé Roma in North Beach.

Foreign Cinema is always worth the trip to the Mission District.

For more info: Foreign Cinema. 2534 Mission Street, between 21st and 22nd Streets. 415.648.7600.

Crazy for Koo

No doubt about it, Koo excels at serving wonderfully fresh sushi and sashimi. Chef/owner Kiyoshi Hayakawa (Sushi Ran, Ace Wasabi’s, Tokyo GoGo) turns out impressive quality fish with daily specials from his simple, clean Irving Street sushi bar and restaurant. There are also fusion dishes like shrimp and scallop dumplings with a drizzle of chili oil and mango puree, grilled artichokes, and duck breast salad with a mustard-ginger-pineapple sauce. The latter is our favorite, but overall, the sushi bar items are really their forte. Servers are always courteous and efficient. Koo has a nice selection of sake and my husband likes the fact that they serve Asahi Black which he can't find at many restaurants in town.

One unique and fun dish to eat is appropriately named A Spoonful of Happiness. You actually receive two delicious spoonfuls: one with uni (sea urchin), quail egg, tobiko and ponzu sauce; the other with ankimo (monkfish liver) wrapped with whitefish, ponzu and truffle oil. A shot of dry sake accompanies them. The first bite is smooth and creamy and the second bursts with flavor. Wow, my tastebuds do cartwheels.

A few of our favorite types of sushi here are the wild aji (mackerel) garnished with green onions, the otoro or indulgently fatty blue fin tuna, wild King salmon, and nasu or Japanese eggplant. Rather than rattle off a long list, let's just say that my husband and I haven't met a fish here that we didn't like.

We recently discovered that they don’t like to do substitutions which created a minor hiccup when we took our kids there for dinner last week. My son wanted to have white rice instead of mashed potatoes (they call it potato salad) with his chicken teriyaki, but they said they couldn’t do a swap. So, we ordered a bowl of rice on the side. And, their chicken comes with a sweet chutney rather than classic teriyaki sauce which my son wasn't too keen about. He and my daughter were both happier with the tempura.

Again, if you focus on goodies from the sushi bar, you are bound to go home happy. This is a nice place to go with a group of friends for dinner. Just note that parking can be difficult in the neighborhood, especially on weekend nights, and it can be tough to get a table if you don’t plan ahead. Be sure to make reservations and give yourself extra time to park.

Koo. 408 Irving Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues), San Francisco, CA 94122. 451.731.7077. Closed Mondays.

Social networking sites => burgeoning street food phenomenon

Thanks largely to Web 2.0 technology, street food is the hot new trend here. Savvy entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the benefits of pavement fare over the traditional restaurant model, including ever-important factors such as lower overhead and labor costs. They are stocking carts, trucks and even bicycles and creating buzz for free by using tools like Twitter and Facebook. And, these social networking sites enable mobile businesses to instantly shed light on their whereabouts for their loyal following everyday. What's so exciting about this breed of purveyors is that they are not just serving tacos - and don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with tacos - but unique and diverse food can be found, from frog legs and artisan salumi to pho and curry. Here are some street beat eats you can follow on Twitter around the Bay Area.

Amuse Bouche SF - muffins and chai tea

Bike Basket Pies - mini rustic pies

Boccalone Salumi Cycle - panini sandwiches filled with artisan salumi

Cookie Wag SF - homemade cookies and ice cream sandwiches

Creme Brulee Cart - various flavors of creme brûlée

Gobba Gobba Hey - various flavors of round cakes with cream filling

Left Coast Smoke - BBQ

Magic Curry Cart - chicken and tofu curries

Mobile Pho Truck - Vietnamese noodle soup

Roli Roti - rotisserie meats

Sexy Soup Cart - organic soups

SF Moo Moo Cakes - organic ice cream sandwiches, popsicles, ice cream

Spencer on the Go - upscale French (Chez Spencer)

Thai Shaved Ice - shaved ice

Urban Nectar - juices

Tuesday tidbits: Bar Crudo reopens, Absinthe features Top Chef soup, adieu to Jeanty at Jack's

Since yesterday was a holiday, I didn't post my usual "Monday morsels" article, but in case you were missing your weekly scoop, here are your Tuesday Tidbits...

Bar Crudo has reopened in its new Divisadero digs for dinner. Look for lunch service in the near future. They tell me they will start taking reservations on Monday. 655 Divisadero between Hayes and Grove. 415.409.0679.

Chef Jamie Lauren sent a Tweet that the chilled corn soup with mint and chili oil you saw on "Top Chef" is now on the menu at Absinthe! 398 Hayes at Gough. 415.551.1590.

Sadly, we have to bid adieu to Jeanty at Jack's. Philippe Jeanty closed the doors of his unique Downtown locale on Friday, after a seven year stint. The good news is that you can still get his amazing tomato soup in puff pastry, coq au vin and cassoulet at Bistro Jeanty in Napa. And, if you go to the Bistro Jeanty web site, you can download the tomato soup recipe and make it at home!

Chapeau! - once is enough

I had high expectations about this place since so many people have raved about it, but unfortunately, our dinner experience was less than impressive. I know Michael Bauer eats at a restaurant three times before he writes a review, and my hat goes off to him since in instances like this, I have absolutely no desire to return a second or third time. They pack so many people into such tight quarters, I don't understand how it can be enjoyable.

My husband dropped me off while he looked for parking, and despite being seated promptly between a couple of two-tops within a short handshake distance from me, all of the waitstaff proceeded to ignore me. There I sat, for nearly 10 minutes, without anyone acknowledging my presence. No one offered me a glass of water or a menu while I waited. It wasn't until my husband walked in and joined me that I suddenly became visible.

Then, when we did order, the server had to shout in order for my husband to hear him across our tiny table. The din was so loud that the server bellowed deafeningly over my right shoulder. Later, I asked the server to switch to my other side and I plugged my good ear while he talked. I kid you not. And, as another server cleared a dirty plate from a neighboring table and turned around, he clipped my husband in the head!

The food was good, but was lost amidst the hot, noisy, claustrophobic bustle.

I know they recently took over Clementine, one of our favorite spots on Clement Street, but I've been wary to return, for fear that they have doubled the seating to replicate the Chapeau! experience.

Juban - fun, do it yourself grilling in Japantown

This yakiniku, or "grilled meat" joint is a good place to take people for an interactive eating experience. Bigger kids especially love being able to cook their own food. There are 16 grills at the tables and 8 more built into the circular bar at the center of the large dining room. That's a lot of cooking going on at the same time, but it never gets too smoky or hot which is a huge plus. They have a pretty extensive Asian menu with a la carte meats, veggies, seafood and accompaniments which are served family style. They also have a handful of soups, and rice and noodle dishes. If you prefer, you can opt to have the prix fixe menu for $62.25 or $82.75 which feeds two to three people each.

Juban is not a fancy place, but it's a fun spot for casual celebrations like birthdays. I also like the little touches, like special plastic kids' dinnerware and utensils (my daughter was thrilled to get a Winnie the Pooh set) a small bucket of ice to keep my bottle of sake chilled, and wet napkins at the end of the meal for everyone.

Two favorites are the miso salmon ($9) and sea scallops ($11). The beef tataki ($7.50) actually tastes better heated up and cooked through on the grill; it brings out the nice, strong ginger flavor and makes the meat more tender. The onmen ($7.50),hot somen noodles with egg, spinach and shittake mushrooms, is apparently a favorite among young children, but the beef broth was very subtle and proved to be too bland for my preschooler. She enjoyed the grilled items over rice much more.

They didn't have lobster tails the night we went, so my son ordered the rib eye ($9.50 instead and was very happy with it. He also ordered the green tea mochi for dessert but they didn't have it, so he got green tea ice cream ($3) which he enjoyed. They do carry top of the line Wagyu beef which we will have to try the next time we go.

Juban Yakiniku, Japantown, San Francisco. See web site for other locations.

Sundance Kitchen's manager keeps Island spirit alive

I've mentioned this before, but not in so much detail. I was saddened when Honu's in Buchanan Mall closed, but excited to discover that former owner Pat Da Silva-Fong manages Sundance Kitchen next to the Sundance movie theater. She has infused Hawaiian influences in their menu and brought live entertainment to the new venue on Friday and Saturday nights, starting at 9:00 p.m. Granted, it's not the same as Honu's - it's a lot bigger and thus not as homey, and it's pricier. Still, it's nice to see that the Island spirit that made Honu's such a favorite still lives on, just around the corner from Pat's old digs. One of the pluses about the new spot is the full bar makes a mean green tea cocktail with top shelf vodka.

Here are a couple of our favorite dishes:

Kobe beef sliders($11.95) - a trio of yummy, beefy burgers with arugula, carmelized onions and tomatoes.

10" Ultimate Hawaiian Pizza ($11.95) with kalua pork and pineapple - a great take on this style pizza - salty, sweet, slightly greasy, cheesy goodness.

My son was pleased to see that they kept the recipe for kalbi short ribs ($14.95), although now they serve it with kimchi fried rice, a little too spicy for his taste. They are cool about substituting white rice, though.

La Terrasse - French fare in the Presidio

One of our favorite places to go for Sunday brunch is La Terrasse, a French eatery nestled in the historic Presidio. They have a lovely patio with umbrellas and heat lamps with a scenic view of the Bay. La Terrasse offers simple, satisfying, consistently good food in a relaxed atmosphere.

Our three year old daughter enjoys coming here after her swimming classes nearby because the greet her with a big, warm welcome, often give her a coloring book with crayons and sometimes turn their bar TV to the cartoon channel. She loves their wood fired mozzarella pizza, sans basil, as well as their French toast smothered in maple syrup.

At lunch and dinner, this place makes delicious classics including rainbow trout almondine over spinach, nicoise salad with grilled ahi tuna, and mussels in garlic/butter/white wine Pernod sauce.

They make interesting cocktails like the Golden Gate ($10) which has champagne, cointreau, brandy and orange and lemon juices.

Some of their best dishes:

Smoked Salmon Benedict ($14). This is my favorite kind of eggs benedict here although the crab and California (bacon/tomato/avocado) are good, too. The salmon is plentiful and topped with tobiko caviar. Underneath sits a large poached egg sauteed spinach, the perfect amount of Hollandaise sauce and a soft brioche.

French Toast ($12). The crunchy, chewy bread makes this dish so unique. I'm not even a big fan of French toast in general, but this one is absolutely addicting. The batter consists of Brandy, sugar, milk, and vanilla. It's sweet but not too sweet, and leaves you wanting more, even if your brain tells you you're full.

Huevos Rancheros (I don't recall the price). They added several Mexican style brunch items a few months ago. This tasty one has two eggs prepared your way with black beans, salsa, diced potatoes, cheese and two flour tortillas (I substitute corn tortillas).

Cheeseburger ($15),$13 without cheese. A big beef patty on a hearty bun with onions, tomatoes, lettuce and your choice of gruyere or roquefort cheese. It comes with french fries which can be substituted for a small green salad.

Kokkari - Greek fare good enough for the gods

Several years ago, when I was still working in an executive briefing center for a high tech company, my friends and I used to meet at Kokkari from time to time and have dinner before heading out for late night dancing and drinks. It was always bustling with attractive people, the food was consistently tasty, we loved the rustic and inviting atmosphere, and it was spacious enough to accommodate our larger numbers without feeling cramped.

It had been awhile since I'd been back, but last week, my girlfriend and I met there for lunch since she works nearby. Immediately, the friendly hostess and warm Saloni, or front room, with a large stone fireplace and dramatic bar, beckoned me. We were seated at a cheery table by the oversized window along Jackson street in the Kouzina, or kitchen dining area, with high ceilings. Although two different people asked us what type of water we wanted, the rest of lunch service was seamless. The food was better than I remember.

We shared grilled lamb riblets ($9.25) lightly seasoned with oregano and lemon which were hearty, finger-licking starters. We split dolmathes ($7), a plate of grape leaves stuffed with rice, dill and mint. I loved the lemony flavor and dill. We also had the oven roasted prawns ($12.75) with creamy tomato sauce and a nice little zing from feta cheese. My friend had the colorful Kokkari salad ($8) with arugula, cherry tomatoes, super crunchy Cretan rusk croutons and myzithra cheese in a vinaigrette. The croutons had a characteristically dry and hard texture which I imagine would be good for teething babies to gnaw on. Nevertheless, my friend enjoyed her salad. My charcoal-grilled octopus salad entrée ($14.50) with Greek peppers, frisée and white wine vinaigrette was fresh, filling and flavorful. The octopus was plentiful, had nice smoky flavor and tender, chewy texture.

They have a number of good wines by the glass, like a dark, deeply fruity, deliciously easy to drink Melville syrah ($13) from Santa Barbara.

This is still a wonderful place for both personal and business dining. They have multiple seating arrangements including: a grand hand-carved, wooden chef's table that seats 24 in the Kouzina; a 30-seat private Oenos, or wine room, adjacent to the Kouzina; and a lovely Hania room that seats 10 just a short elevator ride downstairs. Even their restrooms, located beyond the Hania room, are charming, although I wouldn't recommend dining there.

For more info: Kokkari Estiatorio, 200 Jackson Street at Front, San Francisco, 415.981.0983. Their sister restaurant, Evvia Estiatorio, is located at 420 Emerson Street in Palo Alto.

uber dinner II at supperclub San Francisco

On Monday, June 1st, supperclub will showcase the culinary prowess of Jennie Lorenzo from Michelin-rated Fifth Floor and Jamie Lauren from Absinthe and Top Chef fame. These renowned chefs will collaborate with supperclub SF's executive chef Guus Wickenhagen, and create special courses for this prix fixe dinner ($125) which includes wine pairings from Quintessa, Veramonte, Faust, Pommery, and Francis Coppola. Limited seats available, call 415.348.0900 for reservations.

Hot diggity Woeuf dog

Forget breakfast sandwiches, go for a Woeuf Dog at Let's Be Frank on Steiner Street this weekend. Only on Sunday and Monday, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m, you can fill up on a frank, brat or "hot" dog with griddled onions, scrambled eggs, Devil Sauce, and maybe a slice of bacon for good measure, all tucked into an Acme organic bun. They also have Party Packs in three sizes for your Memorial Day barbecue. Become a fan on Facebook to receive special deals including a free jar of Devil Sauce when you buy three 12-oz. packs of dogs or brats this Saturday through Monday. 3318 Steiner Street between Chestnut and Lombard.

High on the Hog at Epic Roasthouse

On Saturday, June 27th, head to Epic Roasthouse to swing to the bluegrass beats of Nell Robinson and the Red Level Band, swirl your glass with Pinot provided by local wineries, and sink your teeth into swine being prepared by chef Jan Birnbaum on the grill. Jordan MacKay, 7x7 Wine and Spirits Editor, will be signing copies of Passion for Pinot. Festivities run from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the Epic patio. Pig roast and wine tasting, $50/person.

Freebies at P.F. Chang's, half price at Luna Park and Blue Plates at Broadway Grill

How's this for recession friendly fare?

Thanks to PGA pro Briny Baird, P.F.Chang's is giving away free lettuce wraps. Go here.

"Mint julep" is the password at Luna Park tomorrow. Tell your server and get 50% off your entire check.

Broadway Grill in Burlingame is serving Blue Plate Specials every Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays = spaghetti and meatballs for $10, Wednesdays = chicken pot pie for $11, Thursdays = meatloaf for $12, and Fridays = fish and chips for $11.

Take advantage of these deals while you can!

Test your food knowledge and play Edible Pursuit at ACME Chophouse

Edible San Francisco is hosting its third Edible Pursuit at ACME Chophouse on Sunday, June 7th. The Tablehopper's Marcia Gagliardi will be emceeing this fun, food-themed trivia game night. Purchase tickets to participate in teams of two to five players and test your knowledge of the San Francisco food scene, kitchen know-how, food politics, and more. Players will vie for prizes including restaurant gift certificates, artisanal goodies and cookbooks. There also will be prizes for the cream of the crop in categories like "Best Team Name" and "Best Team Uniform." Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and Edible Pursuit begins at 7:00 p.m. Get your tickets http://ediblesanfrancisco.com/wordpress/2009/05/01/purchase-tickets-for-edible-pursuit-for-june-7-at-acme-chophouse/.

Wine and cheese tasting and Monday Night Suppers at Bar Bambino

Bar Bambino, one of the Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants, is hosting a wine and cheese tasting for those who are curious about how the perfect pair are made. This educational afternoon will be led by owner Christopher Losa and Head Cheese Monger Colin Shaff on Sunday, May 31st, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., $45. To reserve your spot, email events@barbambino.com or call 415.701.VINO (8466).

Starting June 1, Bar Bambino is introducing Monday Night Suppers from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Their prix fixe family-style menu ($35) will change weekly and include a red or white wine option for an extra $10.

Stylish pizzas, beer and oysters

So GQ's Alan Richman has announced his Top 25 Pizzas in the country which include the Bay Area's own Pizzeria Delfina (#3), Gialina (#14), and A16 (#17). What do you think, is he on the money?

Feeling the post-Bay-to-Breakers-blues? I bet 21st Ammendment's Beer Appreciation Day might cheer you up. Sign up for a Master Class in brewing ($25) at 5:00 p.m. or Beer Through the Ages ($65) at 7:00 p.m., or save $10 by signing up for both.

Personally, I'm going through oyster withdrawals, SF Oyster Fest was such a blast. For those of you who are craving more, CitysearchSF tweets that Woodhouse Fish Co. started serving $1 oysters at 4:00 p.m. Gotta run!

Dine in casual elegance at Zinnia

Chef Sean O'Brien, who developed a loyal following at Myth, opened Zinnia with his wife Patricia last October. They offer delicious New American cuisine, including some Myth favorites like potato gnocchi, rigatoni with foie gras cream, roasted black cod, oysters in the half shell and his signature dish, seared sweetbreads. Located where Cypress Club, 500 Jackson and Scott Howard used to be, Zinnia is an upscale but unstuffy spot to grab cocktails and dinner.

The interior is spacious, simply adorned and warmly lit, with a relaxed, loungey feel.

They have fun specialty cocktails like the Jalisco Sour ($10) with tequila, lemon and orange juice, egg white and bitters; and The Secret Garden ($12) with Square One organic cucumber vodka, St. Germain elderflower liqueur and Prosecco. They make a pretty good Pimm's Cup ($10) with Pimm's No. 1, lemon-lime soda, ginger, mint and cucumber. My husband and his buddy are always happy whenever they see Trumer Pils ($5) and Chimay Red Label ($9) on the menu.

We love (exclamation point) the Hood Canal Oysters ($13), half a dozen Washington oysters presented with slurpalicously good lemongrass and lime juice topped with Yuzu tobiko. The poached Jidori egg ($11) is a winner, too, especially because I enjoy breakfast/brunch items any time of day, and this one is tasty. The egg sits atop chicken hash surrounded by beech mushrooms with chicken jus. The large crackling lends the perfect amount of salt and decadence to finish the dish. Another star on the menu is signature seared sweetbreads ($12), which are plated with bacon, sherry vinegar and haricot verts. They are addicting, and I could devour them by the bowlful.

The pastas and dishes from the sea come in two sizes. Rigatoni ($13/19) with foie gras cream, maitake mushrooms, and Marsala is nice although the foie gras is very subtle and the dish itself is surprisingly less memorable than the rigatoni they made for my daughter which had a rich and creamy, cheesy, buttery sauce reminiscent of mac and cheese. Seared Tasmanian trout ($15/26) in saffron sauce has a nice crispy skin with tender meat that is a pretty pink color similar to salmon. It comes with heirloom carrots and turnips. Scallops ($17/28) are seared to perfection and served with pioppini mushrooms, fennel, crispy potatoes and lobster sauce. You get two scallops with the smaller portion and three with the large.

The item that is just so-so is proscuitto wrapped escargot ($12) with crispy fennel, mache and rouille. They are salty little nuggets that could be anything, really, because you can't tell there is escargot in it.

The staff at Zinnia are impressively accommodating to the toddler set. We think their cozy booths by the window along Jackson Street provide a perfect, kid-friendly corner. When we ate dinner there recently, the hostess doted over our daughter and gave her a big box of crayons with a notepad to keep her occupied. Our server promptly sent out warm bread and butter for our hungry youngster to nibble on while the kitchen prepared her half order of rigatoni. And, they brought my daughter's food out along with the adult appetizers, so everyone was happy.

Zinnia may not be affordable everyday, but it is certainly a nice place to go on occasion. If you want to sample their fare at smaller prices, check them out during Halfsy Hour in the lounge and bar. From 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on weeknights, they offer half price specialty cocktails, wines by the glass and premium beer, along with signature half portions of dinner menu items.