This week, Oakland's La Borinqueña Mex-icatessen celebrated its last in business. After four generations of tamales made "with love and lard," the family has decided to retire. Chino, the Tacolicious take on dumplings, announced its temporary closure while new chef Ron Pei prepares an overhaul. Petit Crenn, a Breton-inspired café and restaurant from madame Dominique Crenn, set its opening date to August 11. And the creative, acclaimed Daniel Patterson has chosen a new executive chef for flagship restaurant Coi. Come January, Patterson will be spending more time on empire building while Matthew Kirkley, formerly of L2O in Chicago, takes over the kitchen.
Leaving another vacancy in the Castro, A.G. Ferrari Foods location in that neighborhood will close for good tomorrow. "Although the closure of our Castro location is disappointing, we remain committed to creating an exciting experience for our guests in the remaining five locations and look forward to exploring new and strategic avenues of growth," said CEO Jarett Peppard. The other two San Francisco locations of the 1919-founded Italian food purveryor will remain, writes Hoodline.
San Francisco magazine has named its Best Chefs of 2015, a set of awards selected by an academy of past winners. Chef of the Year goes to Ravi Kapur of Liholiho Yacht Club, with the Rising Star chef category won by Katianna Hong of the Restaurant at Meadowood. Thomas McNaughton's Ne Timeas empire (Central Kitchen, Aatxe, Salumeria, and Cafe du Nord) was honored as the Best Empire Builder as well, the Bon Vivants took home the best booze category, and Sarah Bonar of Frances and Octavia was named the magazine's best pasty chef.
In the space that once held Mint Plaza's Chez Papa, an upscale sushi restaurant — Hashiri — is on the way. Inside Scoop reports that the restaurant is a spinoff of one in Daikanyama, Tokyo, with Seigo Takei and Keiko Takahashi of Michelin-starred Keiko à Nob Hill consulting.
Fine & Rare’s brick and mortar is now open. A hit at Off the Grid and The Hall, the team's space inside the Empire Room (near Civic Center) is ready with its Northern California spin on comfort food, Inside Scoop writes.
This week in questionable coffee shop names, Hoodline reports that a former Four Barrel staffer is opening a new coffee shop under the nameGeorge and Lennie. The reference is to Of Mice and Men, and if the owner ever gets to the end of that book, he'll be spitting out his coffee.
Outside Lands, the food festival with a side of music, has announced its GastroMagic lineup. These quirky food presentations are all over the place: For example, if you want to do Karaoke with Iron Chef Morimoto, which is billed as his "hidden talent," now you can.
What's been Horner's Corner in Noe Valley will reopen as Hamlet, local blog Noe Valley SF reports. From the Caskhouse owner, Hamlet will take your order for craft cocktails by the end of September.
Mourad is opening for lunch, notes Inside Scoop. Chef Mourad Lahlou's SoMa sequel to Aziza is focusing its lunch menu dishes on individual rather than family-style or sharing orders.
With rooftop restaurants a rarity in low-slung San Francisco, this is big: One such spot is planned for 340 Mason, the Business Times reports.
Last, a short film about Foreign Cinema, Once Upon a Plate, which you can watch on the site of filmmaker Josh Berry, is a fitting ode to the filmic Mission mainstay. Have a watch.
This Week In Reviews
Aarbiter of taste Michael Bauer slung a bit of dirt on four restaurants he chose not to review for the San Francisco Chronicle. All they got was this shady article, which is worth a read for the disses.
And for his Sunday review, he heads to restaurateur Charlie Palmer's newest property in St. Helena, Harvest Table. Bauer gushes about chef Levi Mezick's roast chicken in truffle butter which he first loved down at Restaurant 1833 in Monterey. Mezick has brought the dish north with him, and is doing some other things right too, says Bauer, including a petrale sole "poached in saffron broth with lemon thyme and garden beans," a "chateau" sirloin steak, and a tomato-watermelon salad. But, he says, some things are out of left field, and the place only gets two and a half stars, with service only getting two stars.
And did Pete Kane get his dining budget slashed at the Weekly? This is the second week in a row without a review, unless I'm missing something. Please advise.