Sake flight at Sozai Restaurant and Sake Lounge (Photo: Dina Brooks)
I've been wanting to talk about this exciting project for over a month now, and now I finally can since Gil Payne just made the official announcement. He and his wife, chef Mari Takahashi, of Sozai Restaurant and Sake Lounge (2008 Citysearch Editorial - Best Japanese Food) are teaming up with Nicolaus Balla, executive chef at O Izakaya Lounge (2008 SF Chronicle Top 100), to open Nombe Restaurant. Chefs Balla and Takahashi will create an izakaya style menu in an 80+ seat eatery in the heart of the Mission. Chef Takahashi says, "I look forward to matching my passion for my culture and Japanese cuisine with Nick's immense talent, experience, and inspiration so we may bring an extensive, seasonal Izakaya menu to the Mission."
If that's not enough, the busy Sozai couple are also gearing up for their 4th Annual Sake Day (Nihonshu no Hi) at the Jewish Community Center on Thursday, October 1, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. There wil be over 100 sakes to taste, a Japanese street food booth - think mini veggie okonomiyaki, chicken yakisoba, soy grilled corn and sausage-on-a-stick, four food and sake pairings, an Okinawan band, and raffle prizes. Bring your own sake glass and get two raffle tickets. Purchase tickets at Sozai, True Sake or here. Buy tickets before September 30 for $80/person or for $85/person at the door. The Jewish Community Center is located at 3200 California Street at Presidio. For questions, call Sozai at 415.681.7150, Mari's Catering at 415.341.5468 or True Sake at 415.355.9555.
.jpg)
Spenger's Crabby Chef competition
There's no shortage of Oktoberfest spirit around town and another fun beachy-keen option is Park Chalet. Festivities take place on Saturday, September 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the lawn. There will be a live 30-piece "oom-pah" band, The San Francisco Accordion Society, bratwurst, BBQ and beers in commemorative liter glasses. Park Chalet, 1000 Great Highway between Lincoln and Fulton. 415.386.8439.
Who will be the next Spenger's Crabby Chef? Spenger's Fresh Fish Grotto's 9th Annual Crabby Chefs Seafood Festival will take place in blue and gold territory (Go Bears!) on Sunday, October 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A benefit for the Berkeley Cal Recreational Sports Development Fund's Camp Scholarship Program (whew, that's a mouthful), this event includes an "Iron Chef"-esque culinary competition that is free to the public and begins at 2:00 p.m. There will be food booths selling cooked crab, crab cakes, clam chowder, and other seafood treats, along with beer, wine and sodas. In addition, there will be live music and the Pacific Seafood "roadshow," a mobile, 18-wheeler walk-in retail fish and shellfish store selling fresh seafood. Spenger's, 1919 Fourth Street, Berkeley. 510.845.7771.
Fashion, art, food and music all in one spot. (Chillin' Productions)
Every Friday, from September 25 through October 30, you will find Tacolicious, 4505 Meats and Namu setting up shop in pop-up tents at Blu's courtyard, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 631 Folsom Street at Second.
This Saturday, September 26, enjoy art and live entertainment at Summerland at Mint Plaza, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Over 70 local fashion designers, art and live painting will be showcased. Food will be provided by Chez Papa Resto, Let's Be Frank, Artisanal Paletas Paraiso, and Mission Minis. There will be mimosas, bloody mary's and Red Bull specials to keep your thirst quenched. Mint Plaza, 5th Street between Mission and Market.
If something exciting is going on in your neighborhood, be sure to let me know! To receive my articles automatically, subscribe above or:
Comments