Bay Area Restaurants

Troya has a new chef at its Fillmore location: Kevin Davidson, who was previously a chef de cuisine at Foreign Cinema and more recently spent some time traveling. Previous chef Philip Busacco left amicably; he's taking time off to pursue an interest in photography. The Clement location's chef remains the same. [Tablehopper]

Welcome to Curbed Cuts, where Curbed SF editor Sally Kuchar shares the most important real estate stories of the week. Mark di Suvero's "Old Buddy (For Rosko)" at its new home on Crissy Field. [Photo via SFMOMA] CRISSY FIELD— This week, an outdoor exhibition of eight large sculptures by artist Mark di Suvero officially began its year-long residency on Crissy Field. The giant orange, steels structures span up to 50 feet high and 40 feet wide. As with all change (even temporary), there's a small group of neighbors that think the sculptures are a monstrosity, and have asked that the "eye-sores" be taken down. TENDERLOIN— The Lofts at Seven in the Tenderloin are ready for their close-up. What used to be home to KGO-TV Channel 7's West Coast broadcasting facilities is now gearing up to be 88 loft and studio rentals. BAY BRIDGE— Here's your first look at the almost completed east span of the Bay Bridge. Photos galore! INNER RICMHOND— Looking to buy in the very lovely Inner Richmond? We've rounded up the five least expensive properties currently for sale in the neighborhood. MISSION DOLORES— The corner of 15th and Dolores streets is now home to newly built condos. There's 13 total "boutique residences," and will likely be in the $1,000 per square foot price range. SOMA— Located under and adjacent to parts of the Central Freeway near Otis, Stevenson, and Valencia streets, a new 17,000 sq. ft. skate park and a 28,000 sq. ft. dog park and parking area have been approved. SAN FRANCISCO— The top three residential properties sales for the past seven days include a $2.995M penthouse in Russian Hill, a $3.2M 5-bedroom single-family home in Lower Pac Heights, and a $3.8M 5-bed single-family home in Presidio Heights. NOB HILL— The Marlow is the latest development to come to Nob Hill. It's located at 1800 Van Ness, and is a 98-unit mixed-use building with 4,900 square feet of commercial space. We've got renderings of the exterior and interior. The units are pricey, but that didn't stop the 18 pre-released units selling out completely in just eight days.

San Francisco is currently going through a chocolate renaissance – new artisan chocolate makers and chocolatiers are popping up at every food festival and in every neighborhood. One of these chocolatiers, though, is actually a Bay Area classic making a welcome return – Charles Chocolates. I’ve been a big fan of Charles Chocolates ever since he opened his Emeryville store. Fair warning (or you long-time readers with excellent memories might remember) – I even wrote a piece for Edible East Bay on his chocolates so I guess you can say I’m an original fangirl. When Charles Chocolates first opened the chocolate scene was bustling in the Bay Area but focused in a different direction- there were mainly chocolate makers like Guittard, Scharffen Berger, and Ghirardelli, and some small boutiques selling imported chocolates. Today the Bay Area is a chocolate mecca, with the bonus of much of it locally crafted. After a short hiatus from chocolatier-ing, Charles is happily part of the scene again with a new shop and cafe opening in San Francisco. Charles Siegel welcomes all his new chocolate compatriots. “We’re no where near close to saturation for chocolate here,” he says. What I’ve always admired about Charles is his generosity of spirit and love for his craft. He’ll happily share the chocolate brands he uses in his creations, and he’s genuinely excited at the all the creative chocolate energy swirling through the city. He envisions San Francisco becoming like Paris, where every neighborhood has its local patisserie and chocolate shop, each with their own specialties and each a beloved part of life for the residents. I finally had a chance to drop by Charles’ new store on Florida Street. Although their outdoor patio space was not finished when I went, it has been fitted out now with picnic tables so visitors can enjoy their hot chocolate outside, or some of the new pastries from their case. In addition to his chocolates, Charles is branching out and also serving up cookies, tarts, mini cakes, and other baked goods from their kitchen. They’ve also paired up with Samovar Teas and will start offering afternoon tea on their patio – starting this weekend. I have to admit one of the things I’m most excited about is that the patio will be dog-friendly. Charles is an avowed dog lover and said he’s made it his mission to get to know all the dogs in his new neighborhood. So the café patio will be equipped with water bowls and Charles’ own doggy treats to entice dog owners to stop by. Chocolate and treats for Fido – can it get any better? Charles let me take a look around his kitchen space – it’s separated from the retail store and patio by glass so customers will be able to look in and see chocolates being made. Copper pot goodness! Almost all of Charles Chocolates’ original items will be coming back, but I’m really looking forward to his pâte de fruits. The tables where much of the chocolate work is done. The pastry team was off when I visited, but it’s easy to imagine them industriously working away, turning out boxes and boxes of chocolates. You can catch a glimpse of the retail portion of the store through the glass walls to the left – I didn’t get any photos as it was constantly filled with customers.  Charles Chocolates has just started giving tours of the store as well, so you can learn about chocolate-making while sampling some of Charles’ chocolates at the same time. Some more equipment Charles is very proud of – the one on the right is a panning machine, or panner, used to evenly coat nuts with a layer of chocolate – you can see the results here. Chocolate bars ready for labelling. Charles has kept the same wonderful logo from Hatch Design, and worked with them to revamp the packaging for his new products. Charles has greatly expanded his chocolate bar line, to my

And they’re so exclusive we can’t even buy them yet! They look like they’re gonna be tough and pretty and totally expensive, but you know what? Quality vegan shoes aren’t cheap. Not to knock cheap vegan shoes! But generally shoes at a higher price point come with things like padded footbeds, a little arch support, and consideration that they have to be worn on actual human feet. I’m super into the Keely booties above in black; I love that buckle underneath! The 100 percent lack of functionality, without even a pretense of usefulness! It’s so insouciant, right? I also really like the Hazel slip-ons in this crinkly metallic orange. If you’re going to wear a shoe with such a basic shape, you ought to get creative with the color and materials. You can wear boring shoes when you’re dead! Krže Studio was created by Leila Tamar Kerze, who studied fashion design at college and worked for BCBG and Donald J. Pliner before striking out on her vegan own. When can you buy these shoes? Where can you buy them? I have no answers for you. What I do know is that these shoes have a lot of attitude and I am glad people see a market for luxury vegan footwear. Leather is so passé. Super important update!!!: Megan loves this pair! -MR [images via Krzhe Studio]

If you want to see Guy Fieri in action, get yourself over to the SOMA StrEat Food Park, like, now: "Guy Fieri is hanging out all day filming an episode of his show featuring KoJa Kitchen," a park rep told us via e-mail, including the photo at right. (As discussed yesterday, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives is filming all over town this week.) Update: The DPT, ever-mindful of expanding their empire of evil, tried to ticket his Camaro. [EaterWire]

Master Sommelier is a very elite title, with the Court of Master Sommeliers having named only 133 professionals to their ranks in the U.S. (the whole world has 201 total). So it's a big deal that the Bay Area has a new one: Emily Pickral-Papach of Napa's Chappellet Winery, who was one of only four people to pass this year's exam (taken by 63 advanced somms). A whopping seven Bay Area professionals were named to the Court last year; we also have by far the most in the country. [EaterWire]

Easy Creole 1761 Alcatraz Ave., Berkeley Phone: (415) 347-5640 Web: easycreole.com Status: Open The latest pop-up turned successful brick-and-mortar belongs to the trio of Grant Gooding, Jess McCarter, and Jeron Thomson, otherwise known as Easy Creole. After a couple of years serving their signature Louisiana-inspired fare at The Residence in the Castro and La Victoria in the Mission, they finally have a space to call their own in a quirky corner of Berkeley, right on the border with Oakland and Emeryville. The menu changes daily, but includes offerings like turkey pozole, Bourbon Street red beans and rice, jerk shrimp in a Red Stripe marinade, and white chili with chicken. Vegetarians also get a ton of options, from gumbo to spinach and mushroom etouffee. The casual cafe space seats 22, and offers counter service; it's designed for a mixture of carry-out and eat-in diners. The decor is quirky and fun, featuring wainscoting made from pickle barrels and more than 270 pictures sourced from family, friends, and thrift stores, ranging from Cezanne and Chagall prints to pictures of David Bowie and Robocop. There's even R. Crumb magnetic poetry to play with if there's a line. Hours are 11 am-9 pm daily. McCarter says that after taking a few weeks off to open, Easy Creole also plans to return to The Residence for their standing Wednesday pop-up, probably in the next week or two. They're typically there from 5:30 pm until they run out of food. · Easy Creole opens in Berkeley [Tablehopper] · Easy Creole Pop-Up Comes To Town Next Week [~ ESF ~]

A16's Rockridge location is getting very close, with the current plan to open next Friday, May 30. It'll be big, with a 70-seat dining room and a 40-seat bar, and is also the first of the three locations (the others are in the Marina and Tokyo) to have a full liquor license, which will be put to use via amari, limoncello, and Italian-inspired cocktails. Rocky Maselli will be the executive chef. We'll have photos and the full menu on opening day. [Inside Scoop]

How about a cup o' joe? Three of the Bay Area's most recognized coffee roasters are joining the Commonwealth Club in the City to discuss the ABCs (acidity, brewing, and current crops) of the co...

[Photo: Wikipedia] To kick off the summer travel season, we're once again running our airport dining guide, complete with the latest updates for 2013, courtesy of SFO's culinary crew. This guide will keep you far from all the greasy, nasty, overpriced fare that gives airport food a bad rap, not that there's much of it in SFO's award-winning program. Whether you're in the mood for a quick breakfast, a liquid lunch, or a sit-down dinner, this guide has you covered. Restaurants are organized by terminal and quick-service vs. sit-down dining experiences. SFO's Five Standouts 1. PIQ: This cafe and bakery, based on the Berkeley original, is one of the newer additions to SFO’s Terminal 1. Their baked goods, like braided ricotta bread, savory brioche, and smiley-face Nutella cookies, make great mid-flight snacks. They also have a variety of pizzas, focaccia, panini, calzones, salads, and a full bar. [Terminal 1, Gates 20-36] 2. Ebisu: The 30-year-old Sunset sushi institution has an SFO outpost, with a range of specialty and hand rolls, noodle dishes, and classic appetizers (edamame, miso soup, etc.) The shrimp tempura udon is a perennial favorite. They even have a rewards program for frequent travelers, which offers points towards a $100 gift card for every dollar spent. Be warned: the Potato Bug roll is intended for die-hard eel eaters only. [International Terminal, Boarding Area G] 3. Burger Joint: It may not be the best patty you've ever tasted, but Burger Joint makes an above-average burger (especially for an airport), with humanely and sustainably raised beef. Veggie burgers are conscientiously cooked on a separate grill, and there are warm egg sandwiches for breakfast as well. (Check out the menu here.) [Terminal 2, near Gate 58B] 4. Yankee Pier: This "updated New England seafood house" claims to fly in its seafood twice daily. Lobster, crab, and chowder all appear on the menu, as does the "All-at-Once Speedee Meal"—perfect for those dashing to make a flight. Also: Dungeness crab eggs Benedict for breakfast. [Terminal 3, near Gate 72] 5. Cat Cora's Kitchen: Iron Chef America's Cat Cora offers weary travelers unexpectedly upscale comfort in the form of oysters, lobster mac-and-cheese, steak tacos, and stiff seasonal drinks. Extra points for being open at 5:00 a.m. for breakfast, and for offering biodegradable utensils to go. [Near Gate 55] International Terminal Boarding Area A (Gates A1-A12) A Quick Meal · Amoura: Mediterranean-style food, including wraps, sandwiches, beer and wine, and breakfast selections. [Near Gate A3] · Firewood Café: Thin-crust pizzas, sandwiches, and gourmet salads. The one in the International Terminal also features a full bar. [Near Gate A12] · Firewood Grill: Not to be confused with the Firewood Café, the Firewood Grill specializes in panini, skewers and sandwiches. Full bar available. [Near Gate A3] · Il Fornaio Caffe Del Mondo: Euro-style sandwiches, salads, baked goods, coffee, beer, and wine. [Near Gate A11] · Osho Japanese Cuisine: Sushi and sashimi, udon noodle soups, and bento boxes with options like chicken and beef teriyaki. [Near Boarding Area A] · Starbucks: Obviously, there's a Starbucks at the airport. You know the drill. [Main Hall] International Terminal, Boarding Area G (Gates G91-G102) A Quick Meal · Andale Mexican Restaurant: Fresh, made-to-order Mexican entrees and a full bar. [Near Gate G91] · Deli-Up Café: Large deli sandwiches and salads, served with speed. Chobani yogurt for breakfast, and local gem Bud's ice cream if you want a treat. [Near Gate G93] · Harbor Village Kitchen: Chinese fast food, with wonton soup, lemon chicken and dim sum. Not a popular choice with seasoned travelers. [Near Boarding Area A] · Il Fornaio Caffe Del Mondo: Euro-style sandwiches, salads, baked goods, coffee, beer, and wine. [Near Gate G99] · Tomokazu: Sushi, sashimi, teriyaki, noodles, and robata. [Near Gate 92] TERMINAL 1: Boarding Area B (Gates 2