The event is also a great opportunity for our readers to revisit this video we did for Radio-Coteau!  The video features a 4:30AM harvest which is both a magnificent and captivating event that also preserves the integrity of the grapes.

Now we will have the opportunity to learn about the basics of organic farming and bring a little piece of farm life to our backyards.  The non-profit 18 Reasons has paired up with Garden for the Environment, Bi – Rite Farms and Freewheelin Farm to hold an introductory course in organic gardening.  These ten courses will begin in May and run through September, focusing on the basics of small scale organic farming in both urban and rural contexts.  The classes will include five lectures at 18 Reasons and five on location farming days at the beautiful Bi-Rite Farm in Sonoma.

The course ranges from 375 – 475 dollars for the full ten sessions.  Check out the 18 Reasons website for more details on dates and times, and to register for the course.

The masterminds behind Local Mission Eatery, owner Yaron Milgrom and Chef Jake Des Voignes have collaborated on an exciting new venture. Local’s Corner, has officially opened for daytime service with a European style brunch menu. Housed in a former deli sans cooking hood, the eatery will focus its menu on fresh, quick to prepare, seafood dishes like smoked herring and fresh oysters. Typical of any Mission eatery, collaborations will be in abundance, specifically with Sightglass Coffee and Knead Patisserie. With indoor and outdoor seating, Local’s Corner will undoubtedly live up to its name.  

Most importantly, they plan to be open for dinner once their beer and wine license kicks in! You can expect a seafood worthy "by the glass" list heavy on whites, sparklings, and rosés, as well as a few beers on tap. They will also have an extensive bottle list. We can’t wait to taste some of their wines paired with oysters on a warm summer night on their outdoor patio!

Not only does the seafood heavy menu embrace local charm, but so does the decor. Local's Corner is taking over the space that was previously La Placita Market. Once the space was stripped, they were happily surprised to find great 20th Century detailing. After refinishing the Douglas Fir floors and restoring the original sight line of the windows, they added a few period touches to tie it all together such as hand printed wallpaper, cast-iron ceiling moldings and cane chairs.

For now, their hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 8am – 2pm. In the future, make sure to sneak into this 28 seat dining room for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, from 5pm – 10pm.

Their mission is to “re-connect diners to the land and the origins of their food, and to honor the local farmers and food artisans who cultivate it”, by hosting dinners at the farms where the food is grown, featuring the chefs who most love to cook it.  At long communal tables, in some of the most beautiful backdrops in the world, notable chefs such as David Kinch of Manresa, Traci des Jardins of Jardiniere, Craig Stoll of Delfina and Charles Phan of The Slanted Door have all joined farmers in the field. Think dinner outside on a mountaintop or in a sea cave.  The location and themes change, but always honor the local produce, climates and traditions, as well as the people who have lovingly nourished and prepared the food.

This year they are doing a North American tour. Check out their website for future dates and tickets. There are many events in the bay area, so you can stay local and connect with some of our very talented chefs, farmers, and artisans.

http://outstandinginthefield.com/

VENU’s custom-tailored interface allows your guests to actually explore your wine collection, encouraging them to interact with the wine’s history, creating a connection between your guest and your vintners. Engage your audience in the story of their food and wine.

As many a wandering foodie will tell you, one of the enduring mysteries of dining in San Francisco has to do with Chinatown. Namely, where does one go to find a decent meal there?

Ought to be a no-brainer, but not so. Eating in San Francisco's Chinatown is kind of like searching for the perfect jacket at your favorite secondhand store – you've got to dig through some dross to find the gems. But gems there are, and one of them is the subject of today's post: Bund Shanghai Restaurant.

Situated just off Kearny on a busy stretch of Jackson Street, Bund is a modest outpost flanked by a surfeit of larger competitors. When it comes to cuisine, however, they stand tall. Dumplings are of course a go-to at any Shanghainese spot, and here they are sublime. The pork dumplings are fabulous as expected, but one of the carnivores at our table actually preferred the vegetarian version (they were damn close, IMHO). The spicy eggplant is another standout, simple and perfectly rendered, with a delicious sauce sporting just enough bite.

And for something truly delicious that you've never had, ask for the special Chicken Feather Vegetable. No, it is not chicken. Yes, it is a vegetable. And yes, you must order it. In fact, none of the items we tried fell short, and the extensive menu invites many return visits. Prices are on the low side, which means you can experiment without going overboard. 

Special Bonus: the staff is super-friendly. Is that your stomach growling? Better go eat.

Bund Shanghai
640 Jackson Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 982-0618

This is not a photo of The Wine House

Hey y'all. If I know my audience, I'd guess you probably often find yourself wondering: where do those clever folks over at Farm+Cellar go to get their wine on?

Well, wonder no more. Like our love, we tend to spread our business around. But when the chips are down and the fridge is tapped, we have a secret weapon: The SF Wine House.

This Winehouse is nestled at the base of Potrero Hill in a warehouse location that might generously be described as unassuming, just out of the way enough to guarantee easy parking. Backwater location notwithstanding, these are very canny operators indeed; eschewing the Napa-heavy selections of most local retailers, SFWH offers a selection of wines leaning toward the old world, with a decided emphasis on the French. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly, and the values are rife: I've walked out of this place with more blockbuster under-$20 wines than the Mission has hipsters.

Go see these guys, they keep asking about you.

129 Carolina Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 355-9463

I know what you're thinking, but that's not it at all. I've been to the one in France, and it's OK, if you like fancy stuff. 

But if food is what you are after, skip it and hop the redeye to Miami's Little Havana. That's where you will find the delectable epicenter of Cuban-American Culture, food and politics: Versailles Cuban Restaurant. 

Versailles isn't a restaurant so much as a compound. There are no less than four spots inside the block-long set of buildings where one can be fed. The main restaurant is flanked with a cafe, a lunch counter and an espresso/sandwich window, all turning out the best Cuban cuisine to be found anywhere outside (or arguably, inside) of the island nation. Pull up at 7:00 am, and there are typically a couple dozen guayabera-clad oldsters holding court, bitching about Fidel between cafecitos.

Farm+Cellar made the pilgrimage this week, and we're happy to report that Versailles is in top form. Ropa Vieja, Masas de Puerco Fritas (that's fried pork chunks, for you carnitas fans), black beans, sweet plantains, and the best Cuban sandwiches you will ever eat – they are all here, and done the way they should be. The bakery (all the way to the right) is the spot for sandwiches, and their Medianoche is easily the best you'll find. Don't miss the empanadas, croquetas and sweet pastilitos, either - they are perfect for taking with.

We opted for a pork-laden white bean Galician stew to keep it light, and (other than the folly of thinking a Cuban soup might be  'light') it did not disappoint. A fat bag full of sandwiches  and empanadas later, we were on our way. Let me tell you, we ate that stuff for a day and a half, and there was not a misstep.

Next time South, trust me – do the trip yourself. You'll see why Little Havana is everything it's cracked up to be.

Versailles Restaurant
355 SW 8th Street (Calle Ocho)
Miami, FL 33135
(305) 444-0240

Our man Pete Mrabe from Don Pistos has been busy. His solid Mexican spot has become a mainstay for North Beach revelers, jazzing up a formerly sleepy stretch of Union Street. Not content to sit back and enjoy the crowds, this week Mr. Mrabe unveiled his new project: Chubby Noodle.

This is North Beach's first proper popup restaurant, popping up in this case inside of Amante, longtime Green Street hang.   Pete's taking over the kitchen part-time (hours are still fungible, so check out the Facebook page below), and no joke: this stuff ROCKS. A look at the new menu reveals ramen aplenty, hawaiian poke, salmon ceviche, and what your Steadfast Commentator can confirm to be the best fried chicken ever.

Get over there and get some of the love.

www.facebook.com/pages/The-Chubby-Noodle/156873704395748