The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco food scene.
Eater is first with the bombshell: After only four months, Mission izakaya Nombe has cut loose chef Vincent Schofield. Mari Takahashi, owner (with husband Gil Payne), is taking over the chef's clipboard (she's been a sort of cochef since the place opened), with Pierre Mangé as chef de cuisine. As SFoodie observed back in December, "the partnership with Payne and Takahashi always struck us as potentially sticky, as it would be at any restaurant with both an 'executive chef' and a 'culinary director' (i.e., Takahashi)."
Tablehopper shares pictures of Piccino's new location (1001 Minnesota at 22nd St.), which officially opened today in the charming 150-year-old Yellow Building in Dogpatch. Natural elements throughout and plenty of sunlight, a lovely backdrop for Rachel Silcocks' expanded menu.
Also from Tablehopper, Oyaji (3123 Clement at 32nd Ave.) is open for lunch in the Outer Richmond, but Socha Cafe's papered windows are leaving Bernal neighbors guessing about the new owners' changes.
Tablehopper also catches word of a pending pop-up inside Amante: Pete Mrabe (of Don Pisto's) plans to run a noodle and raw bar as a separate entity inside the 570 Green space. Look for things to pop up in July.
Eater reports that the latest outpost of Beautifull!, the prepared health food restaurant, will be opening May 20 in the Castro, inside the Gold's Gym on Market. Meanwhile in Bernal Heights, El Amigo Tequila Bar reopened two days ago following renovations. House margaritas will set you back only $5.
Eater NY give the first report that Manhattan chef Ken Friedman (the Spotted Pig, the Breslin, the John Dory Oyster Bar) may make his way back home to San Francisco to expand his restaurant reach. No details ― or ETA ― for said expansion.
Live SOMA notes the difficulties of the restaurant business while noting the closure of JT's Cafe (1167 Harrison at Chesley). One factor, according to LiveSOMA: foot traffic.
And Bernalwood says goodbye to 331 Cortland's El Porteno Empanadas and hello, on May 25, to Russian piroshki.
