News for Restaurants in San Francisco September 2011 Archive Search / Openings / Closings / Chef Shuffle / News Bytes / Sign up for our free, monthly newsletter / News Archive Want to know who's doing what in your city? Gayot has the restaurant news you want to read on openings, closings, special events, and more. Learn everything you need to know about the restaurants in San Francisco here. RESTAURANT NEWS Openings Casual eatery Castagna will open shortly in San Francisco's Marina District from brothers Jerome and Stephane Meloni (Cassis), who are Italian but were raised in Nice. Fast, gourmet preparations for breakfast, lunch and eventually dinner will be on offer, including crêpes, waffles, Neapolitan pizzas, salads and sandwiches, all with French and Italian inflections. Once the beer and wine license clears, the restaurant will showcase more refined options for dinner along with a shortlist of mainly French varietals. The small eatery will feature South-of-France-themed décor and seating for 24, including a six-seat counter at an exhibition kitchen. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner daily. Castagna, 2015 Chestnut St., San Francisco, CA 94123, phone not available.   Casual, quick Chinese eatery Dumplings & Buns has opened on the corner of California and Fillmore streets in San Francisco, specializing in dim sum including sweet and savory buns, dumplings and noodle dishes. Though aiming for rustic, authentic, comforting flavors, ingredients are consciously sourced and the eatery's design is all modern Californian. A gourmet grocery component features Asian condiments, sauces and specialty products such as locally crafted vegan kimchi. Look for daily tea specials from 3 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. Lunch & Dinner daily. Dumplings & Buns, 2411 California St., San Francisco, CA 94109, 415-292-6209.   News Bytes Bouchon Bakery Re-Opens, Condensed Menu After a fire reportedly starting above the bread oven, Bouchon Bakery's Yountville location has re-opened. As the bakery side is rebuilt and approved, the retail side of the eatery will be open daily from 7 a.m.-noon with a shorter menu, but no bread. Items such as cookies, muffins, sandwiches, soup and the café options will be available for the time being. Bouchon Bakery, 6528 Washington St., Yountville, CA 94599, 707-944-2253.   Mina Celebrates 20 Years Chef and Gayot's 2011 Best Restaurateur in the U.S. Michael Mina will reunite thirteen chefs from the course of his now-20-year career for a blow-out tribute dinner on October 9 that will also mark Mina's one-year return to the restaurant space---formerly Aqua, now Michael Mina---where his trajectory began in October 1991. Mina mentors, contemporaries and protégés such as George Morrone, Joseph Humphrey, Traci Des Jardins, Melissa Perello, Ron Siegel and others will pair up to create a six-course tasting menu for an assortment of VIP guests, including Gary Danko, Nancy Oakes and Roland Passot. Current chefs of Mina's other San Francisco properties Bourbon Steak and RN74 will prepare the canapés, and the fun will only build from there. Tickets are $500 per person, including wine pairings from Mina favorites such as Iron Horse, Au Bon Climat, Piedrasassi and others, as well as access to the after party. All proceeds will benefit Ronnie Lott's All Stars Helping Kids. Michael Mina, 252 California St., San Francisco, CA 94111, 415-397-9222.   Kitchen Fire, Temporary Closing The Bouchon Bakery in Yountville had a kitchen fire. The cause is being investigated, thankfully no injuries were acquired. The restaurant will be closed until further notice. Bouchon Bakery, 6528 Washington St., Yountville, CA 94599, 707-944-2253.   Chef Shuffle Michael Ireland has been named wine director at The Restaurant at Meadowood, joining the team helmed by executive chef Christopher Kostow and restaurant director Nathaniel Dorn. Ireland's career trajectory began on the Peninsula at Parcel 104. He served as wine director of Viognier in San Mateo and became sommelier at The French Laundry in 2006, and then joined Quince as sommelier. Most recently, Ireland was sommelier at Benu in San Francisco. The Restaurant at Meadowood, Meadowood Napa Valley, 900 Meadowood Ln., St. Helena, CA 94574, 707-967-1205.   Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar inside The Lodge at Sonoma, a Renaissance Resort & Spa, is marking ten years with a new chef and refreshed interior. Andrew Wilson has cooked at the former Cypress Club and Cafe Kati in San Francisco, TRU in Chicago, and was sous of FIG and executive chef of McGrady's in Charleston, South Carolina. Under Wilson, highbrow bistro cooking with ingredients drawn from regional purveyors, including the restaurant's own garden, will remain the order of the day. Wilson's signature dishes favor strong flavors as with lacquered Sonoma duck breast with caramelized onion confit blue cheese tart and fig mostarda; cured salmon pastrami with mustard sauce, pickled red onions and rye crisps; and chicken liver mousse with house-made bread and butter pickles. The dining room's new details include French doors along two walls that open onto the kitchen garden and dining patios, and an airier feel throughout. Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar, The Lodge at Sonoma, a Renaissance Resort & Spa, 1325 Broadway, Sonoma, CA 95476, 707-931-2042.   Closings Despite two years of popularity, Pizzavino 707 in Sebastapol succumbed to the current economy and closed on August 28. Pizzavino 707, On the Plaza, 6948 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol, CA 95472, 707-829-9500.   CULINARY EVENTS Want to learn to cook? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area. View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in San Francisco Discover the top restaurants in the San Francisco/Bay Area for various cuisines and categories like sushi, steakhouses, happy hours, romantic dining and even gourmet food trucks. Find the best restaurants in SF here!

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