Michael Bauer's Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants

Michael Bauer of the Chronicle has come out with his annual Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants list...
Click here for the full list.

Taste of the Nation - San Francisco

Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation® is the nation’s premier culinary benefit dedicated to making sure no kid in America grows up hungry. Each spring, the nation's hottest chefs and mixologists donate their time, talent and passion at more than 45 events across the United States and Canada, with one goal in mind: to raise the critical funds needed to end childhood hunger. Since 1988, Taste of the Nation has raised more than $70 million.

Taste of the Nation - San Francisco

DATE: This Thursday, April 23, 2009
TIME: 6:00 PM - VIP Reception Entry at 5:30 PM
LOCATION: The Field Club Lounge at AT&T Park (Tasting Reception) and Traci Des Jardin's Acme Chophouse (VIP Dinner & Auction)
TICKETS: VIP Dinner + Tasting Reception- $250, Tasting Reception - $75
Tickets available clicking here.

They will have an amazing line-up of chefs for this year’s Gala Dinner which include Michael Symon (Cleveland's Lola/Lolita), SF’s own Traci Des Jardins (Acme Chophouse/Jardinière/Mijita), Chris Cosentino (Incanto), Gavin Kaysen (NYC's Café Boulud), and Koren Grieveson (Chicago's Avec). Chef Elizabeth Falkner will once again provide the dessert course, and Host Chef Thom Fox has graciously opened his Acme Chophouse kitchen again to host.

Kicking off the event will be a Tasting Reception featuring an array of the Bay Area's best chefs & restaurants, including:
* Honorary Tasting Event Chair Jamie Lauren - Absinthe
* Liza Shaw - A16
* Jordan Grosser - The Alembic
* Percy Whatley - The Awhanee Hotel
* Jason Fox - Bar Tartine
* Loretta Keller & Michael Morrison- Coco500 & The Moss Room
* Robbie Lewis – Oracle
* Jenn Puccio - Cortez
* Cal Stamenov - Marinus at the Bernardus Lodge
* Scott Youkilis - Maverick
* Michelle Mah - Midi
* Staffan Terje & Sarah Ballard - Perbacco
* Tim Luym - Poleng Lounge
* Seis Kamimura - Postrio
* Jennifer Biesty & Tim Nugent - Scala's Bistro
* Charles Phan - Slanted Door
* Chris Behr - SPQR
* Mark Sullivan - Spruce
* Parke Ulrich - Waterbar
* Hoss Zare - Zaré at Flytrap

JUST ADDED: An incredible Mixology Program celebrating the upcoming SF Cocktail Week in May. Sample signature cocktails from the City's best bartenders at the Tasting event.
Participating Bars Include:
* Elixir
* 15 Romolo
* Beretta
* Bourbon & Ranch
* Conduit
* Heaven's Dog
Taste the best of San Francisco's original cocktail culture and sample some new inspirations from the country's best mixologists. Bid on unmatched food and wine experiences in exciting silent and live auctions at the gala dinner, or buy raffle tickets for a variety of fun packages at the tasting event.

Best of all, Fight Hunger in San Francisco and throughout the US with your generous contribution. 100% of your ticket purchase goes directly to Share Our Strength.
Beneficiaries: Ticket sales will benefit Foodrunners, Children of Shelters, and Sports 4 Kids, San Francisco.

Panel in SF this Thursday: A New National Food Policy - But What About the Hungry?

Check out this great event, presented by the SF Food Bank and the Commonwealth Club. The panel will include the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture and other food policy leaders.

A New National Food Policy - But What About the Hungry?

Thursday, April 23, 2009

A.G. Kawamura, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture
Paul Ash, Executive Director, San Francisco Food Bank
Paula Jones, Director of Food Systems, San Francisco Department of Public Health
Michael Dimock, President, Roots of Change
Amy Sherman, Food Blogger & Author - Moderator

Michael Pollan, Alice Waters and other food activists have advocated for radical changes in U.S. food policy. But those changes could have a surprising impact on people living in poverty. This panel examines the future of food in our country and state – and the impact reforms may have on the 150,000 people in San Francisco (including one in every four children) who are unsure where their next meal is coming from. How can we create a food system that is good, clean and fair for all?

Location: PG&E Theatre, 245 Market St. (at Beale St.), San Francisco (Note: event is NOT at the Commonwealth Club)
Time: 6 p.m. check-in, 6:30 p.m. program
Cost: $8 Commonwealth Club members, $15 non-members, $7 students

Tickets: Available online at https://tickets.commonwealthclub.org/open.asp?show=1112 or call 415-597-6700