When it comes to Luke Mangan and his Australian newcomer down on Townsend, South Food and Wine Bar, several notable things have come to our attention over the long weekend:
1) Even though it remains a relatively hot ticket on the weekends (read: resy required), South somehow continues to fly under the radar to the general public. Maybe it's because it has yet to hit the review circuit, maybe it's because it's in the post-debut hangover, maybe it's because other newcomers—the Spruces and SPQRs of the city—are more centrally-located, but we feel safe in saying that the average diner knows not of South.
2) Along those lines, Luke Mangan just might be the most internationally-renowned celebrity chef with a restaurant in San Francisco proper. Danko and Mina enthusiasts may disagree, but Mangan has restaurants in Sydney and Tokyo, with Los Angeles, Vegas and New York in his sights.
3) Mangan is a "flirtatious foodie."
4) And next year, the man will debut a television show called Appetizing Adventures with Luke Mangan, wherein he explores Australia and Asia.
5) Mangan's cuisine, dubbed Mod Oz, is strikingly similar to classic Californian—clean, simple, ingredient-driven—with an added exotic appeal. Even though Mangan is not in-house—he's planning on stopping by every two months or so—Nicole Ferguson is handling kitchen duties quite merrily.
· South Food + Wine Bar [Official Site]
· Luke Mangan adds TV to global empire [Daily Telegraph]
· Eater Inside: South [~ESF~]
[Photo: Official Site]
