EaterWire: Gastropubs Runneth Over, Update From Kookez, Plus a Top Chef Arrested For DUI

PENINSULA—Redwood City, come on and join the gastropub trend: "Michael Dotson and Moira Beveridge, who left the San Francisco restaurant Sens in a shakeup in March, are teaming up with Palo Alto bar manager Derek Smith to turn [the Alhambra Theater building in Redwood City] into Martins West, a 4,500-square-foot gastropub ... the team is considering a menu of everything from house-made black pudding to charcuterie to fish and chips." Just make sure to have beer on tap. [Scoop]

NOE VALLEY—Quoth Lady Hopstress: "According to a poster on Yelp, Kookez Cafe in Noe Valley is closed. After being for sale for a while, its last day of service was reportedly Sunday August 24th." We should add that a call to the restaurant indicates that according to the machine, they are on vacation this week, and to check back next week to see if they are open or closed. Our guess is that they are waiting for the sale to finalize, which is always a crapshoot. UPDATE: Definitely not shuttered yet and planning on reopening after vacation. As suspected, Kookez is waiting for the sale to finalize. [Hopper/EaterWire]

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA—Foam master and onetime Top Chef runner-up Marcel Vigneron was arrested in Laguna Beach over the weekend for suspicion of drunk driving: "Vigneron, who was initially stopped on suspicion of speeding, was taken into custody and his bail was set at $2,500 ... He gave a cooking demonstration at the Festivals of Arts on Sunday." Hey, at least he made his appointments the next day. Also: that is one terrifying photo. [OC Register via Amuse-Biatch]

[Photo courtesy]