Ragazza Parties; Sidekick Opens @ Ferry Building; MORE

NOPA - Ragazza hosted 125 investors and neighbors including supervisor Ross Mirakimi at Saturday night's pre-opening party. Then they served almost 100 people at each of two test dinners on Sunday and Monday nights. Industry friends showed up from Dona Tomas, Frances, Marlowe, Bi Rite Creamery, Equator Coffee, Pizza Politana and Flour + Water and about $2,200 in voluntary contributions was collected to benefit neighborhood charities, Community Grows and Hayes Valley Farm. The Nopa pizza restaurant is opening tonight at 5 p.m. as planned.[EaterWire]

FERRY BUILDING - The Cowgirl Creamery ladies, Peggy Smith and Sue Conley, just officially opened Sidekick, their cafe, cheese and dairy bar right next door to their Ferry Building cheese shop. The menu includes a wide range of dairy-driven items: from savory and sweet yogurt bowls and mini cheese-filled challah morning sandwiches to afternoon salads, "toasties," raclette-style plates and more. Hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mon. through Sat. and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Hours will extend until 7 p.m. in a few weeks. [EaterWire]

SUNSET - SFoodie reports the roll-your-own sushi spot we've been following has opened. Only thing is, they've swapped the roll-your-own sushi idea for a tonkatsu idea. This is the traditional Japanese breaded and fried cutlet present on many izakaya menus, which really couldn't be more different from sushi. [SFoodie]

SORBET - The locally made Garden Creamery sorbet FoodGal endorsed a little while back are available at all eight Bay Area Andronicos locations as of this week. [EaterWire]

Chef Sharon Ardiana (middle), her sister Pat Calabro and her mom Rose Ardiana catch a breath of fresh air at one of the Ragazza test dinners. [Photo: Nick Vasilopoulos]
Nick Vasilopoulos