THE MISSION - Last chance to eat Chris Kronner's food at Bar Tartine will be Valentine's Day, February 14th. Remember, Kronner is leaving us for New York and Nick Balla will step up to the plate with a new Eastern/Central European focus. [SFoodie]
NOVATO - On Tuesday, March 1st, Toast in Novato is holding a raffle and silent auction to help raise money for five-year-old Dylan W. Levy, who's undergoing liver transplant surgery today. Toast owner Shahram Bijan will also donate twenty percent of restaurant sales from the evening towards Dylan’s medical bills and expenses. More on Dylan's story can be found here and the website for Toast Novato is here.
EMBARCADERO - Americano has added an express lunch menu, designed for speedy service and now offered Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For $18 you can get a choice of small cauliflower soup or salad and any panino or half order of pasta from the all day menu plus a mandarin orange or homemade chocolate chip cookie to go. [EaterWire]
EL BULLI FOOD PORN - The Ulterior Epicure recently went to Ferran Adrià's elBulli in Spain and he's got some really great photos of the entire 42-course dinner. The 33rd course was a sort-of creepy dish simply called "Hare Blood." [Flickr via -EN-]
BLOGS - Local private chef, consultant and illustrator Danny Brooks has published a photoblog of the 3-course dinners he's cooked nearly every night for the past two years. See all 1300 + artistically composed disheshere, navigable by cooking method, ingredient, inspiration and other categories. We suggest beginning with the deconstructed strawberry smoothie and Maine lobster puttanesca. [EaterWire]
FOOD TRUCKS - Restaurant news pub, QSR Magazine has put out a list of America's 20 top food trucks, including local reps, Spencer on the Go! and Sam's Chowdermobile. See who else gets the nod in the full piece, readable here.