BEETS AND BEATS - Beyond its new chef, Farmstead is also working on something different on the event front: a partnership concert with music fest Outside Lands at its adjacent Long Meadow Ranch Winery. On July 9th, they'll be putting on a wine tasting set to a live Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers concert. This is the first of several music-culinary collaborations that will make up OSL's Summer Pairing Series. Subsequent "elevated picnics" shall include a Namu taco and wine tasting at Scribe Winery and a carnie-themed party thrown by Hayes Valley's Straw restaurant at Tres Sabores Winery. Further information on these and other related eventshere. [EaterWire]
NEW BEGINNINGS - The esteemed Mission Chinese Food did, in fact, reopen on Saturday, as planned. [EaterWire]
COMING ATTRACTIONS - Dominique Crenn fans may wish to check out the 6-course "diner au champagne" she's offering on Wednesday. She says the menu will include: 1) Carrot sorbet, aloe vera and grapes, 2) Wagyu beef tartare and smoked sturgeon pearls, 3) "broken" avocado and grapefruit, 4) Aji mackerel, dashi, marsmallow and bok choy, and some other things. The rest of the details are here. [EaterWire]
FOOD FESTS - San Francisco Magazine's Best of the Bay spectacular is coming up on June 30th. This is one of the bigger, better eat-and-drink fests with some 40 restaurants on tap this year. It's for charity. GA tickets are $100 and you can buy them here. [EaterWire]
EXPANSIONWIRE - The Embarcadero's enviably green version of the Plant Cafe has recently doubled the number of main courses on its menu to include entrees like Muscovy duck breast with warm faro tabouli and a citrus-sumac oil. Remember this is the Plant location that serves sustainably oriented cocktails too. [EaterWire]