Five's BBQ in Berkeley, Sam White's Oakland Ramen

Five. [Photo: Jennifer Yin]

BERKELEY — "BBQ, Blues, and Booze" starts July 12 and runs every Thursday night through September 6 at FIVE (2086 Allston Way). It's a dinner special ($28) with a menu that includes a choice of two meats (from ribs, brisket and chicken), a side dish sampler, and a weekly changing dessert. [EaterWire]

OAKLAND — Sam White, former maitre d' at Chez Panisse and co-founder of the roaming OPENrestaurant, is plotting a Northern California-influenced ramen shop in Rockridge (5812 College Avenue). A lease has just been signed and no opening date is set. [Grub St]

FOIE GRAS — Plans for an underground duckeasy dinner called Croikey originally scheduled on July 8 were delayed after an original venue got cold feet; it is now set for July 15 in a secret location somewhere between Russian Hill and North Beach. Diners can expect to see a certain banned liver in several forms (mousseline, torchon, cured, frozen, and seared) during this 10-course meal. There are about 20 tickets ($100) left over here. [EaterWire]

SOMA — Former Gitane general manager Kinson Lau plans to open a "comfortable and low-key" bar called The Alchemist. The address has yet to be released, but the opening is expected sometime in September. [Tablehopper]