Jay Porter Bringing Half Orange, Salsipuedes to Oakland

Two new projects are in the works for Jay Porter, the Southern California restaurateur (and anti-tipping evangelist) previously of San Diego sausage spot The Linkery . He and wife Katie Mayfield have long been plotting Salsipuedes, a nose-to-tail spot highlighting seafood and wine. But a second restaurant from the duo, The Half Orange, will actually beat Salsipuedes to the punch. It's an unexpected project that came to life after the old Taco Grill space in Fruitvale became available.

Berkeleyside Nosh broke news of the project, which came out of Porter's desire to revisit the beer-and-sausage ethos of his previous spots. Described as a "friendly little shed" with a sunny patio, The Half Orange will have 10 craft beers on tap and a menu of handmade sausages, grass-fed burgers, fries and salads.

The spot is seen by Porter as a complement to Salsipuedes, which the husband-and-wife team are planning for 4201 Market Street in North Oakland. Berkeleyside reported earlier this year that local ingredients will be a focus, with shellfish, ocean catch and coastal plants featured, along with produce and proteins sourced from Northern California.

Salsipuedes is still a ways out, but look for it to open later in 2015. In the meantime, diners will be able to check out what Porter and Mayfield are capable of at The Half Orange, which has a planned opening date of late June.

· Salsipuedes owners launch new Oakland project [Berkeleyside]
· Salsipuedes aims for 'heartfelt cooking' in Oakland [Berkeleyside]