The Mill Now Has Booze, a Napa Cat Cafe, and More A.M. Intel

There’s now beer and wine at The Mill

September brought news that Divisadero coffee and toast shop The Mill wanted to start serving beer and wine, and in typical slow San Francisco permitting, it took four months for that to happen. But the beer and wine is now in place — specifically Pizza Port Brewing Co. beer cans and some French wines — to go with your pizza on Monday and Wednesday nights, Hoodline reports.

Napa is the latest cat cafe recipient (sort of)

Now you can drunkenly pet cats during your next wine tasting day. Ella’s Cathouse and Catnip Bar (1009 Caymus St.) will open at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 27, providing fifteen rescued cats to pet and potentially adopt. Just don’t expect any coffee or tea: This is a cathouse, and instead of refreshments, there will be yoga classes and book readings. Ella’s will be open to the public Friday through Monday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., with only four visitors allowed in at a time, for up to one hour, the Napa Valley Register revealed.

Pabu brings in a new chef

Michael Mina’s Financial District sushi spot Pabu and its neighboring ramen shop The Ramen Bar have a new executive chef in Shaun King. He’ll be overseeing day-to-day operations, executing managing chef Ken Tominaga’s “vision,” and he brings experience from several Vegas restaurants.

The Gastropig’s executive chef is quite pedigreed

Oakland’s new breakfast sandwich restaurant The Gastropig is already charming morning meal eaters, and now the guy behind the magic has been revealed. Executive chef Lance Dean Velasquez marks his return to restaurants, having cooked in the Bay Area at Gary Danko back in the 90’s, Inside Scoop reports. It’s an interesting next step for him, having done fine dining and then focusing on healthy eating, before returning to a restaurant kitchen for a fast casual, pork-forward concept.