Bloody Mary with Cheetos burns bright
Everything but the kitchen sink has been used to garnish a Bloody Mary. Celery, pickles, bacon, and shrimp are yesterday’s news. But there’s still room for innovation: Enter the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Bloody Mary at Center Hub Bar in Irvine, California. The drink is on its way to social media stardom, making the rounds on all the blogs. What, pray tell, is next?
Saint Frank opens cafe storefront at SoMa roastery
Saint Frank, a coffee company from Ritual Roasters alumnus Kevin Bohlin, has been roasting its coffee beans for the last year in SoMa at the former De La Paz Space at 1081 Mission (near 7th). But customers can now drink Saint Frank coffee on the premises, as the front third of the space has been converted to a cafe. It’s the third dedicated Saint Frank cafe — there’s one on Polk up in Russian Hill and another on Facebook’s campus down in Menlo Park.
Proposition Chicken expanding to Lakeshore Avenue in Oakland
Quick, counter service chicken restaurant Proposition Chicken will open its second location on September 13, expanding from San Francisco to Oakland at 3260 Lakeshore Avenue. “Prop C’s” original location, at 1750 Market Street, was opened in 2013.
21st Amendment joins craft brewery partnership
Three major craft breweries — 21st Amendment (San Leandro, California), Funkwerks Brewing Company (Fort Collins, Colorado), and Brooklyn Brewery (New York) — are joining forces, combining their sales and distribution platforms beginning next year. As part of the arrangement, Brooklyn Brewery made a minority investment in both other brewer. They’ll still operate independently.
El Paseo scores new executive chef
Sammy Hagar’s Mill Valley restaurant El Paseo has a new chef in Todd Shoberg (Molina). Shoberg’s menu at the notably scenic restaurant will be ready by mid-August. Another addition to the team: Cassie Corless, who joins as general manager from Copita Tequileria y Comida in Sausalito.
Spinsters Sisters chef earns James Beard honor
Liza Hinman, chef at Santa Rosa restaurant Spinsters Sisters, was named to the first class of the James Beard Foundation’s Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program. She’ll take a trip to Babson College in September to meet her fellow honorees, including Oakland’s Tanya Holland (Brown Sugar Kitchen). Meanwhile, Hinman and her Spinsters Sisters business partners are busy renovating the Santa Rosa Astro Motel for their next project.
