Do your taste buds a favor and stop by these enticing events this week.
Friday, December 20
San Francisco is now home to the world’s first illy MonoArabica coffee counter. Located in Upper Market, the new espressamente illy will serve only single-origin coffee from Guatemala, Brazil or Ethiopia. This isn’t just your quick-stop coffee house, however; with seating for 49, including a large meeting table and comfy couches, the space is meant for people to gather over coffee. It also has a delicious café menu with signature drink favorites (like the Lavender Mint latte) and trained baristas to offer advice on home coffee and provide tips on dessert pairings. If nothing else, stop by to check out the world’s only Daniel Buren chandelier featuring a cascade of black illy cups and colored saucers (pictured above). 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. daily, 2349 Market St.
Saturday, December 21
Don’t miss out on this holiday book signing for Chef Charlie Palmer’s new cookbook, Remington Camp Cooking. The new recipe book is filled with outdoor games, fireside recipes, camp cooking pointers and pictures that look so delicious you’ll want to pack up your tent and leave the city right now. All books will be personalized and signed and you’ll even go home with a complimentary Camp Cooking treat. 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., Screen Porch at Hotel Healdsburg.
Sunday, December 22
Join SoMa StrEat Food Park for an early Christmas celebration with live music, games and all you can eat fresh, local, Dungeness crab. Tickets also include a garden salad, garlic noodles and sourdough bread to nibble on between heaping servings of seafood. And in case you eventually get tired of crab (is that even possible?) there will also be 12 additional food trucks on site. $50, buy tickets here. 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., SoMA StrEat Park, 428 11th St @ Harrison.
Monday, December 23
Learn how to make the gem of Indian fast food, the dosa. A crispy crepe made of mixed rice and lentils; the dosa has a crunchy, tangy wrapper that perfectly compliments a wide variety of light yet savory fillings. Route to India will teach you how to make the classic masala dosa, an unconventional Portobello mushroom and spinach dosa, and Coconut Chutney. $150, buy tickets here, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., Soma Cooking Loft. 16 Jessie St. @ 1st.
13 North, a new pop-up specializing in Filipinio cuisine and started by Bayani Inclano (from Outerlands) and Shawn Camacho (from The Palace), is hosting a benefit dinner for the vicitms of Typhoon Haiyan. All proceeds will be donated to the relief effort. The three course tasting menu will feature traditional flavors from the Philipines made with local organic ingredients. $40, 5:30 - 10:00 p.m. Stable Cafe, 2124 Folsom @ 17th. Make reservations at (650) 814-1419.
Tuesday, December 24 - Thursday, December 26
If you’re spending Christmas in San Francisco, this is the alternative event you’ve been looking for. The 21st Annual Kung Pao Kosher Comedy event is three nights of Jewish comedy on Christmas in a Chinese restaurant. The affair features Gary Gulman (from Last Comic Standing and Comedy Central) and a diverse seven-course meal. You’ll even leave with a fortune cookie containing a Yiddish proverb inside. $64 dinner show, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m., $44 cocktail show, 9:30 p.m., buy tickets here. New Asia Restaurant, 772 Pacific @ Stockton.
