This week in food-world news, Daniel Patterson's casual spinoff of Coi, gets a name, SliderBar expands, Gitane launches a new regional tasting menu, and Beer Hall, a new beer bar, debuts.
First up, the previously announced new project from chef Daniel Patterson (Coi, Plum, Haven) has a name now: Alta CA (1420 Market Street between 10th and 11th). As Inside Scoop reports, Patterson likes the name for its literary connection–Alta California was the name of the 19th Century SF newspaper where Mark Twain worked–and because it refers to California as it was known as a territory of Mexico, as opposed to Baja California. The menu plans are still under wraps, but Patterson has said the place will be "fun" and "casual," with a full bar, and it will be "an everyday place with tasty food and drink." Look for an opening this fall. [Inside Scoop]
Less than a block away we have the soft opening this week of The Beer Hall (1 Polk Street, at Market), a new bottle shop and beer bar from married couple Andrew and Jennifer Hall. The tap list is all domestic, mostly from California, and then, like City Beer Store, there's an extensive international bottle selection available for takeout, or to drink on premises. See some photos over at Eater.
Then there's a new regional tasting menu you should be aware of at Gitane, where, each quarter, co-chefs (and married couple) Bridget Batson and Patrick Kelly focus on a different region of Spain. Starting Monday, that region is Galicia, and they've crafted a cool five-course menu including things like Kumamoto oysters served with melon, hibiscus, and sea grapes; a monkfish liver terrine served with fresh tomatoes, olive, and garum ice; and a twist on an empanada with several preparations of duck, padron peppers, and romanesco. Added bonus: Wine director Sarah Knoefler has wine pairings, all from tiny producers in Galicia, that are totally unique and worth trying all on their own. The whole menu is a pretty good value at $75 per person, with $50 additional for pairings. [7x7]
And finally, SliderBar, which expanded from Palo Alto to the Castro last fall, is expanding once more to Berkeley, to a spot near campus at 2124 Center Street (between Shattuck and Oxford). They're aiming for an opening on August 19, and will be ready when all the kids come flooding back to town. [Inside Scoop]