Openings, closings…
NOVEL BREWING As reported back in October, Novel Brewing is opening up in North Oakland. Owners Brian and Teresa Koloszyc say the goal is to throw open the doors to the new tasting room on Love Our Neighborhood Day, Saturday, June 4, 11am-4pm. There will be a limited selection of beers on tap, “just enough to wet your whistle.” After Saturday, the brewery will continue to be open Saturdays, noon to 10pm, and Sundays, noon to 8pm. Additional hours will be added as they ramp up to full speed. Or as the couple put it: “The fermenters are full and the yeast is happy! Beer cometh!” Novel Brewing is at 6510 San Pablo Ave. (at 65th Street), Oakland. Connect with the brewery on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
STAY GOLD DELI West Oakland now boasts an East Coast style deli with the recent opening of Stay Gold Deli at 2635 San Pablo Ave. As Luke Tsai points out in the East Bay Express, those who have been mourning the loss of Genova Delicatessen, now have a new place to get a meatball sub or cold-cut meat sandwich. Stay Gold describes itself as a full-service Italian-American deli counter, restaurant, coffee shop, BBQ joint and grocery. Stay Gold Deli is at 2635 San Pablo Ave. (at 26th Street), Oakland. Check out its Facebook page.
TENI EAST KITCHEN Staying in North Oakland, the city’s newest Asian-Fusion restaurant, Teni East Kitchen, is up and running at 4015 Broadway in the burgeoning 40th Street neighborhood. The menu includes tea leaf kale salad, sweet tamarind chicken, lemongrass beef, roti, and coconut veggie curry. Early reviews on Yelp are optimistic: one person praises the “nice modern décor,” and the “fabulous, courteous service,” but says some of the dishes are on the bland side. But another wrote: “Roti airy and heavenly by itself; blast of flavor and texture with the curry. Lamb curry best dish of the night. Chunks of tender lamb in an amazing rich yet light curry.” Teni East Kitchen is at 4015 Broadway (at 40th Street), Oakland. No website or Facebook page as yet.
FORAGE KITCHEN After successfully raising $156,000 through a Kickstarter campaign, Forage Kitchen is getting ready to open in August and is taking applications for members. (Read our feature story on Forage Kitchen.) Describing itself as “a co-working space for food, and a home for anyone who loves to cook,” Forage aims to help people launch food businesses. Partner Iso Rabins says there will be new kitchen equipment, shared office space, a café upfront with rotisserie chicken, and a bar and outdoor seating open to the public. Forage has already been holding classes and will continue to do so in the new space, for “pros and aspiring pros alike” as well as markets and pig roasts during First Fridays, and — a dream of Rabins’ — story nights where “storytellers to spin yarns around the campfire.” Forage Kitchen will be at 478 25th St., Oakland.
Dinners and events…
URBAN FARM TOUR BERKELEY If you have a small, or even large, backyard and often wonder what you could do with it, check out the urban farm tour of Berkeley backyards on Sat. June 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organized by Oakland’s Institute of Urban Homesteading, this self-guided tour provides a peek into seven “most excellent examples of small-scale urban agriculture.” The gardens contain everything from chickens, goats, bees, fruits, berries, herbs, and vegetables and showcase composting systems, rainwater catchment, greywater, and creative re-use of found materials. The gardens range from small (3,200 square feet) to large (three hillside acres). Tickets are $5 per site or $30 to $75 in advance. Higher ticket prices include farm fresh goodies from the farmers. More information at IUH’s website and on Facebook. Buy tickets.
FIRST FRIDAYS AT DONKEY & GOAT Berkeley winery Donkey & Goat is taking advantage of the warm nights and long days by throwing open its Tasting Room after hours on the first Friday of every month. There’ll be wine, obviously, art, and community from 6-8 p.m. The winery is also bringing in local music acts: on June 3, Jessica Jarvis; July 1, Jessica Malone; and August 5, Sleepwalk Sunday. And there’s always the chance to play at game of corn hole or Bocce at Donkey & Goat. Entry is free — wines and small snack for sale. Donkey & Goat is at 1340 Fifth Street, Berkeley. Check out the Summer Nights at the Winery Facebook page for more details.
PIG ROAST AT HOPSCOTCH Tonight Hopscotch in Uptown will be holding the second night of its Pig n’ Three whole-pig roast in the Hopscotch annex, 6-10pm. Chef Kyle Itani will be roasting a whole pig in the restaurant’s La Caja China, and will be serving up plates of pork, choice of sides and a can of Fort Point Beer – all for $20. Choose your cut of pork and your three sides, from favorites like potato salad, miso-sofrito braised greens, kakiage, slaw and corn bread. More sides, an extra beer or a shot of whisky for additional $5. Hopscotch annex is next door to the main Hopscotch dining room at 1911 San Pablo Ave. (at 19th Street) Oakland.
TUCKER’S ICE CREAM 75TH BIRTHDAY Tucker’s Ice Cream in Alameda will celebrate an impressive 75th anniversary at 5:30pm on June 3. A ribbon cutting will be hosted by the Alameda Chamber of Commerce and officiated by Vice Mayor Frank Matarrase. “This is a great celebration recognizing Marshall Tucker’s vision for an ice cream business that would become an integral part of Alameda,” write owners Kate Pryor and David Lee, who add: “We are fortunate to be a part of this great community. We would be honored for you to join us to celebrate this special day.” Tucker’s Ice Cream is at 1349 Park Street, Alameda.
PRIMA MATERIA WINERY POPUP Chef and winemaker Pietro Buttitta has announced three pop-up events in Berkeley and San Francisco to support his winery and restaurant project called Prima Materia that he’s planning to open in Oakland. Prima Materia will focus on non-mainstream grapes crafted into wines “grown and crafted with an Old World voice.” The first event will take place June 7 at 5 p.m. at Solano Cellars on Solano Avenue in Berkeley. The evening will feature Buttitta’s 2012 vintage wines and 2013 previews paired with appetizers made by the chef. Admission is $15. Tickets and menu can be accessed through www.eatfeastly.com.
What else is going on…
MAKER’S COMMON We told you all about the new charcuterie, cheese and wine spot Maker’s Common that is building out the space at 1945 University Ave. in downtown Berkeley with a view to opening in February 2017. The project is being funded by a Direct Public Offering, and is over half way to its $600,000 goal. On Thursday June 9, 6:30-8pm owners Sarah Dvorak and Oliver Dameron (who also run Mission Cheese in the city) are hosting an “investor happy hour,” the first one in its new space. The event is open to anyone interested in learning about the investment, but RSVPs are required to oliver@makerscommon.net
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