Monthly Archives: February 2012

West Coast Ingredients with East Coast Finish

By Jarrod Shappell

There are strong points of connection between New York and San Francisco. Our beautiful parks, walkable streets, and love for the arts to name a few. One thing that we do not have in common is our style of food. A new Hayes Valley restaurant is trying to change that.

The new Dobbs Ferry Restaurant, located on Hayes and Gough, is making a self-described attempt at “West Coast food and East Coast style with an ‘old world’ feel.” This description brings to mind the Beach Boys sipping martinis while eating at Katz’s Deli. Suffice it to say that Dobbs Ferry is doing a much better job at bringing these two worlds together.

Upon entering the building the lounge greets you with exposed brick and candle lit, dark wood tables. Just a few steps past the lounge reveals an entire dining room with seating flexible enough to seat your next large reservation. Settling down in the lounge, I found the cocktail list to be unpretentious and straightforward. I ordered the Humdinger and enjoyed the easy to drink cardamom taste.

Being quite hungry we began with the pizza frites. The crunchy flat bread was served on top of a marinara sauce that reminded me of my childhood. Conversely we ordered the fried pumpkin dish consisting of gourd, battered and fried, stacked on top of a bed of frisèe, goat cheese, and cinnamon honey.  These appetizers showed the commitment to seasonal Bay Area ingredients as well as the nostalgic flavors of the East Coast.

For entrees we ordered the pizza and the flank steak (which can be ordered “family style”). The pepper and sausage pizza’s thin crust was perfectly charred on the bottom and gave my pallet quite a kick. The steak was perfectly cooked, sliced thin and was served with a potato gratin. This gratin is more than a side dish! Its rich flavor and delicate texture made me want to order an entire plate of it during my next visit. I will also be sure to visit again so that I can try the East Coast inspired veal marsala and sturgeon.

Dobbs Ferry is a great team effort. Executive Chef Mike Yakura has accomplished the difficult task of creating a menu that is both accessible and refined. Owners Scott Broccoli and Danny Sterling (who hail from the town of Dobbs Ferry located in Westchester County, NY) have done an excellent job with the space and with the staff. Our server was attentive throughout the evening and made a wonderful suggestion that we end with a beignet dessert. The pillowy dough is served with caramelized apples and house made soft serve ice cream. I am not sure which Coast this dessert belongs to, but I hope it doesn’t leave ours.

French épicerie: Gourmet and More

By Murrey Nelson

As a Francophile, I am generally delighted with all things French…film, food, wine…you name it.  Imagine the thrill of hearing that a real French épicerie had opened right here in Hayes Valley, at 141 Gough Street between Oak and Lily.

Featuring specialty items such as foie gras, exotic mustards, truffle butter, duck confit and macarons to die for, Gourmet & More is a charming little shop opened by proprietors Josiane and Laurent Recollon.  Josiane is originally from Paris and Laurent from Brittany, but they have been in the Bay Area for many years, working and raising their family here.  Laurent was in sales in the food business for a number of years, but six years ago they decided to open their own specialty wholesale business as purveyors of fine French gourmet goods to restaurants.  Trying their hand at retail through a couple of “open warehouse” sales, they knew they had to get into it on a permanent basis and began looking for a space.

As happens with many of our local businesses, Josiane and Laurent did not so much choose Hayes Valley as Hayes Valley chose them.  They didn’t necessarily want to be in a high rent district where the risk is greater, and they wanted to be a real destination for chefs and foodies alike.  That being said, their space required quite a lot of work, rewiring and revamping.  Once the space was largely complete, they took a sourcing trip to France where they stocked up on gastronomic delights along with the original French signs that whimsically adorn the shop.

Certainly the pièce de résistence of the store is the climate-controlled cheese room in the back, where Laurent often holds court, suggesting cheeses to fit any menu or palette and offering tastes to anyone who inquires.  Gourmet & More found a natural audience in the faculty and families of the French American School right across the street, but Josiane confirms that more and more locals are coming in and she is getting to know many neighbors and their culinary preferences.  Word of mouth has been great for their business.

The Recollons want their customers to enjoy the experience of shopping at Gourmet & More, so they go the extra mile in creating a quality shopping trip.  Last in line to pay for your goodies?  Enjoy a complimentary espresso while you wait.  Getting hungry while shopping?  Purchase a lunch combo, featuring a traditional French sandwich, chips, sparkling lemonade and something to satisfy your sweet tooth.  Coming soon will be a sheltered terrace in back of the store, where you will be able to enjoy the aforementioned lunch or a cheese tray selection.

Gourmet & More is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 am to 7:00 pm, and on Sunday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.  Stop by and welcome Josiane and Laurent to the neighborhood.  You will not leave empty-handed.

President’s Column from the Feb/March Voice

By Karen Mauney-Brodek

It has been a big year for Hayes Valley and the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association. We have seen the re-opening of the Hayes Valley Playground, many new businesses come into the neighborhood, development projects that have been on hold spring back to life, and the continuation of all of our efforts to improve Hayes Valley for the residents, families and businesses that call it home.

THANK YOU to all of you that have renewed your membership and support of this organization. Your contributions allow us to produce our newsletters and flyers which reach thousands of neighbors, have a strong voice for positive change for our neighborhood, and make important local financial contributions such as to the art in Patricia’s Green.

At our February neighborhood association meeting, to be held on February 23rd, at 7pm we will be holding our annual board election and voting on a few important proposed HVNA bylaw revisions. It will be held at the Hayes Valley Playground Clubhouse, located in the Hayes Valley Playground at the corner of Hayes and Buchanan Street. Your vote is important and we hope you attend. You will need to be a current voting member to in order to vote – but – great news and very easy – you can renew at the meeting with a check or cash! We have very affordable membership options, starting at only $25 per year for an individual or $15 for limited income members.

Our nominations committee has provided a strong slate of candidates for the HNVA 2012-2013 Board term for your review. In addition, we have three other items for your consideration and vote.

First, we are proposing to slightly enlarge the geographic boundaries of the organization. Over the years, we have had interest, support and sometimes contributions to the organization from neighbors who live or work in blocks which officially fall outside the organization’s boundaries as described in the current bylaws.

Second, we are proposing to amend the term of the membership year to be twelve months from the time the member joins, at any point in the year. This will allow us to more easily track membership renewals and membership standing.

Lastly, we are proposing to change the organization’s fiscal year to better align with the board of directors’ term. This will provide for a more seamless transition between the in-coming and out-going treasurers.

The board and I believe these bylaw revisions will greatly improve the ability of HVNA to serve its members.

Come on February 23rd, vote and let’s start work on next year!

Past Present and Future Walking tour this Sunday!

Get your walking shoes on and join HVNA Board member Larry Cronander for a tour in Hayes Valley this Sunday!

Sun, February 12, 1pm – 4pm

Meet at Koshland Park – corner of Page and Buchanan Streets (map)

Description:

Join Walk San Francisco and our guide Larry Cronander for an exploration of the colorful past, dynamic present and promising future of Hayes Valley, one of the City’s most rapidly changing neighborhoods. A vibrant early Victorian neighborhood, Hayes Valley later went into decades of decline, particularly with the construction of the Central Freeway in the 1950s. With its demolition, the adoption of the Market-Octavia Plan and the construction of Octavia Boulevard, the neighborhood bloomed again, with renovations, new construction, and innovative interim uses of the spaces left by the freeway’s footprint. We’ll check out official San Francisco landmark buildings, the Hayes Valley Farm, and much more.

We’ll finish at a local pub on Hayes Street, where you can stay if you wish to enjoy the company of your fellow walkers!

February 12, 2012
1:00 p.m.
Meet at Koshland Park – corner of Page and Buchanan Streets
Length: 2-3 hours
Moderately strenuous

$10 for the general public.
Free for WalkSF members—See you there!

RSVP Here:
Google RSVP form

Please note that in the case of rain, we will cancel the event. Be sure to leave your email address as we will inform you should we need to cancel.

High School Summer Internship about Transportation

The 2012 Metropolitan Transportation Commission High School Summer Internship Program is now open and accepting student applications online. Approximately 35 internships will be available throughout the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. The pay rate is $10.25 per hour. Each internship will last up to a maximum of 250 hours. Students may work full-time or part-time, for up to 10 weeks, between June 26 and August 31, 2012.

The purpose of the program is to:
promote interest in transportation as a potential career;
help students understand the role of transportation agencies in the community, county and region;
provide skill-building and enrichment opportunities during all phases of the program; and
provide assistance to our partner transportation agencies.
Interested tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students are invited to apply now.
APPLICATION PROCESS

Complete online application.
Attach a page that describes in your own words a transportation prob­lem in your community and explains what you think could be done to resolve the matter.
Also attach one letter of recommendation from a teacher, principal, counselor, religious leader or employer (two letters are required if GPA is below 2.8).
Program requirements and information:
http://www.mtc.ca.gov/jobs/high_school/

Listing of the internship opportunities and application form:
http://jobs.mtc.ca.gov/InternshipOpportunities/jobinternship.html

Deadline for students to apply: March 8, 2012

Parenting Class Begins March 22

If you are the parent of a child(ren) between the ages of 2 to 12 and you are looking for a way to improve the interaction between you and your child(ren) then this class is for you. This class will help you to increase the use of effective non-punitive parenting strategies by teaching you the following skills/strategies:

•Developing realistic and age-appropriate expectation for child behavior
•Goal setting and monitoring of child behaviors
•Encouraging desirable child behavior through positive reinforcement
•Using effective non-punitive strategies (e.g., selective ignoring, logical consequences, time out) as alternatives to physical punishment
•Reducing parental stress and anger

This is a 14 week evidence-based parenting class that is accredited by the City and County of San Francisco Human Services Agency (Child Protective Services). To register for this class or to obtain further information please call: (415) 202-9770.

“i-speak” at Castro Theatre

FRENCH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL CELEBRATES 50th ANNIVERSARY AT CASTRO THEATRE WITH SPEAKER SERIES EVENT

Peter Coyote, Michael Moritz, Tiffany Shlain, Guillermo Gómez-Peña and others help celebrate 50th Anniversary of first bilingual immersion school in San Francisco on February 11 at Castro Theatre

 

WHAT:  On Saturday, February 11th, 2012, French American International Schoolpresents the “i-speak” series, an evening of conversation and sharing of ideas featuring a collection of international thought leaders, artists and celebrities on the topic of innovation in the 21st Century. This signature event of the school’s 50th anniversary celebration will feature appearances by actor Peter Coyote, venture capitalist Michael Moritz, filmmaker Tiffany Shlain, artist-activist Guillermo Gómez-Peña, composerNathaniel Stookey, international finance expert Moyara Ruehsen, Sherene Melania (San Francisco Arts Commission) and French American alumna Erin Durrah.

“i-speak” is part of a two-day celebration marking French American’s 50 years of pioneering bilingual, internationally focused and academically challenging education in San Francisco. French American International School was founded in the 1960’s era of internationalism as an experiment in bilingual immersion education by a small group of visionary parents and community leaders. Today it is the oldest, largest and first bilingual school in San Francisco.

WHEN:   Saturday, February 11

6:30 – 8:00 PM

Doors open at 6:00 PM

WHERE:         Castro Theatre

429 Castro Street, San Francisco

WHO:                    Guest Speakers: Peter Coyote, Michael Moritz, Tiffany Shlain, Guillermo Gómez-Peña, Nathaniel Stookey, Moyara Ruehsen,Guerrino De Luca, Sherene Melania, Erin Durrah  

PUBLIC INFO:      This event is open to the public, students and alumni. Tickets are available through the French American International School website: www.internationalsf.org/50thcastrotheatre

COST:             $5 for Students Under 21

                                $10 for Adults

Connecting pedestrians, bicyclists, and critters to the City’s green spaces

Connecting pedestrians, bicyclists, and critters to the City’s green spaces:
Join the Planning Department for the Kick Off Event

Wednesday February 15th
5:30 to 7:30 PM
LGBT Community Center, Rainbow Room
1800 Market Street, San Francisco

Green Connections will increase access to parks, open space and the waterfront, by re-envisioning City streets and paths as ‘green connectors’. This project builds on current efforts to create sustainable corridors that enhance mobility, green neighborhood streets, and improve pedestrian and bicycle access to community amenities and recreational opportunities. Green Connections will result in a Citywide network of green streets that can be built over time, improving pedestrian and bicycle access to parks, open space and the waterfront.

In the first year of the project, the focus will be to map a citywide network. The second year will build on this framework to design a green connection in the following six neighborhoods: Bayview-Hunters Point, Chinatown, Potero Hill, The Tenderloin, Visitaction Valley and The Western Addition.

Green Connections is a collaborative effort between the San Francisco Planning Department, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, San Francisco Department of Public Health and the Mayor’s Office of Housing. The City agencies have partnered with three community based organizations: San Francisco Parks Alliance, WalkSF and Nature in the City.

GET INVOLVED!
The project team will host many public events to engage communities in developing Green Connections.

To learn more:

Visit the project website http://greenconnections.sfplanning.org
Join the project mailing list by sending an email to greenconnections@sfgov.org