Hog Island Oyster Co.
Hog Island Oyster Co. Headed for Lafayette?
In what would be a bombshell addition to the Lafayette food scene, Hog Island Oyster Co. appears to be targeting a new restaurant downtown. The regional seafood icon famed for its pristine oysters farmed sustainably out of Tomales and Humboldt bays filed for a Type 47 state alcohol license at 3596 Mt. Diablo Boulevard on September 4. That’s the same address currently occupied by Barranco (which would transfer its current liquor license to Hog Island) and on the same block as Pizza Antica and Batch & Brine. While no announcement has been made and the transfer is still pending, Barranco, the nine-year-old Peruvian seafood concept from star Bay Area chef Carlos Altamirano, announced on Instagram last week that it was “closed for maintenance.”
Founded in 2013 by John Finger and Terry Sawyer in Tomales Bay, Hog Island Oyster Co. has grown into one of the region’s premier shellfish producers, harvesting and selling “over 5 million oysters and Manila clams each year,” according to its website. It’s also developed a sprawling Bay Area food service operation that includes take-out stands, oyster bars, and sit-down restaurants in San Francisco’s Ferry Building, Napa’s Oxbow Market, and throughout the North Bay (in addition to harvesting its own sea salt and seaweed). Given that it would be occupying a pre-existing restaurant, odds seem high that Hog Island’s first potential East Bay outpost would be a full-service affair along the lines of those in San Francisco and Larkspur.
Lafayette’s Barranco
Ethan Fletcher
The menus at those locations deliver a streamlined selection of seafood-centric dishes that include small plates such as smoked black cod dip and halibut tostada; sandwiches such as shrimp rolls, oyster po-boys, and a fried fish sando; and entrees like steamed mussels, clam chowder, seafood stew, spaghetti with clams, and seared halibut. And, of course, a robust daily selection of both raw and grilled oysters and custom “conservas” seafood tapas. The restaurants are also known for fresh salads and a grilled cheese sandwich made with three types of cheese on Acme green onion focaccia bread. Both locations also offer a curated selection of coastal wines to pair with oysters and classic cocktails, including a savory oyster shooter.
We’ll stress that this news is still early, with no official word. But it certainly has the potential to be one of the highest-profile additions to the Contra Costa County restaurant scene in years. Fingers (and bivalves) crossed!
Whole Foods Eyes Danville
Danville might get a supermarket upgrade as Whole Foods is apparently close to inking a deal to fill the former Sycamore Square home of Lucky California that closed earlier this year. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Danville’s chief of planning told the city’s planning commission last week “that the property owner has entered into an agreement with Whole Foods for the former supermarket at 660 San Ramon Valley Blvd.” If the deal goes through—it’s still in contingency—the high-profile grocery chain would stay within the existing building’s footprint and take around a year to reopen. While there are nearby locations in San Ramon and Walnut Creek, this would be the first Whole Foods in Danville proper.
Osaka Marketplace on Track to Open in October
Speaking of supermarkets, Osaka Marketplace is on pace to open its sprawling new store in downtown Pleasant Hill next month, a representative for the Japanese-centric grocery store confirmed to Dish. Adding meat to that wagyu beef bone: The company is hosting a job fair in Pleasant Hill this Thursday and Friday and said, “Our new store will be opening in the near future!” As a reminder, Bay Area–based Osaka’s newest location will be its biggest to date at 49,000 square feet and will include an adjacent standalone gourmet food hall with vendors serving up ramen, tempura, curry, gyoza, and more. It will also be the latest mega Asian supermarket to drop in the East Bay following the debuts of Tokyo Central in Emeryville and H Mart in Dublin.
A rendering of Pleasant Hill’s Osaka Marketplace
Courtesy of Osaka Marketplace
Concord Taco Trail is Live
Home to more than 40 taquerias and restaurants, Concord is a regional hot-bed of Mexican fare in the East Bay’s own backyard. Take advantage of the city’s annual Concord Taco Trail challenge starting today through October 15. Collect a physical or digital map and visit as many destinations as you can over the course of the month, and you could win a $250 taco party and taco-themed swag. At the very least, you’ll get to enjoy the delicious diversity of tacos throughout the city.
Some Oakland Rockridge News
It looks like Oken will soon be replaced by another modern Korean concept at the former Claremont Diner location at 6200 Claremont Ave. The sit-down spinoff from the owner of Ok’s Deli lasted just a year in the unique wedge-shaped building overlooking a six-street intersection in the heart of Rockridge. Taking its place will be Chez Maeju, which bills itself as a “Korean kitchen built around jang: doenjang, gochujang, kimchi—the fermented foundations of the table, and where every dish here begins.” It will be “open soon,” according to its Instagram. You can follow along here.
In addition, chef Geoff Davis gave a sneak peek of what to expect at his follow-up to Burdell. Hosted at his critically acclaimed Temescal restaurant over the weekend, Davis held preview dinners for Uncles, the ‘70’s-style bar and grill concept he’s planning to replace neighborhood favorite Wood Tavern, which is closing at the end of the year. Among the starters on the test menu: a mortadella and provolone fritter, oysters on the half shell, and a tableside-finished Caesar salad for two, in addition to two pastas: rigatoni alla vodka and clams casino linguine. For mains, Burdell offered up a double-cut pork chop with bacon bourbon peaches and sage; white BBQ glazed half chicken; “Unc’s steak” with bone marrow pepper jus; wild king salmon with roe and herb butter sauce; and grilled mushrooms with turnips. Sides included creamed corn; hand-cut Kennebec fries; broccoli with pistachio herb pesto; loaded mashed potatoes; and country loaf with house-cultured butter. And for dessert: Flamin’ Bananas Foster and chocolate cake with candied hazelnut.
Small Bites from Around the East Bay
Pleasanton’s Oasis Restaurant & Wine Lounge is moving locations downtown next to Ruby & Rose’s, with another restaurant set to take its place at 780 Main Street.
The Emeryville Public Market debuted two new vendors: Xula specializes in Guatemalan cuisine, including garnachas (fried corn tortillas topped with beef and vegetables) and Adobo wings made with a traditional marinade of achiote; while Jamaica Again serves Caribbean cuisine such as jerk chicken, braised oxtail, curried goat, Jamaican patties, and ackee & saltfish salted cod.
The exact Oakland address for Ajae, a new modern Korean concept from SF restaurateur Min Park and Benu alum chef Brian Shin, has been revealed: 3905 Piedmont Avenue, the former home of Malibu’s Burgers and Ba-Bite.
A new restaurant will be part of the plan to redevelop the former Wells Fargo building at the corner of Moraga Road and Mount Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette.
Chef Chikara Ono is handing the reins of Old Oakland’s popular omakase-sushi destination Delage over to friend and East Bay colleague Kyle Itani of Yonsei Handrolls, Itani Sushi, Itani Ramen, and Hopscotch fame.
There’s a new High Wire Coffee coming to Alameda.
Rancho Cantina is offering a chance to win free tacos for a year for anyone who dines at the new Danville location through October 15.
Chipotle is opening up new East Bay locations in San Leandro, Fremont, Livermore, and Antioch.
Danville’s food scene gets a shout-out.
Profiling the new wave of Asian-American pastry chefs in the East Bay.
