We the People

The thrills of the long-anticipated Commonwealth

Defection can be a boon for the common good. Take the brand-new restaurant Commonwealth. Most of the crew behind the progressive venture worked together at nearby Bar Tartine....

Mastering Simplicity

Hachi Ju Hachi's chef doesn't know the word "compromise"

Jin Suzuki, of the five-month-old Saratoga restaurant Hachi Ju Hachi, is part philosopher and all chef. With his clean-shaven head, neatly knotted tie, crisp chef's coat and...

New Blood

Hibiscus's Sarah Kirnon sets the region on fire

Sarah Kirnon deserves a culinary medal of honor. As chef of the new Hibiscus in Oakland's Uptown district, Kirnon's cooking stretches across the African diaspora--from Guyana to...

The Kegerator

Meet Jordan Kivelstadt, the man behind the wine-on-tap boom

Tap wines have been flowing at an accelerating clip in Bay Area restaurants (and around the country). Salt House, Larkspur's Tavern at Lark Creek, and the new Out the Door in...