New Restaurant Sens Announced in SF Chronicle ~
*WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM TO BRING YOU A SPECIAL NEWS UPDATE*
SEE IT IN TODAY'S SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE:
The News You've All Been Asking Waiting For!
"There's a new kid in town: Sens, a new restaurant specializing in Southern Mediterranean cuisine, has moved into the space of San Francisco's Monte Cristo Cafe (4 Embarcadero Center) and is scheduled to open late next month.
Executive chef Michael Dotson, formerly of Evvia Estiatorio in Palo Alto, and his crew, including partner Saeed Amini, moved into the space earlier this month and have been ironing out the menu and design details.
Before Monte Cristo, the space was home to Splendido. "We're keeping all the beautiful wood and stonework," says Dotson.
The restaurant seats 225 people, he says, and will have a lounge, indoor/outdoor tables and separate spaces for private dining.
"The dishes will be directly influenced by North African, Greek and Turkish cooking," Dotson says.
Expect grilled octopus, grilled veal tongue, caramelized cauliflower, braised lamb and oven-roasted fish.
Pastry chef Shuna Lydon, whose resume includes French Laundry, Citizen Cake and Aziza, is working on a pear dessert among other sweet treats.
"I know it's starting to sound like a cliche," says Dotson, "but we really want to feature local, using sustainable farms and fisheries. It's the only way to do it."
!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yay!! Congratulations! Hopefully I'll be able to try it relatively soon. I'm trying to get a birthday trip organised for December. Any chance of any classes around then?
Posted by: Jennywenny | 29 August 2007 at 04:14 PM
Shuna! In today's New York Times:
"The articles in Edible San Francisco include some very good food writing, including one particularly evocative piece about strawberries, with the advice that if you insist on washing them, do so in champagne.
Wasn't that your piece? xo
Posted by: Luisa | 29 August 2007 at 07:03 PM
Yay! Congratulations!
Posted by: Lori S. | 29 August 2007 at 07:08 PM
Congratulations!!
Posted by: Jessica | 29 August 2007 at 07:09 PM
Wowie! Congratulations to you all! I'm so glad to finally know what's going on, and I'm looking forward to dining. :-)
Posted by: Melissa | 29 August 2007 at 07:33 PM
We can't wait to come and eat some of your chow. When is the ETA?
The Bunrabs
Posted by: Chubby | 29 August 2007 at 07:50 PM
YIPPEEEEE!
Posted by: Anita | 29 August 2007 at 08:05 PM
oooh! congrats. can't wait to try it.
yay!
Posted by: Ari | 29 August 2007 at 08:16 PM
I saw it in the paper this morning... I thought as I read: Would this be Shuna's new place? And it is!!
(Pear dessert!!!! LOL)
Yay, you.
Posted by: cookiecrumb | 29 August 2007 at 08:40 PM
Whoa, Michael Dotson. I love that guy—ask if he remembers sending me home with some of his salume from the Certified Humane press conference at the Ferry Plaza last year. I went with Justin Severino and they got talking about the meat. Justin thought Dotson's offerings were superior to every other chef at the event.
Congratulations, Shuna, and how wonderful to get to work with him. He really seems like a nice fellow, no airs or hotshottery about him—just the real deal!
Posted by: Tana | 29 August 2007 at 09:19 PM
Woot!
Posted by: Chubbypanda | 29 August 2007 at 09:40 PM
Congratulations!
Posted by: jessica moreno | 29 August 2007 at 10:40 PM
Congratulations, Shuna! May "fun" play into your everyday.... You deserve it!
Posted by: devon | 29 August 2007 at 11:46 PM
Woo-hoo!
Can't wait to come for dinner, knowing you are the the back cooking your heart out.
Michael did such a fantastic job at Evvia - I'm eager to know what he's planning to do here.
Posted by: Jennifer Jeffrey | 30 August 2007 at 12:36 AM
I think the strawberry piece was indeed you - so beautiful!! Congratulations on your new restaurant - I am going to come and check it out next time I'm in SF!!!
Posted by: radish | 30 August 2007 at 01:57 AM
As soon as you let us know, I'll be making a reservation. :)
Posted by: Garrett | 30 August 2007 at 02:08 AM
Yo: two reasons to congratulate you! One: the mention of your article in the NYT (I too, am pretty sure it was yours). And two: the new awesome pastry chef gig. Yum: I can't wait.
Posted by: lisa schiffman | 30 August 2007 at 02:12 AM
AWESOME! I really hope I can snag a reservation for my birthday! Congratulations, I think I will have a red pear for dessert tonight in your honor :)
Posted by: Susan | 30 August 2007 at 02:36 AM
Congratulations! Next time I'm in the area, I'll be sure to plan a stop!
Posted by: mom2amara | 30 August 2007 at 03:19 AM
Ooooooohhhhhh - I can't wait! I'll be there in October. sounds yummy.
Posted by: Diane | 30 August 2007 at 05:22 AM
Congrats. Hope it goes well. I'll come for dinner if I'm ever up that way.
Posted by: barbara | 30 August 2007 at 05:26 AM
Three cheers and another for good measure! "We knew her when ... " is already coming to mind!
Posted by: Alanna | 30 August 2007 at 10:11 PM
Congratulations Shuna! So exciting!
Posted by: Anali | 31 August 2007 at 06:10 AM
how incredibly exciting for you! i can't wait to read about your adventures as you go through them.
and wishing that I was in SF so I can come see...
Posted by: Steamy Kitchen | 01 September 2007 at 07:47 AM
sounds like an exciting restaurant - best of luck with it. i've become quite the eggbeater fan since meeting you briefly at the meathenge barbecue (last year? i lose track of time) i'll try and check it out as I'm in the bay area as of tuesday HOORAY! Congratulations, I hope it goes really well. But does this mean there will be no cookery classes in the next 2/3 weeks?
Posted by: kate linderholm | 02 September 2007 at 11:21 AM