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Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana
Pet ‘Chop’ boys
6 School Street Plaza, Ste. 215, Fairfax
(415) 256-9328
Hagar-Florence venture beefs up El Paseo by Pat Fu sco
BEEN A LONG TIME COMING After many, many setbacks Mill Valley’s most romantic dining spot became El Paseo: House of Chops, ďŹ nally opening on March 19. A very different restaurant is already a hot destination. Local celebrities chef Tyler Florence and rocker Sammy Hagar teamed up to imagine a totally new concept for the picturesque space with its European atmosphere, providing the meandering rooms and brick open spaces with a more casual, more American and much more masculine mood. Two dining rooms, a separate bar, a private dining room, a patio dining area and an alfresco lounge have a retro feel with dark wood (lots of it) and cozy lighting, framed prints covering the walls, touches of copper. The food is deďŹ nitely American, too, with a menu that is meat-centric and big on big servings. Perhaps the most spectacular offering is a California Holstein reserve porterhouse, dry-aged—it serves two and costs $90. Regular steaks and chops are not quite so costly, sides (creamed spinach, duck fat potatoes, peas and carrots, for instance) are $8 each. In the kitchen is chef Preston Clark, whose background assets not only include his work in New York with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, but also his parentage: His father was acclaimed nouvelle cuisine chef Patrick Clark, who at 25 was an African-American pioneer. In the front of the house is general manager Adel Bukary, lately of Spruce in San Francisco. El Paseo serves beer and wine only. Hours are 5-10pm daily, with plans to open 3-5pm with a bar menu. Reservations: 415/388-0741. AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT Two openings in one week! March 20 saw the debut of Bar Bocce in Sausalito, a cheerful hangout with its own bocce court right on the water. The wooden building has a ďŹ sh-shack feel but it’s much more sophisticated, with a shipshape interior that’s appealingly simple— dark wood, bare windows, white walls. An outdoor area with circular seating around a ďŹ re pit should be a draw in clement weather. On the menu, pizza is the central focus: sourdough pizza with imaginative toppings (calamari/clams/lemons and chili oil; sausage with fennel pollen, scallions, and onions), along with sandwiches, soups and Italian entrees. For dessert, grownups can have winesicles while the kids enjoy fudgesicles. Executive chef is Robert Price (Bungalow 44, Buckeye Roadhouse). Current hours are 11:30am-10pm daily. 1250 Bridgeway; 415/331-0555 or www. barbocce.com.
open 7 days and 5 nights www.cbcmarin.com
Ann Hathaway MD 25 years in medical practice El Paseo’s back, no bones about it!
EAT FOR PEACE WINDS JAPAN Here’s a chance to donate to victims of the tsunami while you enjoy sweet treats from gifted cooks. Bakesale for Japan takes place April 2 at the Saturday farmers market at Marin County Mart, Larkspur (9am-2pm). Food blogger Samin Nosrat of Berkeley rallied troops to stage sales for the cause throughout the Bay Area on Saturday with an impressive turnout supplying irresistible wares from home kitchens. A TOAST TO TOAST! Shahram Bijan’s Novato restaurant pleases diners’ eyes as well as their palates with its warm glow and playful decor by designer Stanley Saitowitz. It also pleased the judges of the annual James Beard Foundation Awards enough to wind up on the short list for best restaurant design, 2011. OVINE, BOVINE, CAPRINE A unique opportunity to explore in depth three of Marin’s cheese-making operations is coming up April 9 on the Marin Artisan Organic Cheese Tour. This all-day bus jaunt sponsored by Marin Agricultural Land Trust will visit three farmstead operations where trippers can taste products made from the milk of goats, cows and sheep—and purchase cheeses to take home as well. Cost is $85 per person. For full details, visit www.malt.org. YOU DESERVE A BREAK Good restaurant deals nearby: San Anselmo’s Dream Farm offers First Seating—three courses for $19.95 Tuesday-Friday, 5:30-6:15pm; 415/453-9898... Sangria specials and $3 foods at Whipper Snapper in San Rafael, Tuesday-Friday, 5-6pm; 415/256-1818... Paradise Bay in Sausalito has unlimited wine tastings Wednesdays, 5-7pm; 415/3313226... The Thursday night hamburger at Marche aux Fleurs in Ross is so popular (half-pounder of Prather Ranch beef, $15.95), it’s necessary to reserve one in advance; 415/925-9200. ✚ Contact Pat at patfusco@sonic.net.
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Information Session Thursday, April 7th, at 7pm AT GLOBAL MONTESSORI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Ă“ĂŽÂŁ{ĂŠ >˜VĂ€ÂœvĂŒĂŠ7>ÞÊUĂŠ iÀŽiÂ?iÞÊÂiÂ˜ĂŒiĂ€ĂŠÂœÂ˜ĂŠ Â?Â?ĂƒĂœÂœĂ€ĂŒÂ…ÂŽ For More Info call Patricia Chambers at 925-631-4036 or pchamber@stmarys-ca.edu APRIL 1 - APRIL 7, 2011 PACIFIC SUN 15