Walnut Creek’s Sabores del Sur cafe closes
Guisell Osorio called it a bittersweet goodbye.
The chef-owner of Walnut Creek’s Sabores del Sur, just north of the Pleasant Hill BART Station, announced via Facebook and on her website that due to the pandemic and lockdown orders, she is closing her restaurant and cafe of seven years.
Osorio, a graduate of the kitchen incubator La Cocina, put her Chilean stamp on Central Contra Costa with legendary empanadas, lomo saltado, sandwiches and famed alfajores cookies.
In a heartfelt message, Osorio shared the news with customers that she is closing the doors of the high-ceiling South American cafe and moving to a commercial kitchen in Lafayette, where she will be able to fulfill catering and wholesale orders, and, fingers crossed, takeout orders.
“It’s hard for us,” Osorio said, putting her hand on her heart. “But we know you guys are going to continue supporting us.” The last day of business in Walnut Creek was Nov. 28.
Osorio, a native of Chile, opened the cafe in 2004 and quickly gained recognition for her cookies and empanadas. For the latest information on Sabores del Sur, check out www.facebook.com /Sabores DelSurSF.
Michelin chefs join Manresa for December series of special takeout meals
Los Gatos chef David Kinch is turning his Michelin-starred Manresa kitchen over to chefs from other Michelin-starred restaurants this month for a special series of multicourse holiday meals.
The idea is to give Silicon Valley diners a taste of other chefs’ perspectives — with the convenience of a curbside pickup close to home.
“It’s fitting for us to further expand our Manresa family and collaborate with our longstanding friends to offer guests something special during this long December,” Kinch said.
On Thursday, Dec. 17, Dominique Crenn — the first female chef in the United States to earn three Michelin stars with her restaurant staff — will take over the kitchen. She owns both Atelier Crenn and Bar Crenn in San Francisco.
On Sunday, Dec. 20, Manresa alum James Syhabout will return to Village Lane in Los Gatos to create a menu inspired by his two-Michelin star Commis in Oakland.
Each menu is priced at $165 per person. Details, reservations: www.manresarestaurant.com
Millbrae Pancake House, 61 years old and counting, closes temporarily
The Millbrae Pancake House, a Peninsula landmark for 61 years, has gone on hiatus and will resume operations when the pandemic business environment improves.
The owners made the announcement on their website, noting that they have stayed open for the first eight months of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the challenges of doing so, and served an estimated 200,000 meals this year.
However, the family said, “Attempting to operate this business at a reduced capacity has proven to be inadequate. The restaurant is designed to operate at full capacity.”
The pancake house opened on El Camino Real on Mother’s Day in 1959 and, with the exception of taking Christmases off, has served without interruption since then.
“Closing this landmark business for any period of time will certainly cause much heartache and sadness in the community,” they wrote. “However, the most significant impact will certainly be the 44 employees of Millbrae Pancake House who face layoffs at this time. The most senior member of the staff has been employed at the restaurant for over 53 years.”
The announcement ends on a positive note:
“The Millbrae Pancake House family and staff are a resilient bunch and it is with great certainty that the doors will once again open in 2021.”
Starbird chicken opens Pruneyard location, East Bay cloud kitchen
Four years after launching in the South Bay, the Starbird group of fast-casual chicken restaurants is opening its first Alameda County location.
This month, Starbird became part of the Cloud Kitchen facility on East 12th Street in Oakland. This location is designed for pickup and delivery only.
The chain has also expanded to Campbell’s Pruneyard Shopping Center, with a location newly opened in the former Coffee Society space.
Next up is Walnut Creek, with an anticipated date of January 2021. The restaurant is taking over a former Taco Bell space at the Encina Grande Center on Ygnacio Valley Road.
Sandwiches include the Starbird, topped with kale slaw and fresh avocado, and the Korean Fried Chicken, with gochujang glaze, honey miso slaw and cucumber. The chicken also comes in the form of wings, boneless wings and tenders, and is used in tacos and salads such as the Green Goddess Cobb and the Chicken Katsu Salad.
Details: Both locations open daily at 10:30 a.m., with late-night hours until 10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday (10 the other nights) in Oakland and 10 p.m. in Campbell (9 on Sundays). 2353 E. 12th St., Oakland, and 1875 S. Bascom Ave., Campbell. www.starbirdchicken.com
Starbucks will give free coffee all month to health care providers, first responders and more
With COVID-19 cases on the rise nationwide, Starbucks is offering free cups of appreciation to health care employees, hospital staffers, police, firefighters and other “front-line responders” this month.
From now through
Dec. 31, employees in those categories with a valid employee ID may receive a free tall brewed coffee (hot or iced) any day at all companyowned stores and many licensed outlets.