Founder Josh Spiegelman and his grandmother, Evy Spiegelman, cut the ribbon at Roam   (photo: Simone Alexander)

Roam Artisan Burgers located at 1785 Union Street opened to rave reviews during the Union Street Festival in June. Josh Spiegelman and his 100-year-old grandmother, Evy Spiegelman, cut the ribbon signaling the restaurant’s completion at a private preview party in June. A true homecoming for Evy – she grew up just down the street from Roam. 

– Ed Attanasio




From left, Doug McConnell, local media personality and host of Bay Area Backroads; Bob MacIntosh, president and CEO of Pier 39; Matthieu Boone, CEO of Lotus Bakeries of Pier 39; Salty the Sea Lion; Scooter Simmons, owner of Simco Restaurant Group; and Jeff Boehm, executive director of The Marine Mammal Center, were on hand for the grand opening festivities (photo: Ed Attanasio)

Pier 39’s Biscoff Coffee Corner, the company’s first retail location in the world to serve Europe’s favorite Biscoff cookie with coffee, celebrated its grand opening in July. The event featured entertainment by cookie-and-coffee-cup-juggling street performers; Salty the Sea Lion offering Biscoff cookie samples and coupons; and an official “cookie breaking” ceremony. All proceeds of Biscoff cookie sales from July 8 were donated to The Marine Mammal Center (MMC). The MMC helps to maintain the world-famous sea lion community at Pier 39 and educates the public about marine mammals and the oceans. 

– Ed Attanasio



Gallo Salame celebrates its 100-year anniversary in the city where it all began


From left: Lisa Nourse, Lauren Englehardt, Jared Rivera, Danielle Dixon, and Megan Burns, Roam’s P.R. team from Rivera Publications (photo:Tom Dragt)



Kasa Indian Eatery co-owner Tim Volkema (left) and Roam founder Josh Spiegelman share a friendly neighborhood moment (photo: Ed Attanasio)



Gallo Salame invited the city of San Francisco to step back in time and indulge in savory meals made of hand-crafted Gallo Salame products. To celebrate the brand’s 100-year anniversary, they created Trattoria 1910, a pop-up vintage-style Italian restaurant at 90 Natoma Street. The company began producing Italian salame and pepperoni in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1910, and honored their hometown by offering complimentary lunch and evening appetizers at Trattoria 1910 for 23 days in May and June. To further give thanks to the city it called home and its residents, the company pledged $15,000 to Project Homeless Connect along with a 2,010-pound donation of Gallo Salame signature products to the San Francisco Food Bank.

– Ed Attanasio





From left, Vince Neal of Motley Crue and his wife, Lia, were on hand to celebrate Gallo’s 100th anniversary; E! News host Giuliana Rancic officially opened Trattoria 1910 with her husband, The Apprentice’s Bill Rancic, her co-star on the Style Network’s hit TV series Giuliana & Bill (photos: Gallo Salame)



Fort Mason Center Farmers’ Market brightens Sundays in the Marina

Farmers’ markets are hotter than ever because people are eating more healthfully and want to buy their food directly from the folks who grow or make it themselves. “Fresh, seasonal and local” is the new food mantra throughout the country, and it’s now on display every Sunday at the new Fort Mason Center Farmers’ Market.

With 40 vendors handpicked by Pat Kilduff, Fort Mason Center’s director of marketing, the farmers’ market is already thriving and gaining in popularity every week, she said.

While the market has a major advantage of free parking, Kilduff said, “We’re also seeing a lot of neighborhood people riding their bikes out here or walking. If we can help to get folks out of their cars on the weekend, it’s a great win-win because it’s a green alternative, and we’re always trying to be greener.”  

Prepared food booths are limited to 25 percent. “We want a nice balance between prepared food and locally grown food,” Kilduff said. “It’s a nice mix, what we have now, and the neighborhood is offering us a lot of positive feedback.”

The  market kicked off on June 6 and will be held every Sunday from 9:30 to 1 p.m. until October 31 inside the entrance at Marina Boulevard and Buchannan. Willie Brown Jr. and Senator Mark Leno unveiled the farmers’ market on opening day. Both talked about obesity, sustainability and a more healthful way of eating, and how the farmers’ market can help us meet those challenges.

While you’re at the market, check out Fort Mason’s Friends of the San Francisco Public Library-sponsored Book Bay in Building C. With great prices on food-related books and cookbooks, Kilduff said that the Book Bay will soon be home to a food-centric cafe as well.

The market also features music from various local artists, and every month a local chef (most appropriately the first was Annie Somerville of nearby Greens) performs cooking demonstrations. But the vendors are the main attraction, Kilduff explained. “These people are characters, and they’re passionate about their products, so they enjoy talking about what they’re growing or making. The backbone of any successful farmers’ market is all about the vendors, and we have a great group, offering a wide range of options and information.”

– Ed Attanasio




Tom Jones of Roli Roti Gourmet Rotisserie has a loyal following at Fort Mason Center Farmers’ Market
(photos: Ed Attanasio)





Bakers of Paris from Brisbane offers fresh bread, rolls and pastries at their booth featuring Joy D’Ovidio and her husband, Gene D’Ovidio



Greens To Go sells healthful snacks at their booth hosted by Claire Buchignanni (left) and Sara Murray




From left: Chava Ceja, David Herrera and Peter Cipponeri sell fresh fruit and vegetables grown at the Cipponeri Family Farm in Turlock. Peter, a fourth-generation farmer, gets up at 4 a.m. every Sunday to deliver his goods on time to the Fort Mason Center Farmers’ Market.