Rise and shine to vanilla bean French toast with berries, wood-fired pizzas, and feta omelets stuffed with artichokes, peppers, olives, and arugula. Go back to bed with a bloody Samuri (or three).


Located in Rincon HIll, the place responds to SF's newest neighborhood with a triple threat: wine bar, food-and-wine shop, and sleek Cal-Ital restaurat (lattes in the a.m., pizzas for lunch and mostly organic, all under $25 dinner menu).




Executive chef and partner Ola Fendert (of French bistro Oola) explains the philosophy of SoMa's new Cal-Italian eatery, Local Kitchen & Wine Merchant, as "Eat Local, Drink Global." The menu which centers around the restaurant's wood-burning oven, features hand-made pizzas and roasted whole fish.


At his private functions, executive chef-partner Ola Fendert (of the just-debuted, Cal-Ial-oriented Local Kitchen and Wine Merchant in the Rincon Hill area) serves spice ahi tuna with green vinaigrette, hearts of palm and fingerling potato chips as well as shucked oysters with lemon vodka granité, chives and caviar. The latter pairs wonderfully, he notes, with the Henriot Souverain NV that partner and sommelier Mark Bright reccommends from the 40-glass wine list.


Fendert and Bright have come up with the slogan: "Drink Global, Eat Local" to describe their new emporium. That's a good guide to live by for this "address," no matter when you decide to indulge your tastes.


Home away from home for rive gauche or plage sud (South Beach) Intel-ectuals and other overpaid Web 2.0-types hunting for soul amidst 22-story spirit-stealers. Turn to the shop stockist for advice on a bottle or case, or lay claim to a seat at the Carrera marble bar. Walnut finishing details and chandeliers provide a bit more glow and, at night, light for those poring through dozens of hard-to-come-by periodicals from the E.U.