Among restaurateurs in Marin, Heidi Insalata Krahling has the Midas touch. First her namesake eatery Insalata’s in San Anselmo, a temple of Mediterranean cooking, took off like a rocket and then Marinitas, a charming spot for cuisine with a Latin accent just a few doors away from Insalata’s, which has been wildly successful since it opened in 2009.
With one cookbook behind her, “Insalata’s Mediterranean Table,” which she published the same year Marinitas opened, Krahling has just published her second, “Insalata’s and Marinitas: The Story of Two Restaurants” ($36), which is available at Insalata’s at 20 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in San Anselmo, online at www.insalatas.com or at Book Passage in Corte Madera.
At noon Feb. 28, she will celebrate her newest cookbook with a Cooks with Books luncheon featuring dishes from the cookbook. Tickets are $115, or $180 for two, and include the meal, wine, tax, tip and a signed copy of the cookbook. For tickets, call 927-0960 or go to bookpassage.com.
New spots to eat
The guys behind Boca Tavern and Boca Pizzeria, Shah Bahreyni and Sam Ramadan, have signed on the dotted line for a restaurant space in San Francisco. Their new endeavor, Caputo, will be in the former location of Sutro, the Slanted Door and La Suite at 100 Brannan St., according to Scoop.
The large space has 180 seats, 60 of which are on the patio. The menu will be Cal-Ital and the restaurant will have a full liquor license. No word yet on an opening date.
No need to travel to San Francisco when you can enjoy their food in Marin at Boca Tavern at 340 Ignacio Blvd. in Novato (883-0901) or at Boca Pizzeria at 1544 Redwood Highway in the Village Mall in Corte Madera (924-3021) and at 454 Ignacio Blvd. in the Pacheco Plaza in Novato. (883-2302).
If you haven’t been to Stinson since the summer, look for the Siren Canteen.
Fish tacos, quesadillas, grilled cheese with fresh avocado and crepes are among the tasty choices out of a spot at the base of the lifeguard tower with views that go on and on.
The Siren Canteen is at 3201 Highway 1 at Stinson Beach; www.sirencanteen.com
A newcomer to the java craze in Marin is Red Whale Coffee, with a tasting room in San Rafael and another on the way in Corte Madera at 122 Corte Madera Ave.
Master roaster Sean Boyd says he treats coffee like food and uses his extensive culinary background to “cook” the beans to just the right degree.
Decide for yourself. Red Whale Coffee is at 169 Paul Dr. in San Rafael. Call 906-6277 or go to www.redwhalecoffee.com.
Tea connoisseurs rejoice! Desta Epicures Guild in San Anselmo, which recently moved to San Anselmo Avenue, has an intriguing selection of organic, fair trade teas in a gallery setting, with paintings and artwork by local crafts people. A tasting room and café is in the works. It’s at 417 San Anselmo Ave. in San Anselmo. Call 524-8932 or go to www.desta.com.
Last minute V-Day
If you’re in a quandary about what to do with your beloved, there are still a few opportunities.
Saltwater Oyster Depot has seatings at 6, 8 and 8:30 p.m. with limited space still available. A romantic four-course menu for $55 includes oysters on the half shell, a choice of soup or salad, entrees that include short ribs or halibut and a couple lush desserts. For reservations, call 669-1244.
Saltwater Oyster Depot is at 12781 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Inverness; www.saltwateroysterdepot.com.
The Fenix in downtown San Rafael is throwing an All You Need Is Love party that includes a complimentary glass of champagne, a three-course dinner with choices like roasted halibut with English pea and tasso ham risotto or filet of beef with pinot noir and chocolate demi glace, a red rose and a concert with the Sun Kings, a Beatles cover band. Cost is $95 and there are two seatings at 7 and 9 p.m.
The Fenix is at 919 Fourth St. in San Rafael. Call 813-5600 or go to www.fenixlive.com
Easy pancakes
For all you breakfast mavens out there, Feb. 17 is National Pancake Day and two moms in Mill Valley have taken the work out of making this mealtime favorite.
Momtrepreneurs Leigh Judson and Nicole Palmer created Batter World, pre-made pancake batter in an easy-to-use pouch, because their kids loved pancakes but making them from scratch was time-consuming and the mixes on the market contained a lot of preservatives. With three types available — original, multigrain and gluten-free, —there is something for every pancake lover in your life. Look for Batter Up in the frozen food section at Whole Foods, Woodlands, Paradise Foods and Mill Valley Market.
As an added bonus, they will be handing out free samples on Feb. 13 at Paradise Foods at 1 Blackfield Drive in Tiburon and Feb. 14, at the Whole Foods at 731 East Blithedale Ave.
Go to www.batterworld.com.
Brooke Jackson is a freelance food writer, blogger and recipe consultant. Have news about chefs, restaurants and other foodie goodies? Contact her at ij.brookejackson@gmail.com.