Taking his most drastic step yet in response to public criticism, celebrity chef Thomas Keller took down his Twitter account on Tuesday after almost a year of blowback. The departure from the social media platform comes after many critiqued him for Tweeting praise of a right wing billionaire.On Tuesday afternoon, the famed owner of Yountville’s the French Laundry posted thanking Sheldon G. Adelson, who had recently died, for his support of Keller’s restaurant in Las Vegas. “You will be missed,” Keller wrote.Adelson and his wife were President Donald Trump’s biggest donors in his 2016 and...…Taking his most drastic step yet in response to public criticism, celebrity chef Thomas Keller took down his Twitter account on Tuesday after almost a year of blowback. The departure from the social media platform comes after many critiqued him for Tweeting praise of a right wing billionaire.On Tuesday afternoon, the famed owner of Yountville’s the French Laundry posted thanking Sheldon G. Adelson, who had recently died, for his support of Keller’s restaurant in Las Vegas. “You will be missed,” Keller wrote.Adelson and his wife were President Donald Trump’s biggest donors in his 2016 and...WW…

Bay Area restaurants are trying a new way to ensure survival during the pandemic: subscriptions. The idea echoes the performing arts world, with restaurants asking frequent customers to commit to supporting them regularly.Some restaurant owners, such as Matt Brewer of San Francisco’s Che Fico, said they were already contemplating the idea of some sort of subscription service during the pandemic but — well, they got busy. Then, a couple of new tech companies appeared with online services already designed and ready to go. The entrepreneurs behind these offerings argue they can help fix flaws...…Bay Area restaurants are trying a new way to ensure survival during the pandemic: subscriptions. The idea echoes the performing arts world, with restaurants asking frequent customers to commit to supporting them regularly.Some restaurant owners, such as Matt Brewer of San Francisco’s Che Fico, said they were already contemplating the idea of some sort of subscription service during the pandemic but — well, they got busy. Then, a couple of new tech companies appeared with online services already designed and ready to go. The entrepreneurs behind these offerings argue they can help fix flaws...WW…

This is part of The Chronicle's Landmark Watch series, where reporters check in on the Bay Area's longtime businesses during the pandemic. If you have a suggestion, .At 112-year-old Chinatown legend Sam Wo Restaurant, longtime owner David Ho is doing everything these days.He’s buying all the ingredients, lifting 50-pound bags of rice up the restaurant’s steep stairs. He’s cooking every item on Sam Wo’s menu, from the rice noodle rolls stuffed with pork to the jook studded with preserved egg. He’s washing dishes and scrubbing the floors.But Ho, 62, is tired. His body is full of aches and...…This is part of The Chronicle's Landmark Watch series, where reporters check in on the Bay Area's longtime businesses during the pandemic. If you have a suggestion, .At 112-year-old Chinatown legend Sam Wo Restaurant, longtime owner David Ho is doing everything these days.He’s buying all the ingredients, lifting 50-pound bags of rice up the restaurant’s steep stairs. He’s cooking every item on Sam Wo’s menu, from the rice noodle rolls stuffed with pork to the jook studded with preserved egg. He’s washing dishes and scrubbing the floors.But Ho, 62, is tired. His body is full of aches and...WW…

Chinatown community leaders are calling on Mayor London Breed to provide financial aid to the historic neighborhood’s restaurants and small businesses, arguing many won’t survive the pandemic without millions of dollars in grants and investment.In a letter sent on Monday, nine organizations asked Breed to support Chinatown as the city has supported the Latino community during the pandemic. They want $5.3 million in grants to help Chinatown small businesses keep employees on payroll; $4.2 million to partner with a nonprofit like SF New Deal to work specifically with Chinatown restaurants to...…Chinatown community leaders are calling on Mayor London Breed to provide financial aid to the historic neighborhood’s restaurants and small businesses, arguing many won’t survive the pandemic without millions of dollars in grants and investment.In a letter sent on Monday, nine organizations asked Breed to support Chinatown as the city has supported the Latino community during the pandemic. They want $5.3 million in grants to help Chinatown small businesses keep employees on payroll; $4.2 million to partner with a nonprofit like SF New Deal to work specifically with Chinatown restaurants to...WW…

After spending much of the pandemic feeding vulnerable individuals and recovering food waste, Kristin Houk decided it was time to tackle both issues with a new pay-what-you-can program at her Bayview Mexican restaurant, Tato.Starting today, customers can line up at Tato on Fridays for a taco plate, which comes with two tacos and sides such as rice, beans or salad, and pay between zero and $10. Each time someone pays the full $10 price, Tato will donate a meal to people residing in COVID hotels or homeless shelters.The rest of the week, Tato will be a regular restaurant. Still, Houk believes...…After spending much of the pandemic feeding vulnerable individuals and recovering food waste, Kristin Houk decided it was time to tackle both issues with a new pay-what-you-can program at her Bayview Mexican restaurant, Tato.Starting today, customers can line up at Tato on Fridays for a taco plate, which comes with two tacos and sides such as rice, beans or salad, and pay between zero and $10. Each time someone pays the full $10 price, Tato will donate a meal to people residing in COVID hotels or homeless shelters.The rest of the week, Tato will be a regular restaurant. Still, Houk believes...WW…

Outdoor and indoor dining could be banned in certain California regions under a new stay-at-home order likely taking effect in the coming weeks, . Bars and wineries would have to temporarily close altogether.The new three-week order breaks up the state into five regions and would go into effect 48 hours after a region’s intensive care unit capacity drops below 15% — as of now, no regions in California meet that metric.But Newsom warned the Bay Area region — defined here as Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma counties — is...…Outdoor and indoor dining could be banned in certain California regions under a new stay-at-home order likely taking effect in the coming weeks, . Bars and wineries would have to temporarily close altogether.The new three-week order breaks up the state into five regions and would go into effect 48 hours after a region’s intensive care unit capacity drops below 15% — as of now, no regions in California meet that metric.But Newsom warned the Bay Area region — defined here as Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma counties — is...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateCalifornia kicked San Francisco and San Mateo counties to the most restrictive purple tier in its coronavirus economic blueprint on Saturday, forcing most indoor activities to close by noon Sunday and placing the counties’ residents under curfew starting Monday night.San Francisco and San Mateo join six Bay Area counties that are already in the purple tier, leaving only Marin County at a less restrictive level. The retreat — coming amid an alarming surge in coronavirus cases — will end all indoor dining in the Bay Area. San...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateCalifornia kicked San Francisco and San Mateo counties to the most restrictive purple tier in its coronavirus economic blueprint on Saturday, forcing most indoor activities to close by noon Sunday and placing the counties’ residents under curfew starting Monday night.San Francisco and San Mateo join six Bay Area counties that are already in the purple tier, leaving only Marin County at a less restrictive level. The retreat — coming amid an alarming surge in coronavirus cases — will end all indoor dining in the Bay Area. San...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateSan Francisco told after Friday night’s service — and the timing couldn’t be worse for the city’s Indian restaurants. Saturday marks the start of Diwali, the five-day Hindu festival of lights that’s India’s most important holiday and one of the busiest times of year for Indian restaurants.These restaurants had already created elaborate Diwali menus, bought special ingredients, planned for extra staffing and booked reservations. The owners expected a chance — especially on Saturday night — to make up for some lost revenue during a...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateSan Francisco told after Friday night’s service — and the timing couldn’t be worse for the city’s Indian restaurants. Saturday marks the start of Diwali, the five-day Hindu festival of lights that’s India’s most important holiday and one of the busiest times of year for Indian restaurants.These restaurants had already created elaborate Diwali menus, bought special ingredients, planned for extra staffing and booked reservations. The owners expected a chance — especially on Saturday night — to make up for some lost revenue during a...WW…

Kendra Kolling started noticing Grubhub delivery drivers show up at her Sebastopol restaurant, the Farmer’s Wife, about two months ago. She didn’t sign up for the service, so she sent them away — but then new and even longtime customers started calling, upset about their missing Grubhub orders.“It’s led to very bad exchanges with customers who are, in the end, blaming me because I’m listed on Grubhub,” she said.The Farmer’s Wife and Atonia’s, a North Carolina restaurant, filed a lawsuit against Grubhub, arguing the practice misleads customers and harms restaurants’ reputations, and they are...…Kendra Kolling started noticing Grubhub delivery drivers show up at her Sebastopol restaurant, the Farmer’s Wife, about two months ago. She didn’t sign up for the service, so she sent them away — but then new and even longtime customers started calling, upset about their missing Grubhub orders.“It’s led to very bad exchanges with customers who are, in the end, blaming me because I’m listed on Grubhub,” she said.The Farmer’s Wife and Atonia’s, a North Carolina restaurant, filed a lawsuit against Grubhub, arguing the practice misleads customers and harms restaurants’ reputations, and they are...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateThe pandemic has forced one of San Francisco’s most popular Mexican restaurants to close — but its owners are already plotting something new.Nopalito, from the same team behind perennial restaurant Nopa, has permanently shuttered its Inner Sunset location. The expansion effort opened in 2012 to — bigger than the original Nopalito on Broderick Street, but with the same stellar carnitas, mole and fresh corn tortillas from chef-owner Gonzalo Guzman.That larger size ultimately made it tougher for Guzman and partners Jeff Hanak,...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateThe pandemic has forced one of San Francisco’s most popular Mexican restaurants to close — but its owners are already plotting something new.Nopalito, from the same team behind perennial restaurant Nopa, has permanently shuttered its Inner Sunset location. The expansion effort opened in 2012 to — bigger than the original Nopalito on Broderick Street, but with the same stellar carnitas, mole and fresh corn tortillas from chef-owner Gonzalo Guzman.That larger size ultimately made it tougher for Guzman and partners Jeff Hanak,...WW…