Single Guy’s Planner

Ooops, I missed a planner for last month because I was busy. Plus, February’s such a short month by the time you hear about an event, it’s over! So let’s just focus on March, which seems to be springing with a whole bunch of foodie events. Go check one out!

March 9-12 (Wednesday-Saturday) – Oliveto’s Whole Hog Dinners. This Oakland establishment hosts its annual celebration to the pig when it serves up all the various parts in entrée items featured on the dinner menu. You can bet there’ll be a lot of salumis along with all sorts of offal selections. For more information check out the restaurant’s website or call 510.547.5356 to make your reservations.

March 11, Friday – Camino hosts Gabrielle Hamilton, chef/owner of New York’s Prune Restaurant. Prune is an extremely popular restaurant, especially for brunch, and its chef Gabrielle Hamilton has released her memoirs entitled “Blood, Bones and Butter” that is already receiving rave reviews. Hamilton will be in town promoting the book at typical book signings, but if you like your book signing with a side of entrees, then check out Camino Restaurant’s special dinner event. Ticket is a bit hefty at $127 (via PayPal), but that gives you cocktails with the author chef followed by a three-course family style dinner at the popular Oakland restaurant. If you don’t want to pay the service charges on PayPal, you can call the restaurant to reserve your spot (ticket will then only be $100) at 510.547.5035. Check the restaurant’s website for updates on the menu. Camino, 3917 Grand Ave., Oakland.

March 12, Saturday – The Clandestine Dinner Series. A real underground dinner, unlike the pop ups that exist in real restaurants, will take place somewhere in the Mission. You have to fork over the $105 for the six-course dinner and you get emailed the address. The dinner starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday, and there’s also one at 5 p.m. on Sunday, put on by Stag Dining Group’s Jordan Grosser and Ted Fleury. Tickets for Saturday can be purchased here and Sunday here.

March 13, Sunday – SWAP: Homemade Dinner. Just like when you’d swap your brown bag lunch as a kid, 18 Reasons take it to a whole level by having people swap meals at its Mission District community space. Make one meal (enough for four people) and bring them in pre-portioned to-go containers between 4:30 to 5 p.m. and swap it for another meal made by someone else. Cost is $5 (not including your expenses to make the dinner) and RSVP is required at info@18reasons.org so they know how many swinging cooks there are. 18 Reasons, 593 Guerrero St., San Francisco. For more information, check out the group’s website.

March 17, Thursday – Schroeder’s St. Patrick’s Day Street Party. This longtime German restaurant loves the polka, and they really kick up a storm with an Irish twist at this annual block party that’s free and draws a lot of young Financial District types. Street closed off in front of the bar on Front Street at California. Kick back some green beer.

March 17, Thursday – "Life on the Line" Book Signing with Chef Grant Achatz. Noted Chicago Chef Grant Achatz has a compelling story. Some of you may know that the chef of the renowned Alinea restaurant was diagnosed with tongue cancer a few years ago. He's better now, and has come out with his memoirs, written with business partner Nick Kokonas. The two will be signing books form 12:30 p.m. at Book Passages at the Ferry Building. For more information, go to the store's website.

March 19, Saturday – Honey Celebration at the Ferry Building. The Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA) puts on series of events at the Saturday farmers market focused on honey. At 10 a.m., Sunset Magazine Food Editor Margo True talks about the bees’ role in the garden and makes two desserts, while Fairmont Chef J.W. Foster talks about his bee-keeping adventures on the roof of the famous San Francisco hotel. The regular cooking demo at 11:45 a.m. is by Chef Brandon Jew of Bar Agricole. Event is free to the public at the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero.

March 19, Saturday – "Childhood Favorites" Brunch and Book Signing. Berkeley's Summer Kitchen Bake Shop puts on a special brunch with kid-themed foods as a benefit for Children's Hospital of Oakland. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., shop for some kid-friendly brunch items like pop tarts and Dr. Seuss-inspired green eggs and ham, of course. Also at the store will be children's book author Kelly Corrigan, who will be signing copies of her latest book "Lift." Summer Kitchen, 2944 College Ave., Berkeley.

March 26, Saturday – SF Underground Market at Public Works. The latest installment of the community/home-made market runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the take-home products and 6 p.m. to 2 p.m. for the night-time hot food fun. Admission is $5 for the day event and $10 for night, and don’t forget as always you need to sign up to be a member to attend. The Public Works space is located at 161 Erie St., San Francisco.