Top Tablehopper trends of 2008
By Marcia Gagliardi

It’s funny, San Francisco isn’t known for being a trendy city per se, but when it comes to culinary specialties, there are definitely some items that seem keen to start or join a popularity contest. Here are a few highlights (and lowlights) spotted around the Northside this year:

Ahhh yes, pork. Pork is big. From the growing popularity of salumi (the programs at A16, Bar Norcini and Perbacco are especially impressive, and Boccalone recently opened in the Ferry Building Marketplace) to pork belly on menus citywide, to bacon ice cream across town at Orson, and now bacon and maple donuts at Dynamo Donuts in the Mission ... it’s obvious that pork is not just the other white meat, it’s actually THE white meat.

Man, you’d think this town was full of winos or something with all the wine bars cropping up. Well, it is. While Nectar and Ottimista got things started, Bin 38 blew them up. Now there’s Wine Jar on Fillmore, Amelie and The Wine Bar on Polk, and Jovino on Union. We’ll see how many last, but the more people drinking wine, the better, I say.
You’d think we’d never had them before – people get all crazy for their cupcakes. (Must be the sugar.) Kara’s Cupcakes remains a local fave and now has two locations, but That Takes the Cake on Union and Sweet Things in Laurel Heights are also in on the act. Curious to see if crumpets are next (visit Crown & Crumpet in Ghirardelli Square to get your crumpet on).

Another trend that is burning hot is frozen yogurt, or all the “frozen dessert” spots. I can’t even keep up with all the places opening, many with random names that reference various fruits and swirling motions. And then suddenly there will be too many places, they’ll start closing, and in the end there will be none. Can we just get some frozen custard now?
Handcrafted and artisan cocktails continue to gain momentum around town, and as someone who loves her cocktails, I don’t mind this one bit. Well, as long as they stop creeping up to New York prices. Clock Bar has been shaking up some special cocktails, the ones at the Presidio Social Club make me shimmy, Spruce has one of my favorite bars to enjoy a drink at (and you can counteract any liquor damage with their wickedly delicious burger), Le Club is where you can sip one with socialites, and now you can visit La Mar on the Embarcadero for some special cocktails made with pisco and other Peruvian ingredients. Cheers!

Marcia Gagliardi also writes a popular weekly e-column about the San Francisco dining scene; subscribe for free at www.tablehopper.com. E-mail marcia@northsidesf.com.