Dear Readers,
Liguri nel Mondo, and Genovese focaccia and foodie fans in the San Francisco Bay area, Rejoice!
Farina Focaccia and Cucina Italiana, after a year of bureaucratic boondoggles, has opened its doors at 3560-18th Street, (between Dolores and Guerrero) in a building that for over seven decades, since 1933, housed Anna's Danish Cookies.The building and “ristorante”, which finally opened June 2007, is owned by a group of hands on investors, most of whom hail from Genova, Italy.
Hopefully, Farina Focaccia and Cucina Italiana Group will enjoy sustained success, past seven decades in their San Francisco venture.Since they opened in June, I have visited Farina several times for either lunch, dinner or take-out to enjoy at home, (Focaccia Stracchino, Dolce al Burro, Pomodoro, Verdure or Caprese) but it was Yvonne Sangiacomo, a native San Franciscan with hereditary roots in Lucca, daughter of the late, great nightclub impresario, Agostino “Bimbo” Giuntoli, mother of seven, wife to Angelo Sangiacomo, a real estate developer with Ligurian roots, and Angel to the Little Sisters of the Poor, via the Red Tie Gala she founded to benefit the work of the Little Sisters, which is caring for the aged poor at St. Anne Home for the aged at 300-Lake Street in San Francisco, who first introduced Farina's fantastic focaccia to the bay Area.
Back in October 2006, Yvonne read an item in “The Inside Scoop”, a weekly restaurant column in the S.F. Chronicle's food section, that read in part:
“Ever since the bakery left, that 18th Street space has been quiet, but a new place is set to open in mid-November - Farina Focaccia and Cucina Italiana.
The restaurant is owned by a group, with most of the members hailing from Genoa, Italy. The food will follow suit with Ligurian specialties, including the namesake focaccia.They've hired chef Paolo LaBoa directly from Genoa, where he's worked at Giacomo Ristorante for the last five years. He'll blend traditional Ligurian flavors - pesto, pecorino, bottarga and ciuppin (better known as cioppino) - with contemporary touches.
Dishes will include veal cooked in wine and juniper, handmade pasta with walnut sauce, and focaccia topped with the likes of Parma ham, arugula and olive oil, and Crescenza cheese.
The 4,000-square-foot space will seat 100, with an extra 15 outside. They are keeping the wood frame intact and the inside simple, with varying shades of white and cream, accented with zinc counters, sturdy wood furniture and Italian marble.”
When Yvonne learned that Farina Focaccia and Cucina Italiana was coming to town, she and her husband Angelo, a real estate developer with Ligurian roots, stopped by Farina and asked them to provide focaccia for the November 3, 2006 Red Tie Gala event at the Neiman Marcus department store across from Union square in San Francisco.
The Farina folks said “yes”, the focaccia they served was a big hit and many Red Tie Gala attendees were eagerly awaiting the mid-November opening of Farina.
Unfortunately, due to more S.F. City and County “Red Tape” another eight months went by before they got the green light to open on June 5, 2007.On “Opening Nite” Yvonne and Angelo Sangiacomo hosted about 90 folks for a sit down dinner at Farina.
Among the guests were Bimbos' 365 Club Graziano and Diana Cerchiai, former 49er, favorite administrator Carmen Policy and his wife Gayle, Movie director Chris Columbus and his wife Monica, Actor comedian Robin Williams and his wife Marcia, Gina Moscone, wife of S.F.'s late mayor George Moscone, all of the Sangiacomo family with their spouses and in some cases their adult offspring and their spouses which added up to a lot of Sangiacomos since Yvonne is the mother of seven.
Everyone raved about the four course meal prepared by executive chef Paolo LaBoa.
Chef LaBoa, born in Genova, Italy on Nov. 1, 1963, has worked at the famous Aladino, Zefirino, Grangotto, and Pecchin restaurants in Genova.
In 1992 he won the 1st Young Italian Chef Award in Genova. First Young Italian Chef Award in Liguria. He also won the 1st Young Italian Chef Award in Milan, Italy over participants from all of Italy.
He was also a Chef at Ristorante Porto Franco in Genova, owned by Gino Paoli, an Italian famous singer. At night he was a Chef at Da Vittorio Restaurant in Genova.
From this restaurant he was a Chef at Al Mare Restaurant where they specialized in fish only (Boca d'Asse).
He then was a Chef at Giacomo Restaurant in Genova for 5 years and some of his clients were: Francis Ford Coppola, Tony May and many famous American restaurateurs.On Opening Nite, the tables were set up as only Italians would - the men sat at one big table together and the women sat together at surrounding tables. Yvonne had a bell that she had to ring to get everyone is attention.
The speeches were both in English and Italian. The reason why the Farina “family” moved from Italy to San Francisco is that both places have a passion for a wonderful family, food and dining experience. Most of the staff are here from Italy.
The Farina folks transplanted almost the entire team from Genoa, Italy. This Italian restaurant theme is Genoa, Italy, with all its wonderful customs, heritage and of course its delicious food.
In addition to the focaccia and panini menu for those of us unfamiliar with the cuisine of Liguria, beyond pasta con pesto, the sunny, spacious 100-seat space with its marble counters and sleek but comfortable ambience makes repeated return visits to Farina, for tasty Ligurian culinary learning experiences a real delight.
The menu changes depending on the availability of the best possible organic produce, dairy and sustainable meat and fish, but here are a few selections from a recent Farina menu:
Antipasti: Carpaccino di Morone al limone e olio extra vergine d'oliva (carpaccio of butterfish dressed with lemon and extra virgin olive oil) -
Focacce Calde: Focaccia di Recco (stracchino cheese melted between two layers of thin, bread dough)Primi Piatti: Pansotti al sugo di noci (hand made Genovese tortelli filled with ricotta cheese and borage in a walnut cream sauce)
Secondi Piatti: Medaglioni di filetto al Barolo con purea di patate (filet mignon Barolo wine sauce and potato puree)
Dolci: Latte dolce fritto (Genovese sweet milk fritters), Semifreddo al croccante di mandorle (house made almond semifreddo).
...
“Mille Grazie” for bringing this bit of Liguria to San Francisco is due in part to Monica Viarengo, from Genova, owner and landscape architect for the planned garden terrace atop Farina.
She is married to architect Brett Terpeluk an owner who helped with Farina's interior design. Luca Minna, one of the young good looking owners and Laura Garrone are also from Genova.
Giulio Viarengo, Monica's father, a dapper Genovese gent, keeps an eye on things while Gabriele Originario, is the General Manager.
To all, “Buona Fortuna and Benvenuti” to San Francisco, we are all looking forward to many fine meals with friends and family at Farina Focaccia and Cucina Italiana for many years to come.
10631 Vinedale Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352 - Phone (818) 767-3413 - Fax: (818) 767-1410
