|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE SLANTED DOOR STAKES CLAIM TO THE BAY
SAN FRANCISCO, March 12........The Phan family and dedicated employees will
finally land in their permanent home with the opening of The Slanted Door
on April 5th at One Ferry Building. The new restaurant, designed by architect/designer
Olle Lundberg will celebrate its location--perched above the San Francisco
Bay-- with a water imagery theme.
As you enter the 150 seat restaurant, the 52 foot, flame granite curvilinear
bar leads to the podium, an eight inch thick granite boulder, supported by
intersecting steel plates. From here you see the pale blue-green main dining
room, punctuated by floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the sweeping bay views.
The natural materials--wood, flamed granite, stone and steel--pay tribute
to the waterfront theme through their shapes and patterns. The ceiling will
be created with asymmetrical, undulating vaults constructed to reflect the
crashing eddies in the bay. Tables, made from 30 foot recycled cypress trees,
are sliced lengthwise and then crosswise, placed in the restaurant in order
of the way they were cut. Each table retaining its bark on one side, creates
a soft edge much like the tides that break on the beach. A stacked glass
wall will serve as the back bar, mirroring the illusion of rough seas, allowing
only silhouettes to be seen into the kitchen area through the blue-green colors
of glass. The subtlety of the water theme, honesty of the design and the
organic qualities of the materials were chosen carefully by Lundberg in an
effort to reflect Charles Phan's food.
The menu will once again support the art of Vietnamese cooking, albeit heavily
reliant on local and organic ingredients, that has earned Charles Phan his
pedigree. "We are so fortunate to have so many local farmers right here in
the Ferry Building," Phan comments, "We have always enjoyed supporting the
small farm and now we have better access than ever." Signatures such as Shaking
Beef, Clay Pot Chicken and Organic Bok Choy with Chanterelles will share the
stage with new items based on the addition of four live fish tanks, a wood-burning
and a Chinese duck oven. The wine list, designed by Mark Ellenbogen, will
continue its tradition of an Austrian wine profile, that pairs so nicely with
the food: additional older Rieslings that have been in the cellar over the
last five years and new Belgian beers will also be added. Signature cocktails,
such as the Ginger Kaffir Limeade and Phantasm (made with house-infused lemongrass
vodka,) will both use locally-produced Hangar One --the exclusive vodka in
the well.
The private dining room will seat 20 and once the restaurant has opened,
plans will be underway to develop a separate entrance for a to-go area featuring
creative cooking kits, a welcome change for weary commuters now able to quickly
assemble Vietnamese dinner across the bay. The history of the Slanted Door's
three locations can be described as follows: the original Slanted Door opened
in 1995, quietly, at first. Within three years, when the restaurant began
turning away 75 people a day, it was clear that the expansion was necessary.
With a desire to stay put, the Phan's purchased the Valencia building and
in 2002 moved into their temporary space on 100 Brannan Street. Within one
week, that restaurant, which had nothing more done to it, than the addition
of a few pictures hung on the wall, became a phenomenon and with the newly-added
full bar, doubled sales against the old space.
One year later, when it was apparent that a bigger kitchen and more seating
was necessary the Ferry Building space came up. The new location offered not
only a bigger venue, but the opportunity for a retail component; a plan that
had been in the works for a while. Moving into the historic building was
stroke of good fortune for the Phans and their staff almost half whom have
been working at the restaurant since its inception. As for Valencia Street,
it will be under construction soon, featuring the original street food concept
that inspired the original Slanted Door. For now, all eyes are on The Slanted
Door at One Ferry Building, serving lunch from 11:30 AM-2:30 PM and dinner
5:30 PM-10:00 PM 7 days a week All major credit cards are accepted. For
reservations please call 861-8032. For more information go to the Press Room
on www.slanteddoor.com.
|
