California Apparel News

The latest edition of our biannual tribute to inspired stores and elegant eateries

SAN FRANCISCO

Spruce 3640 Sacramento St.(415) 931-5100Spruce, located in the well-heeled Presidio Heights district of San Francisco, is housed in an old car barn from the 1930s, but it’s not your neighborhood dive. The stunning 5,000-square-foot room is divided into a bar, lounge and restaurant with chocolate walls, faux-ostrich chairs and Baccarat chandeliers.

Chef Mark Sullivan subscribes to the “less is more” approach. “My aim is to cook simply with fantastic ingredients,” he says.

The contemporary American menu features honey-lacquered duck breast and buttered Maine lobster. Retire thereafter with espresso cake, peanut butter ice cream and whipped caramel.

The bar mixes powerful, evocative-sounding cocktails such as “Satan’s Whiskers,” a gin and Cointreau concoction, and “Dark and Stormy,” made with rum, lime and ginger beer. Three Bags Full2181 Union St.(415) 567-5753Bernard Faber, founder and owner of Three Bags Full, has a passion for sweaters. He realized the cold, damp and fog of San Francisco is a great reason to grab a sweater year-round.

The Union Street location, founded in 1979, is the flagship store, one of three locations in the city. The knitwear there reflects Faber’s artistic sensibilities. The sweaters are unique and handmade, many of them by British designers. The yarn is top-quality cashmere, wool and cotton. A hand-knit wool jacket by Marion Foale runs $725, a price that reflects the richness of the piece’s material as well as the 300 hours spent constructing the garment. Sweaters from Three Bags Full’s own label range from $60 up to $1,000.

Customers and fellow merchants alike appreciate the designs and come by to spark their imaginations. Let the fog roll in, and hug a sweater to your chest. ATLANTA

Holeman & Finch Public House2277 Peachtree Road(404) 948-1175 Gastropubs, artisanal cocktails and small plates define the culinary landscape this season. Holeman & Finch, Atlanta Magazine’s Restaurant of the Year, could be called a Southern tapas venue. The sophisticated, seasonal cooking is infused with the traditions and ingredients of the South, including the whole hog, literally, from ear to tail.

Located in Buckhead, the 60-seat dining room sports Georgia pine floors, walls of metal and cork, and booths lined in “gentleman’s” suit flannel. Two walls house the curing cabinet and wine cellar.

Oysters on the half-shell, catfish fingers and sugar-glazed donuts beckon. All meats are cured on the premises, including ham; pork belly; and fried bologna, which is served with a tart house-made mustard. Steak tartare with quail egg and fries and griddled Hen of the Woods mushrooms over polenta are also on the menu.

H&F’s talented mixologist conjures up drinks such as the “Dastardly Deed” (vodka, lime, basil and cane syrup) and the “Tahitian Moon” (cognac, sherry, bitters and cream soda) to suit your every mood. Merino3400 Around Lenox Drive, Suite 200 (404) 846-6307Merino is an Atlanta showcase of international, sophisticated fashion. Fall and winter collections from Vivienne Westwood, Nicola Finetti and 10 Dice make their appearance in this elegant space across the street from the Lenox Shopping Center. Felix Ray evening bags and an exclusive collection of Nicole Miller jewelry are also on hand.

Owner Amel Hadid Ead keeps things fresh by bringing in a rotating inventory of designers. Cocktail dresses by Flavio Castellini, architectural suits by Andy The-Anh and ruffle dresses by Willow are in the current collection. Westwood and Christian Cota are couture headliners at Merino.

The sensibility here is edgy and new but in harmony with Atlanta’s conservative side. Dresses run from $300 to $3,000 for couture. MIAMI

Barton G.1427 West Ave.(305) 672-8881 Barton G. is the brainchild of Barton G. Weiss, event and party planner, and his restaurant reflects his over-the-top, exuberant style. This is a Miami hotspot, located west of South Beach in a residential area. Tables in the pretty dining room are set close together for chitchat and sharing (if you wish). The bar is fashioned from a slab of onyx, and an orchid garden frames the lush patio. Food is described as innovative American with global influences, and the presentation is eye-popping.

On the menu: spicy “Disco” crab, no doubt right off South Beach waters; “Mouse Trap Mac & Cheese”; “Big Top Cotton Candy”; and “Sashimi Snow Cones.” Garden sea bass arrives in a clipped brown paper bag that the server pops open, allowing a flavorful steam bath to engulf the table.

Salads and pasta are available, but the desserts at Barton G. are most beloved. They speak for themselves: “Brucirc;leacute;e Board” (vanilla, coconut and coffee with a choice of chocolate, raspberry or Heath Bar topping), South Beach beignets with warm fudge, and “Cup Cake Picnic.” And don’t miss mojitos bearing rum popsicles for stirring; the frozen Vermouth swizzle sticks; or the “Sin-Sation” cocktail prepped with liquid nitrogen, a Cape Canaveral fave.Bal Harbour Shops9700 Collins Ave.(305) 866-0311The swamplands of Florida have given forth to wonders such as gator habitats and Disney World, but for luxury seekers there is no greater or more opulent shopping destination than Bal Harbour Shops, now celebrating its 40th anniversary.

Founder Stanley Whitman dreamt of turning the site of a swampy old Army barracks into an open-air space that would be like “shopping in a garden.” He created just that, with palm trees and koi ponds, easy parking, and upscale retailers. Original tenants included the first incarnation of Abercrombie & Fitch and FAO Schwarz.

Located on the northern tip of Miami Beach, Bal Harbour has maintained its luxurious mix of stores throughout the decades, and Neiman Marcus and Saks currently anchor the shopping center. From within the “garden,” the sirens of shopping call with hot products like Dior silk shoes with rosettes, Sergio Rossi embellished sandals and Oscar de la Renta strapless gowns. Two stories of shops include Audemars Piguet, Brioni, Hermegrave;s, Pratesi and Yves Saint Laurent, and Marc Jacobs is coming soon with his first mall-based store. There is a planned extension in the works of about 200,000 square feet and more fashion-forward brands. DALLAS

Nonna4115 Lomo Alto Drive(214) 521-1800There’s been lament in the Dallas area about the dearth of good Italian restaurants, but with the debut of Nonna last year, those refined tongues have quieted down.

This stylish bistro, located a few miles north of downtown in Highland Park, emphasizes local and sustainably harvested ingredients. The philosophy stems from chef Julian Barsutti’s training in the progressive kitchens of Northern California. He also emphasizes simplicity in the cooking and preparation of food. All meats are cured and ground in-house, resulting in delicious sausages and salumi. Pasta and breads are also prepared, kneaded and baked on the premises.

The 40-seat restaurant contains a bar with a completely Italian wine list. An exposed brick wall, modern art, big candlestick sconces and wood tables lend to the chic atmosphere.

On the menu, you’ll find house-made porcetta as well as antipasti and bruschetta of warm Dallas ricotta and tomato mostarde. The pizzas here are Neapolitan style, which means a crispy thin crust and a light hand with toppings like Littleneck clams and smoked mozzarella. Pastas to choose from include tortellini of Burgundy Pasture brisket and taglioni with cherry tomato and pickled cherry peppers. Wild Copper River salmon with South Texas shelling peas, pork ribs and rib-eye round out the menu, which changes frequently with the seasons and the chef’s inspiration. Reservations are highly recommended. Cowboy Cool3699 McKinney Ave.(214) 521-4500In Texas, some people are born cowboy and others are made that way. If you want to fashion yourself into a true contemporary cowboy—a little bit rocker, a little bit biker and totally cool—go to Cowboy Cool.

This 6-year-old Dallas store has a unique, marvelous mix of hats, boots, apparel and jewelry. Owner Heath Calhoun says he founded the store to satisfy his passions for funky cowboy boots, Harley-influenced T-shirts and jewelry, and rock ’n’ roll.

Patrons include Madonna, Steve Tyler and Jessica Biel, along with devoted customers from Australia, Japan, England and Germany. Dallas folks are also happy to have Cowboy Cool in their midst, about a mile north of downtown in West Village.

Boots run from $400 to $10,000, depending on materials and the degree of handiwork. Most are “ready-made custom,” which means each design is done in a run of 12 or so. Jeans by Seven for All Mankind and Parasuco, leather pants, traditional Western shirts, buckles, and belts are also available, as are guitar-pick necklaces, skull rings (one with eye sockets of rubies) and cowboy/cowgirl hats. Serious rock memorabilia—guitars signed by heroes like Tom Petty, Keith Richards and Eddie Van Halen—are also sold in this paean to all things rough and ready. LOS ANGELES

Pizzeria Mozza641 N. Highland Ave.(323) 297-0101Pizzeria Mozza, a collaboration between celebrity chef/restaurateurs Mario Battali and Nancy Silverton, blasted into Los Angeles in early 2007. It’s been jammed full of delighted pizza and antipasti lovers ever since. Reservations are taken up to a month in advance, and it’s no joke—the alternative is a long, long wait. Seats along the counter, where you can eat and stare into the mouth of the giant terra-cotta pizza oven, are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The pizza, with crusty edges blown up like pufferfish, is light and chewy. Toppings include fennel sausage and red onion; Littleneck clams; white anchovy, tomatoes and olives; and salumi piccante, mozzarella and hot chilies. The antipasti menu lists oven-roasted olives, fried squash blossoms with ricotta, and roasted beets with hazelnuts. Choices of salad, bruschette and dessert round out the menu, and there is always a “piatto del giorno,” plate of the day. The wine list is regional Italian.Malibu Country Mart3835 Cross Creek Roadwww.malibucountrymart.comThere are plenty of iconic shopping destinations in Los Angeles, such as Rodeo Drive, Melrose Avenue and paparazzi-mad Robertson Boulevard. But these locales don’t come with the ocean at your back and the promise of a beautiful drive up PCH. Indeed, six acres of retail and a breezy outdoor location make the Malibu Country Mart much more than just a shopping destination—it’s a mini vacation.

The Country Mart—with its blend of funky, Mediterranean and Big Sur-ish architecture—offers a mix of shops, including Seven for All Mankind, Oliver Peoples, Henry Beguelin for handmade bags and belts, Planet Blue, and Shabby Chic for furniture and fabric. Madison offers clothes by Nina Ricci, Zac Posen and Derek Lam, and John Varvatos just opened a shop. You can dine expensively at Nobu, or pick up fresh-baked goods at the Malibu Kitchen and Gourmet Country Market for picnicking at the beach.

CHICAGO

Charlie Trotter’s816 W. Armitage Ave.(773) 248-6228In uncertain times, people like the tried and true. In Chicago, Charlie Trotter’s is the place for a grand old-fashioned repast.

Trotter’s, open for 21 years, has multiple stars and awards to its name, a celebrity chef, and even a PBS food show filmed on the premises. For Chicagoans, the restaurant is primarily about food, wine and impeccable service.

The red brick building in Lincoln Park is fronted by a garden that encloses several dining rooms of varying sizes. There is a flower-filled two-story bar and no fewer than three wine cellars.

Food choices come down to three tasting menus: Grand, Vegetable and Kitchen Table (for dining at the source). A sample of the Grand menu includes Maine boat lobster with elephant garlic and grilled Eagle Rock oysters. From the Vegetable: grilled Japanese maitake mushrooms with coarse miso and shiso. The Kitchen Table, meanwhile, puts squab breast with hazelnuts and pearl onion marmalade on your plate. Hejfina1529 North Milwaukee Ave.(773) 772-0002Owner Heiji Choy Black weaves her cool, refined boutique around art installations and hosts lectures on architecture, but Hejfina is known primarily as the best place in Chicago to find emerging labels and designers.

At this Wicker Park shop, you can discover popular Japanese menswear line Engineered Garments, which offers pants, jackets and “workwear” in cotton and wool. For women, the big seller is Isabel Marant, a French designer who produces youthful, beautifully made dresses and separates. Well-known contemporary designers include Comme des Garccedil;ons, Helmut Lang, Rag and Bone, Loden Dager, Tim Hamilton, and Mayle. This is also the place to dive into art and design books, accessories, shoes, and jewelry. NEW YORK

Oak Room and Bar at The Plaza768 Fifth Ave.(212) 759-3000 This fabled space was a drinking and dining hall for F. Scott Fitzgerald and pals. Cary Grant almost got to enjoy a final martini here before nasty villains whisked him away in “North by Northwest.” The restaurant and bar were closed in 2005, along with The Plaza hotel. The Plaza has since reopened, and the Oak Room and Bar is opening again this fall.

The Oak Room has undergone a complete floor-to-ceiling renovation that brings it back to its 1930s bones. The adjoining bar, which started as a “Men’s Bar” in 1907, has also been redone. Artists and artisans, guided by historic photos, have revamped the murals, walls and chandeliers. All will be as it once was—but without the tobacco tarnish on the walls from generations of smokers.

Windows overlook Central Park, and the Oak Room now has a kitchen that is separate from The Plaza. The chef is Joel Antunes, a James Beard Award winner. The menu is not yet available, but the establishment promises a cuisine of “clean and defined flavors.” The Bar will most certainly continue to make the classic martini that Cary Grant’s Roger Thornhill yearned for as he Hitchcocked his way across the country.Kirna Zabecirc;te96 Greene St.(212) 941-9656Kirna Zabecirc;te is a long, bright gallery of fashion, a favorite of top fashion editors and stylish New Yorkers since its opening in SoHo in 1999. Owners Beth Buccini and Sarah Easley are college chums who started this early “lifestyle” store with a stock of clothes, shoes, jewelry, bags, kid and pet gifts, and candy. The sensibility is of two owners who are locally celebrated for their great runway edits.

The staff will direct you to clothes for special events and parties as well as to boyfriend jeans and bellbottoms. Looks include shifts, dresses, skirts and hoodies by Narciso Rodriquez and Stella McCartney’s thick rope dress for Fall/Winter. Italian leather hobos and satchels from Olivia Harris and boots and pumps from Lanvin typify the shoe and accessory choices here. And while Kirna Zabecirc;te generally isn’t cheap, fun, stylized animal masks from Zid Zid kids will run you a mere $15. LAS VEGAS

Restaurant Guy Savoy3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South (702) 731-7731Okay, this is for the folks whose declining 401(k)s have been eclipsed by a fabulous night at the gaming tables. If you are that lucky winner, you may pass through the hulking mahogany doors of Restaurant Guy Savoy and dine on the best French cuisine Vegas has to offer.

The sole U.S. outpost of Guy Savoy’s Parisian restaurant is managed by the celebrated chef’s son, Frank. The 10-course Menu Prestige lets it fly with foie gras, caviar, and artichoke and black truffle soup. Expect to dine and digest in a leisurely three to four hours. If you’re pressed for time, the 90-Minute Experience includes American prime beef tenderloin and a toasted mushroom brioche with black truffle butter. Prices for these prix fixe meals are $290 and $190 respectively, per person. An agrave; la carte menu adds Brittany blue lobster, oysters in ice geleacute;e and crispy veal sweetbreads to the offerings. The wine list is mostly French, a bread cart coordinates with your meal, and the service is effortless.

You might expect rococo, over-the-top design here, but the room is spare, modern and dedicated to your joyous gustatory experience. The Shoppes at The Palazzo3327 Las Vegas Blvd. South (702) 414-4525Housed within The Palazzo, an 8.3 million-square-foot casino and resort complex (incidentally, the largest eco-sensitive LEEDS-rated building in the country), are The Shoppes. Boasting 450,000 square feet and more than 60 luxury boutiques, the shopping center will make well-heeled hikers proud.

Barneys New York anchors the mall, and Wolfgang Puck’s Cut and Emeril Lagasse’s Table 10 are a tad above corndog fare when you need shopping nutrition.

The architectural style of The Shoppes is classic European; a grand atrium pours light onto the marble floors, waterfalls and fountains. People come to buy (or gawk at) offerings from Dior Cosmetics, Canturi Jewels, Chloe, Jimmy Choo, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Burberry. Christian Louboutin’s sexy heels and red lacquered soles live here. Edidi sells jeweled couture evening bags with a young, organic slant by Wendy Lau. There’s also a Canyon Ranch Spa Club at The Palazzo, but you won’t need a spa for a good workout at this enormous complex.