San Francisco Welcomes a Second Sustainable Sushi Restaurant

At the new Ki in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood, you can enjoy your sushi without any guilt.

That’s because the new izakaya-style restaurant is dedicated to serving food that’s local, seasonal and sustainable. Owner Paul Hemming, a DJ, art gallery owner and record store owner, has teamed with Casson Trenor, author of “Sustainable Sushi: A Guide to Saving the Oceans One Bite at A Time” (North Atlantic Books). Trenor also helped launch Tataki Sushi & Sake Bar in San Francisco, the Bay Area’s first sustainable sushi restaurant.

Executive Chef Brian Beach, formerly executive chef of Infusion Lounge in San Francisco, sources many of his ingredients from within 150 miles of the restaurant. At Ki, you won’t find bluefin tuna, hamachi or eel — all of which are over-fished. Instead, the spotlight is on sardines, local albacore tuna, artic char, and other sustainable seafood. Dishes ($6 to $17) include kasuzuke, a seasonal fish cured in sake lees and cooked on a cedar plank; and karaage, sous-vide fried chicken served with pickled chile-usukuchi sauce.

Sushi Chef Isamu Kanai, formerly executive chef of Deep Sushi in San Francisco, turns out specialties such as scallop carpaccio served on a chilled Himalayan salt plate with grilled cherry tomatoes, red shiso pesto and baby mizuna; and “Fish ‘n’ Chips,” a specialty roll with tempura striped bass and pickled slaw topped with crushed potato chips.

Enjoy an extensive selection of sakes, served by the 4-ounce or 8-ounce pour or by the bottle.

San Francisco Food Bloggers Bake Sale

Foodies all over the nation will be baking up a storm for the second annual National Food Bloggers Bake Sale on May 14 to benefit Share Our Strength, a national organization working to eradicate child hunger.

Locally, the sale will take place in two locations in San Francisco: From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 18 Reasons, 593 Guerrero St. at 18th Street; and noon to 4 p.m. at Kiehl’s, 2360 Fillmore St. Bay Area food bloggers will be selling their favorite baked goods — everything from blueberry hand pies to mochi to cinnamon oreos — with all proceeds going to Share Our Strength.

The event was started by blogger Gaby Dalkin of WhatsGabyCooking. Last year’s sale in San Francisco raised $1,700.

Guy Fieri’s Off-the-Hook Visit to Book Passage

It’s sure to be a winner-winner-chicken-dinner of a time when Food Network star Guy Fieri drops by Book Passage in San Francisco’s Ferry Building, noon May 12.

Fieri will be signing copies of his new book, “Guy Fieri Food: Cookin It, Livin’ It, Lovin’ It” (William-Morrow). Books must be purchased at Book Passage to be signed.

A Northern California restaurateur, Fieri owns Johnny Garlic’s, with locations in Windsor, Santa Rosa and Roseville; and Tex Wasbi’s in Santa Rosa and Sacramento.

Wine Dinner at Citrus in Santana Row

Citrus restaurant in the Hotel Valencia in Santana Row in San Jose will host a wine dinner on May 19 to spotlight Stag’s Leap Winery.

The five-course dinner is $75 per person and includes such pairings as ahi tartare with nori chips, Szechuan peppercorns and yuzu with Stag’s Leap Viognier Napa Valley 2010; and filet of beef with king trumpet mushrooms and blue cheese butter paired with Stag’s Leap Petite Syrah Napa Valley  2007.

For reservations, call (408) 423-5405.

Riedel Wine Glass Tasting at Morton’s in San Jose

Learn how sipping wine from a proper glass can make a difference at a special Riedel Wine Glass Tasting at Morton’s the Steakhouse in San Jose on May 13.

Chateau Ste. Michelle wines will be served alongside signature hors d’oeuvres. Each guest will take home a four-piece Riedel Vinum wine glass set (valued at $116).

The event is $95 per person. A silent auction also will be held to benefit Birdies for the Brave, a national military outreach initiative, supported by the PGA Tour.

Food Fest for Kids in Oakland

Jack London Square in Oakland hosts the Doof-A-Palooza festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 22.

The free festival, which originated at Google headquarters, features cooking demos, games and entertainment — all geared toward teaching kids the importance of eating well. Activities include making butter, trolling for shrimp, throwing pizza dough, a scavenger hunt, bowling with coconuts, and pony rides.

Food will be provided by the likes of Curry Up Now, Laloo’s Goat Milk Ice Cream and Gurerilla Grub Food Cart.

A Starry Night of Star Chefs in San Francisco

Join a bevy of top chefs, mixologists and vinters at the 24th Annual Star Chefs & Vintners Gala on May 15 at the Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason in San Francisco.

Chef Nancy Oakes of Boulevard restaurant in San Francisco returns as gala chef chairwoman to oversee more than 70 big-name chefs who will get the party started with a parade of hors d’oeuvres at the opening reception. Then, 27 of those chefs will prepare a sit-down, three-course dinner, with each course at each table being prepared by a different chef.

Among the participating chefs are Mourad Lahlou of Aziza in San Francisco, David Bazirgan of the Fifth Floor in San Francisco, Charles Phan of the Slanted Door in San Francisco, and Matthew Accarrino of SPQR in San Francisco.

At live and silent auctions, guests can bid on such items as rare bottles of wine and private dinners with celeb chefs.

Tickets are $450 per person.