Media Alert - Uva Enoteca - Opening March, 2008

Restaurant Name and Opening Date:
Uva Enoteca | Late March, 2008

Restaurant Overview:
An enoteca is more than just a place to have a quick glass of wine and a light meal or snack. It's a place to meet friends and relax in an inviting atmosphere. This "enoteche lifestyle", popularized in Italy, will soon be making its debut in San Francisco by way of Uva Enoteca. Uva Enoteca will bring the spirit of Italy to the Lower Haight with a hefty list of quartino wine offerings (1/3 of a bottle), charcuterie and cheese bar, a special bruschetta menu, daily pizza and panini offerings, and a variety of small plates.



Location:
568 Haight Street (@Steiner) | San Francisco, CA 94117


Executive Chef/Co-Owner:

Ben Hetzel, Graduate of Johnson & Wales University and former Cook, Captain and Cheese Buyer at The Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton



Sommelier & General Manager / Co-Owner:
Boris Nemchenok, who worked under the tutelage of Mario Batali (Otto Enoteca and Pizzeria in NYC)

Food Program:
Uva Enoteca's menu will feature:

* A variety of enoteca antipasti
* A fine selection of over 15 cheeses
* Salumi and charcuterie bar (eventually house made, but will open with product sourced from Batali's Salumi in Seattle)
* Panini, bruschettas, tramezzini, piadine, and a dessert list
* Pizza del Giorno

Wine Program:
The opening wine list at Uva Enoteca will consist of an all-Italian 85-bottle list comprised of lesser known wines by boutique wine makers. The list will expand to 200 by-the-bottle offerings. 20-25 wines will be served by the "quartino", 1/3 of a bottle, in an 8 oz. decanter. Alternatively, guests can opt for 3 oz. tastings.

Jim Kennedy, Investor/Wine Consultant, will help craft the wine list. Jim was the Beverage Director of Esca in NYC under Mario Batali and assisted in crafting the wine list at Delfina. He currently manages the wine list at Sociale. Chef Hetzel's wife, Camber Lay, who has helped craft cocktail lists for Range and worked behind the bar at Frisson, Laiola, and Tres Agaves, is creating a special sparkling wine-based drink list.

Design:
Rustic and clean design with exposed brick walls, ebony wood stained floors, marble countertops, and red cedar tabletops (hand-made by the Owners Ben and Boris).

Website and Hours:
Monday - Friday: Dinner from 5pm - 12 midnight

Saturday & Sunday: Brunch service begins at 10am and goes straight through dinner until 12 midnight

www.UvaEnoteca.com (not live)