The Layover crew, Tony Bourdain, and Oscar Villalon after a dip in the Tonga Room pool
This Monday marked the debut of the San Francisco episode of The Layover, where Anthony Bourdain showed some local love for San Francisco. He ate with La Cocina’s Caleb Zigas, Chefs Roland Passot, Danny Bowien and Chris Cosentino. Tony also explored the daytime drinking crowd at Toronado. Jeff Hollinger, barkeep at Comstock Saloon served up adult beverages and later joined Bourdain for more drinks. Bourdain ate at the Rice Paper Scissors pop-up with Oscar Villalon, my husband. We visited the Tonga Room with Bourdain and the crew after the Rock Paper Scissors feed fest/shoot. Tony had already celebrated at the Tonga Room earlier with Cosentino, and was happy to share more Scorpion Bowls. After an hour or more, two of the crew decided to take a dip in the Tonga Room pool. A hotel staffer was on hand with clean and dry towels and robes for the swimmers. We took a picture and smoke break outside after the swimming action.
Bay Area Bites caught up with Bourdain via email.
Bay Area Bites: What food-restaurant trends do you see for this year?
Bourdain: Trends? It's all about Sean Brock [a Southern Chef].