When Chefs Go Out for a Bite to Eat

In Corte Madera, chef Scott Howard of Brick & Bottle, who lives in Novato, is very enthusiastic about the cooking of Ed Vigil at Vin Antico Urban Trattoria in San Rafael.

“It’s my favorite place,” he exclaims.

He also likes Charlie Hong Kong in Mill Valley, where they prepare organic, healthy Asian street food, including brown rice bowls, pad Thai.

“The other night my daughter had a pizza at Boca Pizzeria and I had a bruschetta with grilled eggplant and the beet salad. Everything was very good,” says Howard.

Yucatan-born Miguel Pascual has been the chef at Ristorante Fabrizio in Larkspur for 19 years. He says he likes Mexican food and goes to Baja Fresh, nearby in Town Center, And in San Rafael: Celia’s Mexican Restaurant and Taqueria Maria, 1017 4th Street, (415) 257-5720. He lives in San Rafael.

 Chef Bruce Hill of Restaurant Picco and Picco Pizzeria, in Larkspur, Bix and Zero Zero in San Francisco, says he can’t wait to try a brand new place in Hayes Valley, Nojo.

“The menu centers on yakitori and the chef, Greg Dunmore, who I traveled to Japan with in 2007, has worked with chef Hiro Sone at Ame,” he explains.

 “He’s sourced all local ingredients for his menu, so he won’t depend on imported Japanese products, plus most of his menu is cooked dishes,” Hill reports.

 Chef Gary Rulli of Emporio Rulli in Larkspur and Risto Bar on Chestnut Street in San Francisco appears to prefer Italian restaurants including Piazza D’Angelo in Mill Valley, where he is friendly with the chef Maximo Covello. 

 “Maxim worked for me for several years,” says Rulli.

 He also likes Angelino in Sausalito.

 “And we also dine at La Ginestra (127 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley; (415) 388-0224. – our kids and the Aversa kids went to school together.