For Orson Opening Some Wore Chocolate

Having fun on a Monday night—what a genius idea! Who else could have came up with it but the ultimate fun pastry chef and her life partner—Elizabeth Falkner and Sabrina Riddle of Citizen Cake and Citizen Cupcake. Have fun, advised Falkner, while meeting and greeting her guests at the opening of her third restaurant (this time just “Orson,” no citizen, and it’s about time for the two greats to communicate on the first-name basis—if you put it into a historical perspective, so to speak). “I wanted to do a really fun big restaurant,” she said, “not just pastry, we needed to do something like they have in Europe. We went there in summer, that was kind of motivation.” Moving in a whirlwind of a slightly intoxicated and highly excited crowd, Falkner, slim and fit, clad in biker black, with her spiky blond ‘do, looking like one of her hip and chic guests, could see her dream come true in a smartly renovated warehouse, lofty inside, chocolate cake-looking outside. With her impeccable taste, her pastry chef origin, and her sturdy determination applied to any task, large or small, Falkner thought through every detail of her fun party. Sword fighting (Annika Kahn and Falkner herself) and waiters’ fashion show, music and singing by Jason Falkner, DJ Solomon and Sabrina Riddle were added to a lavish food and drink presentation. Celery gimlet, expertly mixed by Bill Londers and other energetic bartenders, was by far the most popular drink, probably because of its emerald color and its guilt-free implication. House cured meats, among them delectable ham, sliced in the kitchen off a whole leg jamon-style by chef de cuisine Ryan Farr, and carried around on clothespins; green garlic and oyster soup in shot glasses; butterfish and caviar little masterpieces, served on spoons; white and green flower-like tidbits on sticks, made of salt and pepper tofu and kim chi, and foie gras chocolate truffles—that’s pretty decadently European, if you ask me. Orson features a 30-seat round bar, social and intimate dining spaces, and is available for private parties. For its creative and inspired cuisine, its stylish and relaxing ambience and guaranteed fun, reserve your seats early at 415-777-1508. Orson is located at 508 Forth Street, SF. For more information, visit http://www.orsonsf.com/ Photo by Emma Krasov. Countesses Chocula or just chocolate maidens with a delighted guest at the Orson opening last Monday.