Dining Around January 2

Dinner at the North Beach; dinner at Robert and Joel's, with a summer theme--steaks, mushrooms, baked potatoes, salad, green beans, dessert, plus Champagne from D&M liquors, 2005 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) and 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County.

Patricia Unterman of the Hayes Street Grill and the SF Examiner helps ring in the new year.

Andrea Nguyen is here to talk about her latest book, Asian Dumplings; "design caterer" Jennifer Spiegel of Fork & Spoon Productions explains what sets her company apart.

Minh Tsai and Dean Ku of Oakland's Hodo Soy Beanery talk about the fine points of tofu.

Angela Jackson of the SF Convention and Visitors Bureau, Anjan Mitra of DOSA, and Mourad Lahlou of Aziza are on hand to talk about Dine About Town, January 15-31, where participating restaurants will be offering a 2-course lunch for $17.95 and a 3-course dinner for $34.95. Participating restaurants include:

• Scoma's
• Lark Creek Steak
• Asia De Cuba
• Yoshi's on Fillmore
• Supperclub
• Urban Tavern
• Vitrine
• Salt House
• First Crush Restaurant
• Garcon Restaurant
• Roy's
• Midi
• Eclipse
• DOSA on Fillmore
• DOSA on Valencia
• luella
• ThirstyBear Brewing Company
• Roots
• Chez Papa Resto
• Butterfly
• Aziza
• Restaurant LuLu
• Daily Grill
• Cassis
• Town Hall Restaurant
• Le Colonial
• Fringale
• Catch
• Cityhouse
• Blowfish Sushi To Die For
• E Tutto Qua
• Fish & Farm
• B44
• Plouf
• Luna Park
• Waterbar
• Café Bastille
• Mangarosa
• Cliff House
• Le Central
• Anchor & Hop
• Luce
• Swell
• ChouChou
• Amber
• Fifth Floor Restaurant
• Foreign Cinema
• Bushi-tei
• Cote Sud
• Crustacean Restaurant
• Big 4
• RNM
• 5A5 Steak Lounge
• The Plant Café Organic
• Daffodil

Finally, Randall Graham of Bonny Doon stops by to talk about his book, "Been Doon So Long."