Good food, good wine, good fashion, good time, Saturday afternoon in the Fillmore District

Looking for Saturday activities in San Francisco? Try this:

In the Fillmore district -- specifically on Fillmore Street between California and Pine streets -- it's the first Taste of Fillmore.

Here's all you need to know: http://www.tasteoffillmore.com/

Taste of Fillmore coming to the street Oct. 3

What's the Fillmore if not food? Add in wine, fashion, jazz -- instant festival.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, Oct. 3, for the Taste of Fillmore. One block of San Francisco's Fillmore Street between California and Pine streets will be closed to traffic but open to a thorough review of the district's finest.

"Because our neighborhood has so many good restaurants, we wanted to create an event that celebrates food and wine on Fillmore," Fillmore Merchants Association President Thomas Reynolds said.

"Just look at all the new places that have arrived in recent months, and another sure-to-be-hot spot will open later this month when Charles Phan brings (Out the Door) to the neighborhood.

"Then as our plans began to jell, some of Fillmore's many fashion boutiques pointed out that a taste of Fillmore involves more than food and wine. So we added a fashion show. And of course there has to be jazz, so members of the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra will perform."

Tickets are $20 each, available here. See you on the street Saturday, Oct. 3.

Working through the three dozen

A few morsels from the pleasant task of eating our way through the list of more than three dozen restaurants along and near Fillmore Street in our San Francisco neighborhood.

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Does anything surpass the mini-baguette sandwiches at La Boulange on Pine Street? OK, the full-sized baguettes themselves, but for a light lunch, go for a mini.

The BLTs we had at mid-day on Friday came straight from the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears: They were just right!

The baguette itself had the perfect crust. The tomatoes were fresh and lettuce crisp. And what substance on Earth beats bacon for flavor?

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An encounter with Charles Phan in the mist late Saturday afternoon secured a first-person status report on his newest Out the Door restaurant location.

Phan said the much-awaited eatery at 2232 Bush St. will open in "a month" in the storefront on which he has been working for quite a while.

Seeing my reaction, Phan piqued the anticipation by adding: "We will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner."

We knew that, but hearing it from Phan himself made it real.

What will the genius behind the acclaimed Slanted Door offer for breakfast, Vietnamese style?

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Many say Massimo, and not the Italian food from his kitchen, is the show at Via Veneto, 2244 Fillmore St. We have had better Italian right in the neighborhood, but Via Veneto was good enough that we will return.

Our first experience was for Saturday lunch, a time quiet enough for good conversation and a relaxing meal. The grilled salmon at the center of the seafood salad special was cooked just right, retaining its moistness and flavor. The prosciutto in the focaccia was sweet and savory, just the way it should be.

The server was attentive without hovering. We'll be back, having eyed the lengthy list of pasta selections and being easy marks for a well-made alfredo sauce. That will be the true test for us.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ... yogurt!

Does the world need another yogurt shop?

Apparently not, if it's up to San Francisco health inspectors.

Most definitely, if it's Fraîche, say the legions of followers familiar with the organic purveyor that runs its dairy and a shop in Palo Alto and another shop in Stanford.

The yogurt is labeled "plain," although aficionados say it is anything but. Topped with a selection of fresh fruits, Fraîche yogurt won this comment from one Yelp reviewer: "New natural frozen yogurt places keep opening up, but nobody does it better than Fraîche. This place nails it."

Fraîche's online menu lists frozen yogurt, Blue Bottle organic coffee, baked goods and oatmeal as well as fresh yogurt.

The owners of Fraîche are nearly ready to open in San Francisco, at 1910 Fillmore St., needing just a few tweaks and, importantly, the health inspector's OK. When will that be?

"He told us November," co-owner Patama Roj said Wednesday, her smile belying the frustration she must feel at the bureaucratic delay.

Let's hope for the sakes of the owners' business and those yearning for good yogurt that it's much sooner than November.

Look for word on opening and a review here.

(Photo credit: www.fraicheyogurt.com)