Dave Cruz departed the kitchen at Yountville’s popular Ad Hoc back in January, having mastered the fine art of fried chicken and pot roasts with Thomas Keller. (Cruz also notably co-authored the popular Ad Hoc at Home cookbook.) He had hinted then that he was going to be opening his own place, with his own take on casual, family-style fare, and now he resurfaces via a couple of upcoming pop-ups in Oakland, in collaboration with The Trappist. First off, on May 18, he’ll be doing a five-course dinner alongside s+s gastro grub at an undisclosed location, and tickets and details are here. Then, on June 8 and 9, he’ll be doing two different dinners at The Trappist, the first featuring a whole roast lamb ($25 per person), and the second will be a sit-down, four-course affair featuring beef short ribs and beer pairings ($67 per person). Call 510-238-8900 for reservations. This is all in preparation for his restaurant, named Miles (after his son), for which he’s still seeking a location. (The placeholder site would suggest that he wants it to be in Napa.)
