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Leah Garchik: How do I really love you? E6 DatebookSan Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com | Thursday, September 15, 2011 | Section E David Gray / The CW Cassie (Britt Robertson) loses her mom in a witch-sparked fire and goes to Chance Harbor. DAVID WIEGAND Television Cackling at these witches It may seem ridiculous to complain that “The Secret Circle,” Kevin Williamson’s new teen- witch show on the CW, isn’t very believable, especially considering The Secret Circle: Dramatic series, 9 Photos by David Paul Morris / Special to The Chronicle L tonight on the CW. Sausan Molthen, owner and chef of Al-Masri, performs a belly dance routine during her birthday party celebration at the restaurant. that Williamson is also RESTAURANTS the creator of the net- work’s enduringly addic- tive “The Vampire Dia- ries.” Dancing among cultures But there are moments in “The Secret Circle,” premiering at 9 tonight, Egyptian place lets patrons when you’re likely to fall into mini fits of giggling learn cuisine, as owner has at the show’s implausibil- ity. By Lisa Wallace In addition to the vam- CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER pire thing, Williamson was also the guy behind Sausan Molthen, owner of Al-Masri the soapy teen drama “Dawson’s Creek,” which Egyptian restaurant in San Francisco, may explain at least part might be described as a of the genesis for “Circle.” Inside: The Inside Scoop, woman as eclectic as her Basically, what he’s done plus restau- restaurant. is to take the hormone- fueled teenage angst of rant reviews To describe Molthen’s E2, E6 “Creek” and pump it into profession is to list the pas- a story about a secret Sunday: A circle of young witches guide to mak- sions of a Bay Area individ- ing the most ualist. Molthen, 57, is exec- and warlocks in the im- probably named town of of your skillet utive chef at Al-Masri, a Food & WIne Molthen seasons her Egyptian stuffed chicken dish before placing it in Chance Harbor, Wash. belly dancing teacher and a the oven at her restaurant, in San Francisco’s Richmond District. The formula still works baker, supplying syrupy fine for “Diaries,” which, pans of baklava to cafes like Brown Owl District, the storefront, out- is unapologetically garish. not coincidentally, fitted with rainbow stripes, a Sitting in its equally opulent launches its new season Coffee Shop. bright blue awning and larger- interior, Molthen recounts the just before the premiere Al-Masri is also one of a kind. Located than-life murals of ancient restaurant’s history through a of “Circle,” but it doesn’t in a residential section of the Richmond Egyptians guarding its doors, Al-Masri continues on E3 quite work here. Is it just because, with film and Circle continues on E6 OPERA REVIEW ‘Idomeneo’ mines ancient Crete to open Opera San Jose season By Joshua Kosman Idomeneo: Opera San which the opera’s princi- CHRONICLE MUSIC CRITIC Jose. Through Sept. 25. pal drama — the story of California Theatre, 345 S. how an ill-considered Mozart’s “Idomeneo,” First St., San Jose. $51- vow of human sacrifice the first fruit of the $101. (408) 437-4450. can conflict with the young composer’s oper- www.operasj.org. most elemental family atic maturity, is set in ties — plays out against ancient Crete, in the a backdrop of elaborate- aftermath of the Trojan opens the season for ly crafted sets and cos- War. That doesn’t mean Opera San Jose takes its tumes inspired by the it needs to be presented cues from the world of Mycenaean period. in period style — but, on archaeology, with an The result, in Tues- the other hand, why assist from the scholars day’s performance at the not? at the Packard Human- California Theatre, was a P. Kirk The beautiful and ities Institute. stretch of elegant pag- Tenor Christopher Bengochea in the title role fared best in the climactic declara- stately production that It presents a world in “Idomeneo” continues on E6 tions of Act 2 in Mozart’s “Idomeneo,” which opened Opera San Jose’s season. E6 | Thursday, September 15, 2011 | San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com DATEBOOK LEAH GARCHIK groceries and was “axed from ‘Top Chef years, will do it Saturday at Freight and All Stars’ ” for chicken feet that were Salvage. This time, he’ll be filmed by Pete deemed “inedible,” says she is “looking at Slauson for a DVD to be released in De- Personal declaration Napa Valley for a spot … a temporary cember. concept.” If Walmart isinvolved, says the on the sidewalk local site, “we’re not sure how that would *** go out here.” 1 Stuck in southbound 1 At a kids’ soccer game in PUBLIC EAVESDROPPING traffic in the middle of the Expression of despair after breakup of P.S.: Albee and friend Alex Mark- San Carlos, Pat Ivester says Golden Gate Bridge, Paul relationship? Confirmation of long-lasting with’s itinerary included a visit to the San one Baby Boomer dad wore “I’m disappointed by “The Lobster” Wells saw a devotion and affection? Make-up offer? Francisco Museum of Modern Art to see a sweatshirt with “a slight our motivation this fellow motorist nip out of The graffiti “I still love you” scrawled on a the Stein collection on its last day, and a alteration … ‘Old Navel.’ ” year. Last year you his car, jump the fence, duck square of sidewalk concrete in the Haight- visit to the David Ireland house on Capp And as to Peter Fimrite’s into the portable potty there Ashbury raises many possibilities: Street with gallerist Paule Anglim. report of the many blue were my inspiration for workers, emerge, jump 1 “I still love you” (although everybody whales that feed along the for failure.” the fence again, get back into else thinks you’re a jerk). *** California coast, Randy his car and complete the Teenage boy to teenage boy, 1 “I still love you” (but frankly, Scarlett, it Central City Extra reports that a coalition Alfred wonders if that journey. Wells was so of groups, the Alliance to Save Lives, wants overheard on the ain’t worth it). makes us “the berth of the 1-California by Jessica Leavitt stunned, he didn’t notice San Francisco to be the first city in the coun- 1 blues.” whether other drivers hit “I still love you” (and as I explained to try with safe injection sites — clean needs, the cops, I am not a stalker). 1 Downstairs in the lobby of their horns at this sight. hygienic surroundings — for drug users. “The guy was quick,” he notes. 1 the Sir Frances Drake, there’s a new larg- “I still love you” (even if I came home Former Tenderloin police Capt. Gary Jime- 1 from Burning Man with someone else). er-than-life statue of doorman Tom And in the backseat of a casual carpool to nez and District Attorney George Gascon Sweeney. San Francisco from the East Bay on Wed- are among supporters. *** 1 Having read that the Postal Service has nesday, Kathleen Dinetz was listening as Gascon told the Extra that “safe, clean driver and front-seat passenger discussed In celebration of its 20th anniversary, sites for injection are preferable to unsafe taken away many street-corner mailboxes, the Aurora Theatre is presenting Edward Ken Maley noticed a postal truck parked their adventures at Burning Man. “I haven’t behavior that impacts the community and showered today,” said one woman to the Albee’s “A Delicate Balance,” and the the user. I support the identification of at 2:30 p.m. the other day at MacArthur playwright himself was here last week for Avenue and Franklin Street in Fort Ma- other. “I want to keep the dust close just one appropriate sites for the safety of the user more day.” opening night, as well as festivities at and the community.” son. There’s heretofore been a regular Arion Press, which published a new edi- pickup at that time on that corner. The tion of the play. *** truck was double-parked, as usual, he Open for business at (415) 777-8426 or e-mail said, “but that driver was standing [email protected], tweets Albee’s remarks were music to the ears 1 The Eater.com sister blogs, in San Fran- of the Bay Area theater gang: “American scratching his head, as there was no lon- @leahgarchik. cisco and Dallas, report that Fort Worth ger a box there.” theater, intelligent theater, is alive and well chef Casey Thompson, who’s a spokes- 1 in the regional houses like Aurora, not woman for Walmart’s Sam’s Club bulk Country Joe McDonald, who’s done a Broadway.” “Tribute to Woody Guthrie” show for 10 JON CARROLL will return. UPDATE By Michael Bauer DEAR ABBY By Jeanne Phillips Miss Pearl’s has changed emphasis Niece tells kids to break rule When it opened in 2008 at Jack London Square in Miss Pearl’s Jam good as the fire-roasted half Oakland, Miss Pearl’s Jam House tried to reproduce House chicken ($21), even though I they don’t like was surprised when it came the Caribbean and Island-style cuisine that made it 1 Broadway (at the Embarcade- gooey from a lightly spiced Dear Abby: I go to movies with famous when it opened in 1988 alongside the Phoenix ro), Oakland; (510) 944-7171 or sauce and served with yellow my niece “Connie” and her two Hotel in San Francisco. That space is now Chambers misspearlsjamhouse.com. wax beans, set on Cajun red kids. Though the theater has a Eat+Drink, which I reviewed in Sunday’s Food & Breakfast 7-10 a.m.

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