Novato Restaurants Extend Date-Night Offers to Soldier Home on Leave

On Monday, the joyful homecoming of US. Army Pvt. Ryan Tenscher, the 20-year-old son of Novato natives Christine and Kevin Hughes. Tenscher, 20, is home for 15 days from war-torn Iraq, where he is in the 3d Armored Cavalry based in Fort Hood, Texas. His job in Iraq is as a driver of a mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle (MRAP) used on missions to clear roadside bombs.

Sharing the joy of his leave was Haley, his wife of almost one year.

Upon his arrival in Marin, the young soldier was taken to a short surprise gathering at Mill Valley’s In N Out Burger. Now, we wouldn’t turn down a free In N Out burger, but we thought Novato could do a little better.

First to step up to the plate was Erick Hendricks, owner of , who offered to host Pvt. Tenscher and his wife to a nice dinner at his beautifully refurbished restaurant.

“I have a lot of veterans in my family, so I’m happy to host the Tenschers,” Hendricks said.

Shah Bayrehni also generously offered a dinner at both Boca Pizzeria and . Turns out Tenscher’s father, Kevin Hughes, happens to be a minority partner in Boca Pizzeria.

“I wanted to reward one of our courageous soldiers who risks his life searching for bombs," Bayrehni said. "They help us to have peaceful, democratic lives."

In the Patch article, Tenscher said he and his wife wanted to spend a night in a San Francisco hotel. Bayrehni contacted Michael Pace, the general manager at the W Hotel in San Francisco, who is graciously sending a gift card for a night’s stay. It’s good for a year.

Public relations professional Trisha Clayton, hearing of Tenscher’s leave, arranged a night’s stay at San Francisco’s posh Mandarin Oriental Hotel plus dinner at their Silks restaurant through GM Cliff Atkinson. 

So, what does Tenscher think of all this attention and largesse? We reached him via phone as he made a surprise visit to his grandmother, Charlene Tenscher, in Stockton.

“We are ecstatic – it’s awesome,” Tenscher said. He continued, “We’re excited and happy.”

Haley Tenscher added, “It’s great to see people supporting the troops coming home.”

Haley is staying with the Hughes family in the Pointe Marin section of Ignacio, but will move back to the Fort Hood area to be there when her husband returns from his Iraq duty.

At this time, Tenscher said he hasn’t decided whether he will re-enlist.

“I don’t see the political side of Iraq,” Tenscher explains, “but things have calmed down a bit.”

Rustic Bakery Opens Today

Finally! The second location of Rustic Bakery will open softly today, Friday, at 1407 Grant Ave. and just in time for Valentine’s weekend. Carol Levalley and Josh Harris are the couple behind the popular organic baked goods. This location was in the works for more than one year.

“We didn’t realize what a big and complicated job we had taken on," Harris says. "Carol is an artisan baker, I’m in sales, neither of us is a developer. We were building a café, a kitchen and a bakery and each entity needed to be approved by various agencies."

Later this year, they will also open a 1,200-square-foot third location at Larkspur’s Marin Country Mart, formerly Larkspur Landing shopping center.

The production plan is, according to Harris, to make cookies and pan forte at Novato, bread at Marin Country Mart and flatbreads at the original Larkspur location. All three locations will carry all the products. Their offices are in San Rafael.

Besides their signature bread, cookies and crackers, look for organic produce from the Indian Valley campus and housemade accompaniments at the Novato location.

The Future of the Grazie Spot

The news on the shuttered Grazie Cafe Italiano, at 823 Grant Ave #E, is encouraging. Details are being worked out and we should have word soon about the new operators in a few weeks.  We can tell you on the QT that locals will be happy with the news.

Restaurant at Days Inn to Reopen in April

One local favorite Chinese restaurant, Garden Court, in the closed two weeks ago. Peter Ching, the motel’s GM, said that it has been leased to new operators, who will reopen in April.

At this time, Ching didn’t have more details, but he did say the new concept will offer Chinese, Italian and French food. To execute that, there will be two chefs.