Charlie Varon serves up a steaming bowl of storytelling in his new show, "Back in the World," part of a series of pieces about a retirement home.
Charlie Varon serves up a steaming bowl of storytelling in his new show, "Back in the World," part of a series of pieces about a retirement home.

New storytelling show comes with brunch — including an actual bowl of borscht

Storyteller Charlie Varon has added a new element to his performances — a three-course meal.

Varon is serving borscht while performing “Back in the World,” his third in a series of pieces focusing on the residents of a Jewish retirement community. The “Storyborscht” includes appetizers, a main course and dessert — all prepared by Varon — at his pop-up theatre café.

The first piece in the series, “Feisty Old Jew,” told the exploits of one resident headed for a surfboarding dare and the next was entitled “Second Time Around.”

“I love cooking for people and I love performing,” said Varon, who greets audience members in an apron and alternates food courses with storytelling. “Storyborscht lets me feed my audience’s bodies and souls.”

The show kicked off on Oct. 15. Two more Sunday brunch shows are scheduled — Oct. 22 and 29 — at the Marsh Cafe in San Francisco. The shows start at 11 a.m. at 1070 Valencia St., and admission is limited to 20 people.

Tickets are $50 to $75. More information is available at themarsh.org or (415) 282-3055.