Dishing About San Francisco
My recent trip to the Bay Area was brief, but delicious. Get ready for a pu-pu platter of appetizing memories from my San Francisco sojourn...
*Making the obligatory stop at the Ferry Market Building, grabbing a table outdoors at Hog Island Oyster Bar with my New York City gal pal Martha for a late lunch of Clam Chowder chockablock with Hog Island Manila clams, aromatic veggies, smoked bacon, fork-tender potatoes and copious amounts of cream. As if that bowl wasn't enough, we also ordered up the Oyster Stew with sweetwater oysters, their briny liqueur, spices and even more cream. Unsurprisingly, we cut the richness with obligatory glasses of dry white wine.
*Slowly sipping on an intense cup of drip coffee from Blue Bottle, as I try to breathlessly clamber up the perilously steep incline that is California Street from Market to Powell.
*Indulging in a perilously perfect meal at one of the world's greatest restaurants -- Boulevard, a glorious Belle Epoque dining room with unfussy service and food worth making a fuss over. From Maine Lobster Pyramid Ravioli cast in black squid ink pasta and drizzled with both Lobster Sabayon Sauce and Spicy Tomato Emulsion, to a moan-worthy Heritage Pork Chop served with Butternut Squash Gnocchi, Chef Nancy Oakes hit all the right notes...
*Diving into a bowl of addictive Brussels Sprout Chips at North Beach's Park Tavern, fighting off longtime friends Hi and Ho for the last salty bite.
*Introducing my newly transplanted gal pal Jen to her first Sazerac at downtown's just-hipster-enough Rye.
*Frowning with displeased faces all around at the much-too-hipster Mission Chinese Food, where the food was salty, the service was less than serviceable, and we all left wishing we'd just gone somewhere less interesting and more tasty. So NOT worth the hype!
*Paying call for the very first time on the legendary Tartine Bakery. Every crumb of my Morning Bun was divine. Showered with cinnamon-orange sugar, it was irresistible -- so much so, I needed to try one of their Croissants with Ham and Gruyere to prevent me from downing another Morning Bun. Now, THIS is worth the hype!...
All in all, a very fulfilling -- and filling -- trip. Thank goodness my hotel had a gym!