I spent Saturday in San Francisco basically geeking out about all things food – revisiting some favorites at the Ferry Building, trying out a new restaurant, and listening to Alton Brown wax poetic about endothermic reactions!
Ferry Building
ferrybuildingmarketplace.comMy first stop was at one of my favorite places in the city,
the Ferry Building. It’s packed with wonderful shops and restaurants and you
can’t beat the view. Some highlights include Cowgirl Creamery (cowgirlcreamery.com)
for incredible cheese and Boccalone (boccalone.com) for incredible meats! I’m a big fan of their “Salumi Cones.” Genius.
the Ferry Building. It’s packed with wonderful shops and restaurants and you
can’t beat the view. Some highlights include Cowgirl Creamery (cowgirlcreamery.com)
for incredible cheese and Boccalone (boccalone.com) for incredible meats! I’m a big fan of their “Salumi Cones.” Genius.
Don’t fill up before you hit Hog Island Oyster Co. though. (hogislandoysters.com) There’s usually a line to be seated but it’s definitely
worth it and they’ll serve you champagne while you wait! The oysters are fantastic. If you know
someone who is on the fence about them this is the perfect place to go and these two are the perfect varieties to order…
worth it and they’ll serve you champagne while you wait! The oysters are fantastic. If you know
someone who is on the fence about them this is the perfect place to go and these two are the perfect varieties to order…
Kusshi
Deep Bay, British Columbia
The larger oysters at the top, these are very mild.
Sand Isle Kumamoto
Humboldt Bay, CA
The smaller oysters at the bottom, these are mild as well
but taste almost creamy. My favorite.
but taste almost creamy. My favorite.
A bonus: They serve delicious sweet rustic bread from
Acme Bread Company (acmebread.com), which is also in the Ferry Building.
Acme Bread Company (acmebread.com), which is also in the Ferry Building.
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| adorable recipe-wrapped candle |
Central Kitchen
3000 20th St
San Francisco, CA
This is a new restaurant from the owners of the popular Flour +
Water (still on my to-taste list). It’s tucked away just down the street from F + W behind Salumeria, their fabulous delicatessen. I fell in love with it in the first five
minutes based solely on the simple but creative décor in the indoor/outdoor space and our charming,
enthusiastic server.
Water (still on my to-taste list). It’s tucked away just down the street from F + W behind Salumeria, their fabulous delicatessen. I fell in love with it in the first five
minutes based solely on the simple but creative décor in the indoor/outdoor space and our charming,
enthusiastic server.
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| I love the large format “tile” bolted to the back wall. |
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| The back of a stucco building becomes modern bench seating. |
We ordered quite a bit of food but here are the highlights…
crispy trotter with chopped clams & tonnato
This was my first time trying pig’s feet! It tasted like pig face to me, which is delicious. I’m pretty sure these are a staple on the menu, they just swap out the accompaniments. It’s a great way to start your meal – tender, flavorful pork deep fried with cream sauce and fried capers. Plus, you’ll feel better knowing that you opened with something adventurous.
chicken liver mousse with fig mostarda & spiced wine
If you’re only going to order one starter, make it this one. It’s beautiful and you won’t be able to part with it until the jar is scraped clean.
Confession: I kept eating it between courses and when the toasted bread ran out I put it on the homemade oat caraway rolls they serve to start. If we didn’t have to get to the theatre I probably would have kept it around for the dessert course. It’s that good.
Last Stop – Castro Theatre…
An Evening with Alton Brown
Presented by Bay Area Science Festival (Now through November 4th!)
An Evening with Alton Brown
Presented by Bay Area Science Festival (Now through November 4th!)
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this one to be
honest, but I was very excited about it. Turns out there were hand-drawn slides, experiments, and laugh out loud moments that even
Alton didn’t see coming. (I’m pretty sure he was as entertained by San Francisco as we were by him.) Here’s what I learned…
honest, but I was very excited about it. Turns out there were hand-drawn slides, experiments, and laugh out loud moments that even
Alton didn’t see coming. (I’m pretty sure he was as entertained by San Francisco as we were by him.) Here’s what I learned…
– There’s no such thing as cold.
– Alton’s position on organic vs. conventional produce: Buy
local above all else.
local above all else.
– The secret to killer spare ribs: Sous vide for 72 hours and
finish them off with a blowtorch!
finish them off with a blowtorch!
– Bow ties are cool.
I’m a good cook and a better baker but my borderline unhealthy obsession with dining out tends to keep me out of the kitchen. I absolutely love discovering new restaurants and devouring all the best they have to offer. Here I’ll share my best finds and hopefully hear yours, all in an effort to add to my ever-expanding-and-contracting culinary bucket list.