Here's a review of my favorite bites from my trip to San Francisco. Thanks Bay Area Bloggers for making me feel so welcome: after I join a gym and burn off the 40 million calories I ingested this trip, I'll book another flight and do it all again. And now, my favorite San Francisco bites!
Oysters (& Champagne) at The Ferry Building:
The Burrito at Taqueria Pancho Villa:
The strawberry trifle at Zuni (all the way on the right):
The frangipane tart at Tartine:
The cellophane noodles with fresh Dungeness crab meat at The Slanted Door:
The entire experience at Chez Panisse:
(I know that sounds like a cop-out, but I mean it. No individual dish stood out: the whole experience melded together into a sublime whole. Plus I'm really proud of that post, and want more people to read it!)
The spicy cauliflower at Pizza Delfina:
The green garlic flan at César:
The tea leaf salad at Burma Superstar:
And, finally, the Arpege farm egg at Manresa:
Whew! What a list. Hope visitors to San Francisco put it to good use. And two final tips: Never call San Francisco "Frisco" or "San Fran"; you will be shunned. And if you rent a car (a tricky issue: great to have for Napa and Los Gatos, bad to have if you're just staying in the city), there's good parking near the hospital on 14th in the Castro. Just make sure to move it before the street cleaners come on the corresponding day. I just paid my $40 ticket, a final souvenir from a terrific trip.
10 Comments
Sounds like a great trip. I have been wanting to go to San Francisco lately. This pretty much takes my wanting to an unstoppable level. Your pictures are great!
Posted by Lizzy | April 26, 2007 6:53 PM
Great wrap-up! I can't believe how efficiently you packed so much great food into a relatively short trip. Thanks for sharing all your experiences.
Posted by CindyK | April 26, 2007 10:41 PM
Simply unbelievable! I'm wondering, did you have to make reservations at most of these restaurants? I too have eaten at Taqueria Pancho Villa and they simply have THE best burritos. It looks like you had a great trip with many experiences and my next trip to San Fran, I plan to do the same. Thanks for the many ideas!
Posted by matt | April 26, 2007 10:56 PM
Kick ass San Francisco posts...and did I mention that you rock big time? Well, you sure do.
Posted by Amy | April 26, 2007 11:03 PM
Adam, I always love your blogging but your SF posts have been spellbinding. Very well-written, and who wouldn't be inspired eating at all those wonderful places? Really makes me want to go back to Chez Panisse cos I must have been having an off night when I went...I enjoyed it but wasn't awestruck...then again I think I was still in French Laundry afterglow. Anyway, I've loved reading about your trip!
Posted by Matt | April 27, 2007 9:17 AM
Re: "San Fran" or "Frisco" - Just call it "the City" anywhere even close to the Bay Area and they'll know what you're talking about. I'd venture to say anywhere in California, they'll know. Probably anywhere West of the Mississippi, now that I think of it. :D
Like Matt, I agree that the writing was really the star for many of these posts. Nice work. Where are you off to next? :)
Posted by Sam | April 27, 2007 11:30 AM
Ditto Sam's post on "The City"; and for future visitors, all other points out of "The City" are referred to as "Over There".
Great posts, AG. You've made me homesick.
Did you get to Beach Blanket Babylon?
Posted by A Big Fan of the AG | April 28, 2007 8:27 AM
40 million calories eh ? heh..ok, at least the glass noodle stir-fry is gluten-free, and the spicy cauliflower seems low-cal ? :) Thanks for sharing all these great places for some serious eats, cheers ! :)
Posted by MeltingWok | April 29, 2007 5:56 PM
Was in SF for a meeting last week and followed your advice to try Tartine. The experience moved me to tears (no lie) b/c it was just that good. Went to the movies afterward and started talking to some folks behind me. They wanted to know where I had eaten in the city and when I told them I had just come from Tartine, one said in a shocked tone, "How did YOU find about Tartine?" As if it were some sort of secret spot for those in-the-know. I just smiled...and thought of Adam. Thanks AG!
Posted by Lisa | April 30, 2007 7:02 PM
i am a foodie who came from the east coast to go to college in the bay area. i decided to stay in SF for the food (no joke). thanks for your posts, they've been lovely.
Posted by jessie | May 9, 2007 3:02 AM