Southern Food in The Mission

Happy Holidays!!! Since this is a vacation week for many, I'm going to take this opportunity to write about five meals I had in San Francisco during a trip there this fall.

On our last night out in San Francisco, a friend of mine from college took my boyfriend and I to The Front Porch (65 29th St., between Mission St. & San Jose Ave., 415-695-7800). This is a neighborhood that I hadn't spent much time in when I lived out there, and it seems to be going through a transformation, sort of like certain Brooklyn neighborhoods did a few years ago. For better or worse, this transformation has yielded such gems as The Front Porch (the other place we were thinking of going to was Blue Plate, whose menu looks awesome, but we couldn't get a reservation). There was a little bit of a wait at the Porch, but they do have a nice beer & wine list and you can sit out front in a comfy bench swing while you wait.

And boy was it worth it. All the food was delicious and the atmosphere was lively, fun and warm. My friend started out with Calalou Soup, a hearty dish made from a green, leafy vegetable called the Calalou and an assortment of seafood and other veggies. It was spicy and yummy.



My boyfriend and I shared the Crab & Grits as an appetizer (you can get it as a main meal), a creamy, tasty bowl filled with chunks of crab, and topped with small cuts of veggies. This was amazing, and I would've easily been able to eat another order.



I got the Jerk Poussin, which is young chicken, as my main dish. This was SPICY. It was delicious, but too spicy for my taste, so I felt like I couldn't fully enjoy it, as my mouth was burning off my face. The cornbread stuffing was fantastic and it was all served on a bead of collard greens & turnips. Yum!



My boyfriend ordered the Burger, topped with cheddar & bacon and with a side of fries. This was a great burger, perfectly done, and the fries were great too. Crisp & crunchy and well salted.



I really liked this place and will definitely keep it on my list for dining options on future trips to San Francisco, a city that really knows how to eat!

Vietnamese on Russian Hill

Happy Holidays!!! Since this is a vacation week for many, I'm going to take this opportunity to write about five meals I had in San Francisco during a trip there this fall.

Walking through the lovely Russian Hill neighborhood one night, we popped into Aux Delices, (2327 Polk St., between Union St. & Green St., 415-928-4977), a Vietnamese restaurant that turned out to be quite a find. It was warm and inviting and the service was friendly and attentive. With cloth table coverings and cloth napkins, it felt like a special night out.

I started out with Mien Ga soup with chicken, glass noodles and shitake mushrooms. It was really tasty and warmed me up after a long day of being outside in the foggy, windy afternoon.



My boyfriend got the Tofu & Vegetables in Ginger Sauce which was fabulous. Big, thick slices of tofu and tons of veggies in a delicious sauce. We couldn't get enough of this.



I ordered the BBQ Flank Steak which was the most surprising, and most delicious meal. The meat was tender and incredibly tasty. It didn't taste barbecued to me, rather it seemed grilled and basted with some kind of marinade that was so mouthwateringly savory I kinda wanted to go back the next night instead of trying someplace new!



Aux Delices bills itself as a wine bar, but the glass I ordered was mediocre. I'd stick with beer.

Burritos & Farmer's Market in San Francisco

Happy Holidays!!! Since this is a vacation week for many, I'm going to take this opportunity to write about five meals I had in San Francisco during a trip there this fall.

One of my favorite things to do when I'm in San Francisco is to get burritos in the Mission and take them to Dolores Park for a picnic. Go to any of the Taquerias along Mission St. between 24th St and 19th St. to pick up your fare , walk North on Mission St. and make a left on 19th St. Walk a few blocks and head up the stairs that bisect Mission Dolores Park. Go all the way to the Southwest corner where the views of the city are the best.

We went to a place on Mission around 22nd St. (I NEVER can remember the name, I just know how to get there) and got a Carne Asada Burrito that was packed with yumminess like guacamole, sour cream, slices of tasty, tender meat, rice and beans. The best burritos are to be found in San Francisco.



We also got an order of Beef Nachos which were actually pretty gross. You really need to stick with the burritos. They did come with huge slices of avocado, and they were covered in jalapenos, just so you know.



But really, it doesn't even matter what you're eating since you've got one of the best views around - you can see all the way to the Oakland Hills! Gorgeous!



My other favorite thing to do in San Francisco is go to the Farmer's Market down by the Ferry Building on Tuesdays and Saturdays. So many amazing fruits and vegetables, as well as jams, honey, soap and flowers are for sale.

Gorgeous carrots and zucchini:




Little sugar pumpkins:


The best pomegranates I've ever had:


And tons of sunflowers:

Italian in SPQR

Happy Holidays!!! Since this is a vacation week for many, I'm going to take this opportunity to write about five meals I had in San Francisco during a trip there this fall.

On our first night in San Francisco we had dinner with a friend in Pacific Heights at SPQR (1911 Fillmore St., between Bush St. & Pine St., 415-771-7779). There was quite a wait, so we went to the bar of the French restaurant next door for a drink while we waited (SPQR is long and thin with no space for parties waiting for a table. Half of the menu is small plates and half is pasta and other dishes. We got a bunch of things and shared everything.

The Grilled Chanterelles were great and flavorful, if a bit oily, with bits of sauteed spinach throughout.



The meatballs were also good, served with sauteed tomatoes and big slices of garlic. They were on the small side, but were packed with flavor.



My boyfriend got the Pasta Carbonara. This was a bit disappointing and tasted more like an Alfredo Sauce with no hint of bacon or egg anywhere.



I ordered the Canneloni with Homemade Sausage and Spinach. This was good, with tasty sausage and a marinara sauce, but not much spianch at all. The portion was decent and everything came with a big basket of crusty slices of Italian bread.

Brunch at Zazie in Cole Valley, SF

Happy Holidays!!! Since this is a vacation week for many, I'm going to take this opportunity to write about five meals I had in San Francisco during a trip there this fall.

The first morning of our trip was spent in the Upper Haight/Cole Valley neighborhoods. Our lovely guest suggested Zazie (941 Cole St., between Carl St & Parnassus Ave., 415-564-5332) for Brunch and it turned out to be a perfect spot for our first lazy morning on vacation. We were seated outside in their overflowing-with-flowers & sun drenched garden. Bonus - the milk is organic and the eggs are hormone-free, free range and organic.

We started out with special Mimosas. Mine was with Blackberry Juice and my boyfriend got one with Orange Sherbet. They were delicious and beautiful. Oh, also, I accidentally knocked down the Orange Sherbet one and they brought us another, gratis! That's a sign of a nice place!



I got the Poached Eggs with Smoked Salmon, Red Onions and Capers served on English Muffins with Hollandaise Sauce. This was very tasty - perfectly poached eggs, not too much sauce, and really good potatoes on the side.



Of course, I had to get a side of bacon, YUM!



My boyfriend got the Pumpkin Spice Pancakes with whipped cream on top. These were delicious and the flavor was subtle. They were moist, if a bit dense.



I highly recommend Zazie!