Every city has its famous market building and San Francisco is no exception. On my trip to the city by the bay last month I couldn't help but visit the Ferry Building Marketplace, a collection of shops and restaurants all housed under one roof. The Ferry Building began in 1898 as a hub for ferries crossing the bay before the bridges existed. During the 1950s it had fallen into neglect, but in 2003 a thorough renovation was completed and the once derelict building was reborn as the modern market it is today. With more than 35 shops, there are plenty of places to visit for buying gifts, eating lunch, or picking up a number of foodstuffs.
What better time to visit the marketplace than on an a rainy day in the bay. On my first day in San Francisco, we stopped at the Ferry Building to take refuge from the terrible rain that was very unusual for March. The marketplace is almost always crowded, and on a rainy day that is especially true. For me it was hard to stay away, I ended up returning to the Ferry Building two more times during my stay in San Francisco—to buy gifts and to have lunch at the Oyster Bar. There are so many things to eat and do, that one day just doesn't seem to be enough, especially for a foodie like me.
San Francisco
San Francisco
Chinese Chicken Salad at Comfort's Cafe
I keep trying to figure out why the Chinese Chicken Salad served at ‘Comforts Cafe’ is so uniquely spectacular. Well, first: as we’ve all infused, everything is location, location, location. And this chicken salad lives in a fabulous spot in a dreamy, mythic redwood-filled community. ‘Comforts’ is a very aptly-named, truly comfortable, small but open hang-in, hang-out, take-out restaurant on a small main street in the small northern California town of San Anselmo. It boasts daily, wonderfully creative specials including a brilliantly, non-greasily sautéed Chicken Okasan, innovative egg breakfast dishes with fresh local seafood and Sonoma jack cheese and veggies.
Eating My Way Through the Bay Area
It’s so darn good to get awaaaay. I’m bored with the predictable
patterns of my home life: my constant computer, my cooking, my own
backyard. My brain craves novelty, my tongue new tastes, my eyes new
vistas, but my complacency wants it all to come easy--so good to have
work in the Bay Area of Northern California.
How auspicious that American made my Alaska Airlines flight disappear
so I was forced to discover Virgin America—a mishap that reminded me of
how much I used to LOVE to fly. The moment I went to the ticket
window, where the desks are invitingly low, the ticket sellers
sympathetic, and the platform weighing your checked (free) bag at
ground level so you don’t have to heave it high, I felt soothed. And
once I boarded the plane, the lighting massaged my eyeballs and felt
far more flattering than the overhead glare of most terrorist scaring
flights. Thinking I look good as I parade in a pinkish purplish glow
past the first class flyers always puts me in better spirits sitting in
coach.
Spork
Spork in San Francisco is my new favorite restaurant. Pat and I went there for dinner after a lovely day in the Mission, checking out all the vintage stores and eating Dymano Donuts.
Spork is a place serving old-school classics in a new-school fashion.
They have sustainable-this and local-that versions of slow-food takes
on old classics. And despite the political correctness of their
offerings, everything tastes like it was pan-fried in lard in a steel
skillet by my grandmother. That's a very good thing!
The In-Side-Out Burger ($14) screamed "eat me" from the menu. The beef is fresh from Sun Marin Farms.
Two patties griddle-fried, peppery and crispy on the outside. Moist and
pink on the inside. The concoction towers over the plate. It is a stack
of ingredients as follows starting at the plate: Butter lettuce, tomato
slice, beef patty, bun circle, special sauce, beef patty, tillamook
chedder and a grilled onion topping so sweet it could be applesauce.
The special sauce reminded me of the spicy thousand-island type I make
at home, only no islands. You have to eat this with a fork and knife,
but it doesn't diminish the burger experience.
OTD Bush
You may have eaten at Slanted Door or even at Out The Door either at the Ferry Building or at San Francisco Centre, but you're going to want to try OTD Bush in the Fillmore. In addition to many of the dishes that Chef Charles Phan is famous for such as Vietnamese Spring Rolls and the Jicama and Grapefruit Salad or the Chicken Claypot, OTD Bush offers something else entirely. Breakfast!
I love breakfast but let's face it, going out for breakfast in this town usually means American fare, dim sum or maybe Mexican food. Now there is something new, Vietnamese food. At a press preview I got tastes of a lot of deliciousness. Hats off to Pastry Chef Chucky Dugo for a whole bunch of sweet and savory treats to dig into. I was crazy about the crunchy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside Beignets, Crepes with apples, Warm Banana Sticky Rice with toasted coconut and sweet and savory style pate choux pastries. The little puff pastries were still slightly eggy on the inside, just the way I like them.
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