Tony Bennett may have left his heart in San Francisco, but I think I left my stomach. Here are just a handful of my favorite eateries. More to come in another entry!

Who would have imagined that the one of the best Creole restaurants I’ve sampled was in the heart of San Francisco. There may be the naysayers that claim that it’s not completely authentic, and in some ways I may have to agree. I’ve dined throughout the south (North & South Carolina, Savannah, New Orleans), and for the most part, Brenda’s is better. The execution and flavors are superior (most southern/soul/creole/cajun food I’ve tried have been too salty or bland.) A must try is the oyster po-boy (get shrimp if you don’t like oysters). The plump oysters were perfectly seasoned and fried, and bursted with flavor with every bite. The spicy rémoulade countered the richness of the oysters, and the toasted roll was pure, buttery heaven. I do have to admit the beignets were a little bit of a let down, suffering from too much doughiness inside. Overall, a great place for brunch if you can beat the crowds lining out the door.

fried oyster po-boy with chipotle rémoulade; windows to the soul; beignet flight; community coffee and chickory

I don’t think there’s enough I can say about this place. Hands down still the best margherita pizza I’ve had in California. The crust is thin, bubbly, and charred, and still able to hold up to the tomato sauce and buffalo mozzarella. And please, no Mozza comparisons. There are none. Delfina has managed to keep their food pure and simple, and utterly delicious. Bravo.

menu; beer & wine; margherita pizza

Just a skip and hop away from Pizzeria Delfina is the bay’s best ice cream shop. Perfect for dessert after pizza, or a snack, or whatever reason. Flavors like Roasted Banana, Salted Caramel, and Balsamic Strawberry are just different enough to keep it interesting, but in the end it’s Bi-Rite’s ultra-luscious mouth feel that makes it leaps above the rest. Using Strauss Family Organic Dairy doesn’t hurt either.

Artisan, house-roasted coffee made with love and passion, what’s not to like?

Have a great weekend!

I’ve always been somewhat of a late bloomer.  Didn’t learn how to ride a bike until seven or eight years of age. Awkward and shy, I never made it to prom. Didn’t get my first taste of many foods like avocado or sushi until my adult life.  Never developed a taste for tomatoes until my teen years. I guess the tomatoes planted in the garden in early spring somewhat take after me. At the rate they are growing, we won’t have ripe tomatoes till September! Ok, maybe that’s pushing it just a bit… more like August? In any case, the plants themselves are growing quite big, some so big they’ve overgrown the stakes I put up for support. But the fruit has just start to blossom. I guess the heirloom tomato salad with buffalo mozzarella, fresh cracked pepper and sea salt, tomato consommé, and pa amb tomàquet (Catalan tomato bread) will have to wait a few more weeks!

black krim; green zebra

yellow pear; trader joe tomatoes that grew from the compost pile!

This journal was never meant to be a soapbox, nor did I ever intend to talk about subjects like this, but please… do yourself a favor and watch the documentary Food, Inc. We all deserve to know more about where our food comes from, the dangers of our food industry, and what we can do to implement change. I’ve always considered myself slightly more conscious than most, of the things I consumed. Watching this film has led me to reconsider some of my perceptions, habits, and buying behaviors. See it for yourself and be the judge.