San Francisco Day #4

Tuesday we woke up to this outside our window. Big city livin'

Once we got up and got going we found the bus to take us down to the Ferry Building. It is one of SF outdoors farmers' markets as well as an indoor shopping area full of foodie type things. Shops with olive oils, meats, mushrooms,pastas, salts, and kitchen gear. Not suprisingly we spent most of the morning here.


Aren't these beautiful? I promise I did not photoshop the color!

Here are some pictures of the buildings, bridges, and sights of this area.






These guys were doing all sorts of tricks on their bikes in front of the bus stop.



After spending the morning around the Ferry Building we headed back to Union Square and ate a The Burger Bar. They seated us by the window about 9 stories up in the Macy's building. It was little too much for my fear of heights. We ended up moving a table over to enjoy our burgers. I would have taken a picture but again, a little high up.
After a late lunch we went back to the hotel and decided to go an Oakland A's game. They were playing the Yankees. I love baseball and had only been to one professional game many years ago. We got the tickets and then headed down to the stadium on the BART, Bay Area Rapid Transit, their subway. This was the first time for us to ever be on a subway. It was a fun experience. The A's lost but A. Rod hit a grand slam and a home run which made for an exciting game.

Santa was even there! Can you spot him?

Final day in San Fran coming up.

San Francisco Day #3

Monday we took the car and drove down the Pacific Coast Highway 1 to Monteray Bay.

We stopped a few times at some great overlooks and some little surf towns.





Once in Monteray we walked one of the piers and much to my delight saw some more of these. I could have spent hours watching them.


After the pier we went to Cannery Row browsed some used book stores, and ate a yummy seafood lunch of fish and shrimp.
On our way back to SF we drove through Gilroy, CA the garlic capital of the world. Boy could you smell it. It burned my nostrils but the drive was beautiful.

We stopped at a rode side stand and got some garlic, of course, and the BEST cherries I have ever eatten in my life! They also sold 7 avocados for $1. I couldn't believe how cheap but know they couldn't make the trip home.
We got back to SF, took a little nap, then went for dinner at Zingary's. A great little Italian spot. I had the seafood ravioli and Coby had wild boar osso buco. It was very yummy. Something a little different for us. I can't remember the last time we ate Italian. After dinner we went to Ben & Jerry's for a little treat. I have had there ice cream from Kroger before but had never been in the actual store before. We then had a nice walked around Union Square. The weather was great all week and would get down into the 50's at night.


Next, Day #4

San Francisco Day #2B

Sunday night was 4th of July and a BIG night. We had reservations to The French Laundry.

I had never heard of this place before I met Coby. But the more I heard the more intrigued I was. This restaurant is revered as the best. Thomas Keller is an amazingly talented chef and they grow all their own vegetables in their garden across the street. Anthony Bourdain has been quoted as saying his meal at The French Laundry was "the best of his life". The French Laundry has 3 Michelin Stars. When we decided to go to SF we knew we had to try to get reservations. People are known to plan trips to Napa around their reservations. Reservations can only be made 2 months in advance but are said to be gone within the first hour or so of phone lines opening. You can google it and get all sorts of tips and plans on how to score reservations. Needless to say we knew we were going to try but had our doubts that we would actually get in. After about 120 calls between the two of us on May 4th I finally got through and got a reservation for July 4th! We were so excited.
Like I mentioned in the first SF post, Sheamus Feeley gave us the hook up. He knew the general manager of The French Laundry who turned our 9 course meal into a 15 course meal! Yes, that's correct, 15 courses. I had to take two "breaks" during the meal to get up and walk around the garden. It was the most gluttonous but divine experience of my life! Definitely a once in a lifetime experience. We didn't take pictures of the courses because we felt the place was a little to fancy to whip out the camera but here is a list of our courses. Mind you, it was a lot of food but the courses were more like a few bits, not a huge serving. Some of the courses also had two choices. Naturally Coby and I ordered different things and shared.

Gruyere Cheese Pate Chaox

Salmon Tartare with Sweet Red Onion Creme Fraiche

"Oysters and Pearls"- Sabayon of Pearl Tapioca with Island Creek Oysters and White Sturgeon Caviar

White Truffle Oil Infused Custard with Black Truffle Ragout

"Salad of French Laundry Garden Beets"- Hawaiian Hearts of Peach Palm, Naval Orange, Mizuna and Lemon Verbeno, Creme Fraiche
"Moulard Duck Foie Gras En Terrine"- Peach Melba, Lillet Blanc Gelee, Pickled Red Onion, Sorrel and Peach Consomme

Gnocci with Sliced Black Truffles

"Sauteed Fillet of Bluefin Tuna"- Green Tomato-Cornichon Relish, Grilled White Asparagus, Petit Lettuces and Dijon Mustard
"Japanese Bluefin Squid"- Crispy Broccolini, Candied Cashews, Akita Komachi rice, Eggplant Puree, and Sauce Japonaise

"Peas and Carrots"- Pinces de Homard Pochees au Beurre Doux (lobster), English Peas, and French Laundry Garden Carrots

"Four Story Hill Farm Cuisse De Poularde"- Pimento Mousse, Jingle Bell Peppers, Globe Artichokes, Sweet Garlic and Basil-Castelvetrano Olive Tapenade

"Chateaubriand of Marcho Farms Nature-Fed Veal"- Summer Squash, Panisse, Tomato Confit, Arugula and Spanish Caper Jus
"Degustation of Suckling Berkshire Pig"- Bing Cherries, English Walnuts, Frisee and Vinaigette de Fromage de Tete

"Pecorino Crosta Nera"- Hen-of-the-Woods Mushrooms, Pommes de Terre en Feuille de Bric, Marinated Swiss Chard, and Sherry Emulsion

"Royal Blenheim Apricot Sorbet"- Toasted Barley-Brown Sugar Streusel and White Apron Ale Nuage

"Coffee and Donuts"- Cappacino Semi Freddo with Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

"Cremeux Aux Fruits de la Passion"- French Laundry Garden Strawberries, Pistachio Pain de Gene, and White Chocolate Sorbet
"Pane di Ricotta Alla Griglia"- Delta Blueberries, Pine Nut Nougatine, Limone Cagliata and Butter milk Sherbet

"Peanut Butter Tart with Strawberry Jam"

"Assorted Truffles"
"Powder Sugar Coated Macadamia Nuts"

I know! Right? All this washed down with about 30 glasses of their filtered water (they have their own filtration system) and a bottle of Stone Hill White Riesling 1994.
We finished dinner just in time to see the fireworks from the garden.


A night neither of us will ever forget.

San Francisco Day #2A

Since we had been in Napa all day on Saturday we decided to explore the city a bit before we headed back to Napa for dinner. We walked through Chinatown on our way to the pier. Lots of trinkets and touristy things.


I was expecting to see chickens in the windows and all sorts of weird food items, but we only saw these fish and some interesting buildings.


We kept walking and took in the beautiful buildings and skyline.


We made it to Pier 39. Lots of shops, food, people, and wind. We explored a little. Got some pictures of Alcatraz and the sea lions.


This little guy was so funny. He just hopped out of the water and proceeded to crawl over every one. They were so fun to watch!


After the pier we found what bus we needed to be on and headed towards Tom Colicchio's 'wich craft for lunch. It's a great sandwich shop and was on our list of places to go. I had the goat cheese, avacado, celery, walnut pesto, and watercress sandwich on multigrain bread. Coby had the pastrami, sauerkraut, swiss cheese, and whole grain mustard sandwich on grilled rye bread with marinated chickpeas.

After lunch we walked back to the hotel to rest a little a get ready for dinner. I'm going to do a whole post on dinner because, yes, it was that amazing!

San Francisco Day #1

Well, we're back. We have been in San Francisco for the past week or so and we had a FANTASTIC time. I was telling Coby that I think I had a better time in SF then I did in Jamaica on our honeymoon. We packed our days with sight seeing, food, and accessing (successfully I might add) public transportation. I am going to break the posts down into days just to make it easier. It might get a little boring but my main goal it to chronicle our trip so just enjoy the pictures if you get tired of reading.
Friday night (after a 4 hour delay in Chicago) we finally made it to our hotel The Chancellor. I had read many great reviews on TripAdvisor about the hotel. Many said that the hotel was older, with smaller rooms, and not to flashy but the service and staff were great and the hotel and rooms always clean. All of this proved to be true as well as a good location, Union Square. Would definitely stay here again.
Saturday morning we got up and found our car rental place. Surprisingly we were given a very new Volkswagon Jetta to use. We headed to the Golden Gate Bridge. And that is exactly what it is. An orangy bridge. Neat to say we have been there and seen it, but a bridge is a bridge, right?


Then we drove to Muir Woods. We were hoping to see the ginormous redwoods but the park was packed and the walk was about 3 miles to get in. We ended up skipping the woods a took a drive to a ocean overlook.
We kept heading north into Napa Valley.


For lunch we stoped at Long Meadow Ranch. The chef there, Sheamus Feeley happens to be from Fayetteville and a friend of a friend's. We were able to talk to him and he gave us the hook up at The French Laundry. More about that later.


All of the food served there is grown on their ranch. I had their muffuletta and Coby had the brick roasted chicken.

Both were very good. But not as good the the chocolate pie we split;) After lunch we had a wine tasting and olive oil tasting.

We stopped at Dean and Duluca (remember Felicity?) and explored the gourmet foods.

Then we went to Yountville, just south of St. Helena (where we had been). We went to The French Laundry's garden and walked around the town. Such a quaint place.




We had some oysters and wine at Redd. They have one Michelin Star. Something only a chef's wife would know;)

We then window shopped in a cute little shopping area and then headed to Bouchon for dinner. We were obviously starving! We ended up both getting salads, and splitting some marinated olives and a bottle of wine.

I had a salad of watercress and endive with Roquefort blue cheese, toasted walnuts, and walnut vinaigrette.

Coby had a pork belly with frisse salad with a poched egg.

Bouchon is a Thomas Keller Resturant. As well as The French Laundry, and ad hoc. We were wanting to eat at all of his restaurants in Napa but never made it to ad hoc.

After a long day in Napa we drove back to the hotel for some rest.
And that was just day one!