THIS is why I go to the gym

I am a foodie: I love to eat. I blame this on my culture; everything revolves around food-- holidays, get-togethers, family time, etc. Perhaps this is why I love to explore new restaurants, especially when I travel. There is nothing better than discovering a favorite place to dine at in a new city.

Below is a little food diary, pictorial-style, from San Francisco. I was so intent on snapping pictures of my food throughout my vacation that one of the restaurants thought I was a food critic and sent me a complementary dessert to the table in addition to one I'd already ordered.

Bonne appetit!
Lucca Deli
2120 Chestnut Street
San Francisco, CA

This little Italian deli is a gem! It's hard to miss but authentically Italian inside-- including the workers. The sandwiches are amazing!

Nearby was a gellateria that I didn't catch the name of, but their bakery counter was amazing! Although I didn't sample anything from the bakery, I had to snap pictures of it regardless. It reminded me of the pâtisseries I used to frequent when living abroad in Marseille.

Italian sandwich

Nearby galleteria bakery counter




First Crush
101 Cyril Magnin
San Francisco, CA 94102
http://www.firstcrush.com/

This was my 3rd time dining at this restaurant but I love their food. I highly recommend this place if you ever visit. Their beet salad is yummy (yes I love beets and brussel sprouts-- don't judge). And if you're a burger lover, the Kobe burger is amazing.

Mozzarella & tomato salad and beet & goat cheese salad


Café Bastille
22 Belden Place
San Francisco, CA
http://www.cafebastille.com/

A hidden little French restaurant that has THE BEST French soup I've ever had. Super cheesy. Super yummy! And the waiters and waitresses with their French accents were adorable too.

French onion soup


Cucumber and brie sandwich


Harris' Steakhouse
2100 Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, CA
http://www.harrisrestaurant.com/

*The* best steakhouse in San Francisco, hands down. If you're a mushroom freak like I am, you will love it here.

Fried lobster dumplings


Filet mignon


Trio of gelato


Cocola Bakery
845 Market St. #499
Westfield Shopping Center
San Francisco, CA
http://www.cocolabakery.com/

My favorite bakery-- EVER. So good. I was too busy scarfing down my food to take pictures. Once I did remember, I had finished my sandwich. Instead, here is a picture of their bakery counter. Their pastries rival those in Paris.



Aqua252 California Street
San Francisco, CA
http://www.aqua-sf.com/

A great seafood find. This is one of those places that you see in the movies-- the portions are *super* tiny and artsy, but you get what you pay for in terms of taste. Yes, you might leave there and head straight to an In-N-Out to full satiate yourself, but the dining experience alone is worth it. This was the place that brought us an extra dessert plate because I believe they assumed I was a food critic from the pictures I kept snapping of the food.

Salmon starter


Split pea soup

Lobster in sauce reduction


Soufflé


Maine lobster


John Dory fish


Vanilla bean dessert

Chocolate dessert of some kind


Flaky dough with coffee creme - our complementary dessert!


Cookies and chocolate-- their standard last course regardless what you order


Top of the Mark @ the Mark Hopkins Hotel
999 California St
San Francisco, CA
http://www.topofthemark.com/

Go here for the view, more so than the food. The food was good, but nothing special. The four course special for the 4th of July was held in honor of the service men and women and a portion of the proceeds went to USO (United Service Organizations). I recommend this place for drinks rather than food-- they have a huge martini list. It's also worth visiting for the view: you get to enjoy 360 degree sights of the city from the restaurant which is located on the top floor in the NOB Hill area. A live band plays jazz music in the evenings as well.

Gazpacho

Lobster bisque


Surf and turf


Cheesecake


Boudin Bakery
4 Embarcadero Center
San Francisco, CA
www.boudinbakery.com/at-the-wharf

I love this place, mainly because I love bread and could probably survive the rest of my life solely on bread and cheese. I think I was meant to be French in that regard. Boudin's bread is so good, though most people go there to sample their famous clam chowder bread bowls at the original bakery that's on the wharf. Their tomato soup is just as good, though (I'm not a clam chowder fan).

They also bake bread in the shape of animals-- turtles, bears, alligators, etc, and you can tour their museum upstairs where you get to view fresh bread being made and baked. I brought back a sourdough turtle home to nibble on. I'm happy to report that my turtle is now decapitated and has only half a body and hind legs remaining. ;)

Sourdough turtle


Sourdough alligator (with baby turtles on its back)

Zazil
845 Market St. # 400
Westfield San Francisco Center
San Francisco, CA
http://www.zazilrestaurant.com/

Good Mexican food that is nothing like Baja Fresh or fast food Mexican. My favorite part is the table-side guacamole. They mix it in front of you using fresh ingredients.

Table-side guacamole

Chicken enchiladas


Mushroom-stuffed chicken

Veggie-stuffed roasted green pepper with black bean sauce


Till my next foodie adventure! Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

2 comments

  1. This post makes me hungry. CHOMP!

    ReplyDelete
  2. You're telling me! I love real food. My boyfriend is a Sommelier and turned me into a total foodie, but I love that I appreciate food now. Luckily I love to work out, because I'd be in trouble if I didn't!

    ReplyDelete

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