If you're going to San Francisco.... - Page 2

Mezzaluna · #16 10-24-2007, 02:06 PM

See why I love this place??!!

Shel, I had come across the Cafe at Chez Panisse. It might be a great highlight for a day in Berkeley.

I'm with Doc: I won't miss the chance to visit Haight-Ashbury! I was a hippie wannabe rather than there real thing (how can you really be a hippie and go to a university in a town called "Normal"?

)

shel · #17 10-24-2007, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mezzaluna

See why I love this place??!!

Shel, I had come across the Cafe at Chez Panisse. It might be a great highlight for a day in Berkeley.

I'm with Doc: I won't miss the chance to visit Haight-Ashbury! I was a hippie wannabe rather than there real thing (how can you really be a hippie and go to a university in a town called "Normal"?

)

It ain't nuthin' like it was ...I lived there summer of '66 through early '68. The place turned to sh!t sometime in 67. I do remember a couple of good cafes - there was Magnolia Thunderpussy's, a truly great, and as far as I could tell, authentic fish n chips place (served the food on newspaper), a neat little Russan hole-in-the-wall that served fantastic borscht and nicely done perogies.

Last time I was there the place had been nicely Yuppie-ized. There's nothing there that even smacks of the "old days." We used to distribute free food, the Black Panthers had a place across the street from my flat and put out free food for the neighborhood every now and then (Bobby Seale was frequently the 'que meister - he made good 'que - wrote a barbecue cookbook, FWIW), Janis and the Dead were neighbors, Quicksilver Messenger Service lived downstairs at one point, The Airplane never locked their door and we'd drift in and out, shooting pool on the table in the dining room, there were free concerts in GG park (Speedway Meadows) - Oh well, I guess if you want to have your picture taken underneath the street sign, y' gotta go there.

Shel (sometimes missing the old days)

panini · #18 10-24-2007, 04:48 PM

Mezz,
Went there this past summer.
ACT,
silicon val
I found the drive to Nappa fast and easy and the food is the payoff. Bunch of places on (I think) Washington street.
We really disliked the Wharf. Turned around and boogied off fast. Although we bought discount tickets on line for most of the tourist attractions, we enjoyed the boat tour from the wharf. Giardelli's, cheaper at CVS.
We negotiated a good room price at the Marriot Marquis because it was under remodel.
Some really nice galleries.
Miur is great at opening hour. Place gets busy later.
Had dinner during lunch rush at Hurley's place in Nappa. pretty good
Dankos sounds touristy but had a great 3 hour meal
Had a couple of pounds of red meat at Arcadia while visiting Stanford and silicon and was so full, spent the night there. ( probably my best meal), except for a deli like joint across from the Marriott. Patty melts, corned beef sand, etc. Can't remember the name but was worth the wait.
You'll have a great time.
Bring warm clothes
Don't walk anywhere. We hiked a couple of blocks and had to make two hills. The top of the second hill I was ready for the paddles and mouth to mouth.

Mezzaluna · #19 10-24-2007, 08:55 PM

Pan, thanks for the insights! I look at the Google map of SF, then see photos from street level and want to grab my asthma inhaler! But we'll manage. My husband is a technical geek so maybe Silicon Valley would be a lure.

Shel, it sounds like you were in Berkeley for some good times- historic times, even. I seem to remember Ruth Reichl worked for AW at one point.... Was it in that time period? I read her memoir but it's been a while.

panini · #20 10-24-2007, 09:07 PM

Mezz,
intel has a pretty good museum.

kuan · #21 10-24-2007, 09:18 PM

Yes, don't go to the Wharf. About 20 years ago, they served fresh grilled salmon on SF sourdough. These days it's crappy carnival fried seafood.

shel · #22 10-24-2007, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mezzaluna

Shel, it sounds like you were in Berkeley for some good times- historic times, even. I seem to remember Ruth Reichl worked for AW at one point.... Was it in that time period? I read her memoir but it's been a while.

I was in San Francisco then, not Berkeley. Moved out of the Haight in early to mid 1968, and moved to Berkeley in 1969-70. Wasn't familiar with RR in those days. Although I cooked a little - very little - my first real cooking experience took place soon after I moved to Berkeley, Made a cheese souffle for my first dish for a group of about six or seven people. What was I thinking!

Shel

deltadoc · #23 10-25-2007, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shel

It ain't nuthin' like it was ...I lived there summer of '66 through early '68. The place turned to sh!t sometime in 67. Oh well, I guess if you want to have your picture taken underneath the street sign, y' gotta go there.

Shel (sometimes missing the old days)

Interesting. I had a freind from Dubuque that lived there on Haight-Asbury area in '67- ?

SO maybe you can clear something up for me. '67 was the "Summer of Love" right?

So when did "Death of Hippie" take place? Was it the end of the summer of '67 or sometime during the summer of '68?

Are you familiar with the documentary "It was 20 years ago today"?

In that documentary there is a scene of a somewhat hefty hippie walking down the street looking into the documentary cameraman's camera, with a young girl, with kind of a scared look on her face, and he was gesticulating and shouting out (no sound on that shot) that my friend pointed out to me was a well known "Norbert the Nark".

Yeah, Shel, I miss those days too. Yet, like Grace Slick said in retrospect, "it was just that there were SO MANY of us baby boomers with nothing else to do, it really didn't mean much at all". Like the guy in that documentary that lived on a boat in Amsterdam, he said "Everyone's always asking, "What's happening? Is there anything happening?" (paraphrased as best I can remember). All over the world, the hippie culture (or at best the imitation of what appeared to be the hippie culture and flower children frame of mind) was spreading.

So, the spirit and spirituality and the "feeling" of maybe being part of something big that might be or even was changing the world through love was in the air. But I wonder, was it just the same then as it is now, with kids wearing their jeans down below their underwear? Just people following what was "popular" and "trying to fit in" or was there really something different about the late '60's that will probably never occur again in anybody's lifetime forever?

Looking very forward to pursueing this off-shoot of the original thread. Mezz doesn't mind, do you?

doc

shel · #24 10-25-2007, 09:22 AM

Last night, while reading these messages, I realized that no one touched on some of the real food and dining treasures of San Francisco. Everyone has been concentrating on the more typical tourist spots.

Check out Clement Street, in the Richmond Districe, where there are more restaurants than you can imagine. It's a nice level aprt of town - great for walking for those not used tothe hills - and entertain yourself with numerous cafes and and chinese, thai, japanese restaurants.

Move into the sunny Mission District, oh, from about 16th street out, and you'll find yourself in the heart of the Latino area. Wonderful culture, and some truly great, small restaurants

. Enjoy the hustle and bustle of the place on a weekend day. Easy to get to with a simple street car ride from down town. The Mission area is also nice and flat

Explore Chinatown - get some Dim Sum (I can recommend some great Dim Sum places) and check out another cultural aspect of the city.

shel

Mezzaluna · #25 10-25-2007, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Looking very forward to pursueing this off-shoot of the original thread. Mezz doesn't mind, do you?

Nah, Doc- how could I!? I'm not that territorial.

Shel, you are the information source that seems limitless. What a goldmine you are!

shel · #26 10-25-2007, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mezzaluna

Shel, you are the information source that seems limitless. What a goldmine you are!

Well, thanks ...
<LOL> I'm just a foodie and a city explorer ...

You might want to consider a trip to Japan town ...

Patricia Unterman's Hayes Street Grill near city hall has been serving up Good Eats since Alton Brown was a pup. Patricia was the SR Chronicles main food critic and restaurant reviewer for a long time. A number of the local chefs eat there frequently, and certainly recommend the place.

Swan Oyster Depot is a 100 year old institution that is worth a stop. The Tadich Grill is another long time institution. Wanna spend some $$$, check out Masa's. Hubby better wear a jacket and tie, and you'll have to wear real shoes <LOL>

Julius Castle might be nice for drinks - can't speak to the food as it's been years since I've eaten there. It's another long time SF institution - great views IIRC. Best bet is to take a cab there.

Judy Rodgers' Zuni Cafe has always been a favorite. Her "signature" dishes of roast chicken and Caesar salad are, well, pretty good

However, I've read some mixed reviews lately, but you know my feelings about reviews. Take a look at the Zuni Cafe cook book if you've got the time and inclination.

I'll shoot more suggestions your way as I think of them and have time - OH, you've got to check out the murals at Coit tower. At one time the tower was the highest and most visible building in the SF skyline.

Oh, when in Berkeley you'd not do much better than Ajanta, Cafe Raj, Breads of India, and the Bombay Cafe for Indian food. All excellent, all of a different style,and ranging in prices from downright cheap (Bombay Cafe just of University Ave on, I belive, 9th street) - very authentic Indian fare (my friend, who has travelled extensively in India, calls it "train food" as it's like the food served on the Indian trains), ideal for an inexpensive lunch, then wander next door and check out the spices and other Indian grocery items. Ajanta is probably the most expensive, and the cafe Raj is my everyday favorite, with great food, friendly, smiling service, fresh ingredients, and a simple atmosphere. Breads of India is a small place with a limited menu, with tight seating, and great food.

Oh, down the street from Cafe Raj and arond the corner to the south is Sam's Log cabin - an authentic log cabin built in the 1930s. Sam's is funky, homestyle, organic, and serves fresh ingredients. Can't go wrong for breakfast - but don't expect your coffe mugs to match <LOL>

A little further to the south is Ruen Pair, excellent, authentic Thai. Don't order the food hot unless you're ready for HOT! I'm sweating just thinking about it.

OK, now I'vegotta sign off. Doc, I'll get back to you on that hippie bizniz ...

shel · #27 10-26-2007, 12:39 AM

Hey, I just discovered that the San Francisco area has 38 Michelin starred restaurants - as many as NYC - that might make dining choices interesting. In addition there are dozens that have been recognized by Michelin as being of very good value. If you're interested, I'll shoot you the list or post it here. Not up for it right now.

Shel

shroomgirl · #28 10-26-2007, 08:13 AM

End of July numerous years ago the wind and cold was definately heavy sweater weather.....coming from southern Louisana.....!!!!

Across from Swan's (which is a old timey seafood bar, not really a place to take your guy) is a wonderful cook shop. Found Italian tuna, all kinds of great 00 flour, various odds and ends that made shipping it all home still a deal. After the post office started giving out "set rate" now $8.95 boxes that you can stuff with any weighty items, they've become apart of the supplies in my travel bag....stamped ready to use with labels that are already filled out. So anything special can be easily shipped home. Used 3 on the last trip to SF, plus of course the large market basket hauled on the plane with farmer market shtuff....used to take a cooler wherever we'd go but have really been alittle put off by the airline rules, it's alittle unclear what types of cooling are acceptable.

annud · #29 10-26-2007, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Saul's is not a very good "Jewish" deli, whatever that's supposed to mean. Much of the food isn't even close to approaching a NYC deli, service has always been spotty, and prices are getting to be too high for what you get in the way of food and service.

I haven't been to Saul's in years...shame that it's gone so downhill. Then again I've never had authentic New York deli so it's hard to compare. I was missing the place a few weeks ago and yelped it...apparently it still has many defenders, maybe because they remember the good old days?

panini · #30 10-26-2007, 12:06 PM

It's beginning to sound like we need a get-together in SF. My son is going back out to Stanford for visit in July. I might tag along.
Corse I'll have to walk 10 paces behind him. 16 yrs old and he thinks he hung the moon. He just tells people that old hippie in the tie dyed shirt has been following me for a while

Had some good affordable food at at Asian restaurant right near the Italian border. Across the street from Larry Flints place. Can you believe that is the only land mark I remember