A visit to S.F. with my hubby

[shroomgirl]

Thomas Keller, French Laundry says try the "morning of" or in the afternoon many cancel at the last moment...
too many wineries in one afternoon I guess.

Fancy Food Show is in SF in Janurary 21st weekend...they have tours of Napa grocery stores and fun food producers....$70 for all day tour...what a deal.

[cookM]

I went to Jardiniere and I thought it was tops!! I also went to Rubicon when Traci Des Jardin was chef there, and it was awesome too. She used to be the sous at Elka's.
Anyway, if there's foie gras (if you like that sort of thing) grab it, make everyone back off from your plate by snarling, and eat it. Heavenly. I could make a meal just off her appetizers. Oh yes, if she has a scallop and mashed potato app, which she is known for, run off with it.
It was tres expensive, but I didn't mind. It was worth it. Go, go, go...

cook m, thanks, I can't wait, wait, wait!!!

Im also a local, and have enjoyed Ti Couz many a time.

Ella's is great for lunch as well (and not as crowded mid-week) with GREAT chicken pot pies, neo-americana is how they desribe the food.

I saw Japantown's Mifune was on that SF Chronicle list, which is great for soba and udon noodles, edamame, and super tempura. An added bonus is that they have parking underground right there on the cheap if you are driving.

In North Beach Capp's corner was also on the list, which is a family style favorite for hearty pastas and big bowls of minestrone, they also have a sister restaurant down they street (same menu) called New Pisa which we go to if Capp's is overun with tourists, it is always far less crowded. Cafe Macaroni is down the street, a tiny little place that is very cozy with lots of character.

If you are in the Union Square area, Cafe Claude is a cute little french cafe off on a quiet side alley with great french onion soup, and appropriately snobby waitstaff to round out the atmosphere. I sent my parents there last week and they enjoyed it very much. For slightly fancier fare in that area, Le Colonial is within walking distance of the square serving french-vietnamese-I love their green beans. Entrees are between $20-$40.

The one place that is a must visit is Eliza's which is what I would call California Chinese (?)....We go here ALL the time. There are two locations, a brand new one right off Divisadero, and another in the Potrero Hill area. Affordable, and SO good. We also enjoy Cafe della Stella in the Hayes Valley area very much for slightly upscale (not too upscale) Italian.


In the Napa area Tra Vigne also has a little lunch cafe right there if you aren't ready for a sit down feast. There is also a Dean and Deluca right there where you can pick up just about anything and head off to one of the winery picnic spots.

[cape chef]

Welcome back Missmargie,
I'm happy you had a nice time.
Isn't Napa beautiful
cc

Merry Christmas and thanks to all for the good advice. I am back from San Francisco and I am probably 10 pounds heavier. Yank Sing was the first destination and it was well worth it. The dim sum was excellent and there was a line of people waiting to prove it. We actually did eat at Cafe Claude. It was definetely cozy, although I thought everything was a little underseasoned. Great wine though.
Then it was on to Napa- and we did the Dean and Deluca carry out but it was a little rainy so we munched in our hotel room (Embassy Suites-which is beautiful)
So all in all it was a great trip.
Happy new year.

[nutcakes]

Glad you got to Yank Sing. Where else? Where was the blow out? Cafe Claude is sorta cute, have not eaten there for years. Don't recall the food as ever being memorable, though. I always stuck to the pate plate.

Happy New Year, I am quite happy to be back at work. I usually end up missing the structure and consistency of a full work day.
Napa was great. Although next time I would go during the summer or any time other than winter. It wasnt as pretty as I remember, but it was off season.
I have to admit that Yank Sing was the big blow out. We ate until we were stuffed and had four beers between us and with tip it was $95. Well worth it but I dont usually have 95 dollar lunches. After that it was snacks here and there.
We had a great Rouqfourt (sp?) and walnut pate at Cafe Claude that was very good. Creamy and Cheesey and great with wine.
Thats all the traveling for me this year, nothing left but the pictures.