We just got back from the most phenomenally delicious and overwhelmingly indulgent week in San Francisco. I wish I could FedEx the extra 5 pounds I gained back to the 415, but the tightness in my jeans was definitely worth it. We ate and drank like gluttons and loved every minute of it.

Our hotel room and location couldn’t have been better. We stayed at The Donatello right in Union Square so walking was always an option. But we also brought our car, so we could drive and take day trips when we wanted. Friends and family met us for a couple meals, and we researched every meal in order to make the most of our eating opportunities in the Bay Area.

Honestly though, I’m actually kind of depressed about being back in San Diego. The food scene is just so much more rich and vibrant and just plain ripe for the picking in San Francisco. I wish I was a 55 year old millionaire “lady-who-lunches” so that I could start a foundation aimed at improving the culinary scene here in my hometown.

Maybe I’ll make a few people mad with these statements dissing S.D., but I just was so impressed with the food choices and the attention to quality in SF. Artisan, craft cuisine (wine, beer, cheese, bread, everything!) abounds and the population seems ready to eat it all up with enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, I’m afraid too many San Diegans are perfectly happy with an alfredo sauce from The Olive Garden. Ugh.

Anyway, I’ll stop my rant and focus on the positive… namely, where we ate on our trip. I plan to add our detailed thoughts and impressions, but that will take a larger block of time than I have now. So for the moment, check out where we feasted and try not to be too jealous!

Little Delhi in the Tenderloin (the husband’s #2 favorite meal of the trip)
Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe in North Beach
Trish’s Mini Donuts on Pier 39
Tajine in the Tenderloin
Burma Superstar(my #2 favorite meal of the trip)
Fish. in Sausalito
Mijita in the Ferry Building
Coco500 (our #1 meal of the trip, by far!)
Marakkesh Hookah Bar in the Tenderloin
Mom’s Apple Pie in the Russian River Valley Wine Country
DeLoach Winery in the Russian River Valley
Russian River Brewing Company
Flavor in Santa Rosa
Naan & Curry in the Tenderloin
Ace Wasabi’s Rock N Roll Sushi in the Marina
Taylor’s Refresher in the Ferry Building
Luisa Ristorante in the Marina
Big Sky Cafe in San Luis Obispo

I could hardly have been happier with all of our meal choices. My husband Daniel was slightly disappointed by Tajine, Mijita, and Naan & Curry.

I’ll write more details later, but I’m already feeling overwhelmed just contemplating all the things I want to share with you about the meals and the restaurants and our experiences. Thanks again to everyone who offered their recommendations for our trip.

And if you live in San Francisco, know that you are lucky and I’m envious!!!

♥Beth

[Note: Sing the above title to the tune of “San Diego Super Chargers!”]

Just a quick post to point you in the direction of several new-ish to the San Diego food blog scene. If you haven’t already, go on and check out:

Alice Q. Foodie

Good Eats in San Diego

San Diego Restaurant Reviews

Yesterday, the husband and I were sitting down to lunch on a beautiful outdoor patio on a sunny day when we noticed a subtle and rhythmic clicking sound coming from the next table. We quickly came to realize that a man was clipping his fingernails… right there where he was eating lunch… with no shame… and his wife didn’t even make any attempts to set him straight.

WHAT THE #^@$?

Many years ago, we met a man who did that during conversation, but I never thought I would see someone do that at a meal! Mega-yuck!

Needless to say, we promptly relocated ourselves to a table inside and tried to put the disgusting incident out of our minds and enjoy our meal.

People, this is not acceptable behavior! Women, don’t let your men get away with this!

OK, I’ve gotten this off of my chest now. We can’t be the only people who’ve encountered this before. Are we?

Us with Kelsey and Amanda

Last Friday afternoon, we received a euphoric phone call from our friend Kelsey. He was a few beers into the San Diego Real Ale Festival at the Pizza Port in Carlsbad, and he had to tell my husband Danny about the 50+ amazing ales on tap.

The question was, Should we go? The decision was pretty easy because Danny was having a bad day, he’d thrown out his back a couple days earlier and, most importantly, ales are his absolute favorite. I raised my hand and promised to be the designated driver (I’m not a big beer fan, unless it’s Pacifico with lime) and we hopped in the car.

These are the San Diegans who are passionate about beer

Here’s the deal: For $25 you got a commemorative glass and 8 taster tickets that you turned in for 5-ounce samples of the best local beers around. Pizza Port describes this festival as, “The second largest collection of Real Ale on the west coast this year, featuring over 50 Firkins of cask conditioned ale served in the English tradition!”

My husband appreciating a good local brew

As you may know, San Diego has earned quite an international reputation for producing the best India Pale Ales around, and lots of them. There’s even talk of changing the name to “San Diego Pale Ales.”

So since these ales are too syrupy and thick and filling for my palate, I can’t really tell you much about the individual beers. But, I can tell you about the individuals who enjoyed the beers! The imbibers were all quickly buzzed (thanks to the high alcohol content), spirits were high, reviews were unanimously enthusiastic, and the patio was stuffed with San Diego’s most exuberant beer enthusiasts.

If it weren’t for me, my husband and our friends probably wouldn’t have eaten at all since all they wanted to do was sample more brews and use up all their tickets. I had to practically drag them by force away from the kegs and into the restaurant next door.

Not a bad way to soak up alchohol

So I finally got to eat some of Pizza Port’s eponymous pizza, as well as one of their famous Portzels. A portzel is a pretzel made from our wholegrain beer crust with sundried tomatoes, feta, garlic, basil & oregano mixed in, and it only costs $1 for some unknown reason. You dip it in marinara sauce. Yum! Our pizza was called the Pizza Carlsbad and it was thick with pesto, mesquite grilled chicken, sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and feta. I thought it had just the right amount of tanginess with a hearty, substantial texture.

We definitely had a great time during our last minute ale festival excursion and I’m fairly sure that next year we will plan ahead and book a hotel room down the street (like our friends did) so as to make the most of the amazing local beers available here in June gloomy San Diego.

Wow. Thank you so much for all of the tips to help us eat the best food San Francisco has to offer! I’m so lucky to have all you fellow food snobs at my fingertips. I’m taking every single recommendation into account and if anyone has more to suggest, please feel free to keep commenting.

In the meantime, I just have to publish this list of the most delicious-sounding food blog recipes I’ve collected over the last month or so. Hopefully you’ll find a few you’d like to try, as well!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Breakfast and Breads

Dee’s Oatmeal Pancakes from Elise

Sunny Day Oatmeal Bread from the Pie Queen

Entrees

Chickpeas and Quinoa from Something in Season

Artichoke Panzanella from the ever-lovely Becks and Posh

Butter Paneer Masala from Sailu’s Food

Lamb Stew with Almonds and Apricots, again from Elise

Cauliflower Baked with Wine and Tomatoes from Albion Cooks

Pizza Snobbery from La Mia Cucina

Sweets

Grasshopper Pie, oh my goodness… Elise again!

Triple Chocolate Espresso Bean Cookies of 101 Cookbooks (and made from chocolate-covered espresso beans)

Baking Sheet’s homemade Pudding Pops, a childhood classic!