With Sierra Nevada cream cheese, tomato, red onions and capers, pickle. Closed-faced $9
Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen, San Francisco CA
I really liked this smoked salmon bialy. The beer cream cheese had great flavor and wasn’t as heavy as normal cream cheese. The salmon also seemed lighter and fresher. Overall, it was a great way to start the day.
Condiments.
Narrowleaf self-heal (Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata, Lamiaceae), Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve.
Date milkshake. Small $3.75
Hadley Fruit Orchards, Cabazon CA
Mmm, I really like Hadley’s date shake but a little definitely goes a long way. It’s pretty sweet and I enjoyed the pieces of crystallized dates in it. Someone told that they used to make the shakes from scratch, but now they’re pre-mixed and dispensed from a machine. It’d be nice if they started handmaking them again, but the ladies working the place are kinda old and slow so I doubt that’s gonna happen.
Date ice cream. $3.99
Ugh, I didn’t know that this was gonna come pre-scooped and slightly freezer burned! Lame!
Dinny the Apatosaurus, Cabazon Dinosaurs, Interstate 10.
Mary: Reposado tequila, spicy tomato blend. $10
Balancoire, San Francisco CA
Since our food and service experience at this restaurant was a disaster, we were hoping that they could at least make a decent cocktail. Unfortunately, they couldn’t. The mimosa was super low quality and the bloody mary had a weird aftertaste. Boo!!!
Mimosa. $6
Redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana, Oxalidaceae), Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve.
1 fish taco, 1 steak taco, rice, refried beans, and canned beverage. $8
Crazy Coyote Tacos, Banning CA
Mmm, I love the tacos at Crazy Coyote! The fish taco is still my favorite, but it’s really about that thick corn tortilla. Noms!
1 steak taco, 1 chicken taco, rice, refried beans, and canned beverage. $8
Teddy Bear chollas (Cylindropuntia bigelovii, Cactaceae), Joshua Tree National Park.
Corn, shelling bean, purslane. Tasting menu $140
Jardiniere, San Francisco CA
Mmm, the shrimp in this dish were delicious and perfectly cooked. I was afraid that the purslane leaves were going to be too slimey, but they actually weren’t bad. There were also sesame seeds and some other hard, crunchy seed(?) which I didn’t really like.
Gougeres. Compimentary
Absolutely scrumptions – I love gougeres, NOMS!
America’s Cup Pavilion, Pier 27.
Chicken noodle soup with a traditional matzo ball. $6
Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen, San Francisco CA
I don’t think I’ve ever had matzo ball soup at a restaurant before! Kinda weird since I really like matzo ball. This version did not disappoint – it was SO good. I actually wasn’t feeling well that day and thought that eating this would perk me up. It tasted wonderful and the huge matzo ball was fun and delicious! Mission accomplished…
7×7 Magazine’s The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die – 2013
They were filming something at the restaurant when I was there. The kitchen space is pretty small but you could see the owners walking around and explaining things to the camera.
Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum, Iridaceae), Prisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve.
Grilled beef, corn shell, refried beans, lettuce, tomato, avocado and sour cream. $3.50
El Farolito, San Francisco CA
I needed a quick snack before ducking into the 24th Street Bart Station so I grabbed this tostada at El Farolito. I’m not a fan of this place because the service is erratic and the food tends to be super salty, but it’s affordable and “usually” quick. I actually liked this tostada though. The grilled beef wasn’t overly salty and they piled on enough toppings to tide me over until my next actual meal.
Hook-shaped dock in the Marina.
Crabcake, toasted baguette, sauce maltaise, potatoes, mixed greens. $14
Balancoire, San Francisco CA
Ok, this dish looks decent but it tasted like crap. The crabcake was not only cheap and frozen, but it was made with imitation crabmeat! The sauce maltaise was cold as were the potatoes, and the toasted baguette underneath was pointless. Fail!
The Walt Disney Family Museum, Presidio.
Puff pastry filled with custard, bruleed sugar. $3
Knead Patisserie, San Francisco CA
This pomme d’amour really is a delicious dessert for breakfast! It’s small enough that it isn’t a morning sugar overload, and it’s super tasty. The custard filling is delicate and smooth, and pairs perfectly with a warm cup of coffee. Noms!
7×7 Magazine’s The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die – 2013
Spectators in the Marina for the America’s Cup.
Pamplemousse Apertivo: Pamplemousse, aperol, lemon, sparkling wine, graprefruit bitters. $12
Jardiniere, San Francisco CA
The house cocktails at Jardiniere were really well made and delicious. I think my favorite is between the Vieux Carre and the Pamplemousse Apertivo. They’re very different from each other, but both had distinct flavor profiles and went down way too easily. 😉
Vieux Carre: Rittenhouse rye, Carpano, ‘Antica Formula’ sweet vermouth, Pierre Ferrand cognac, Peychaud’s and Angostura bitters. $12
Lexington (background): Buffalo Trace bourbon, gran classico, Cardamaro, cinnamon bitters. $12
Oyster mushrooms, spinach, cheddar, 14 cherry tomatoes, goat cheese, crispy potatoes and toast. $14
Plow, San Francisco CA
Ugh, this scramble was pretty greasy! The soft scramble was executed correctly and the flavors were good, but I couldn’t get past the excessive oil. Also, I had forgotten that there was goat cheese until the very end when I uncovered the huge blob of it at the bottom. I wish it had been incorporated more evenly throughout.
Thanks goodness for those crispy potatoes – they were AMAZING! I could not stop eating them because they were SO flavorful and had the most perfect texture. I think when we go back, I’ll order and extra side of these delicious potatoes!
7×7 Magazine’s The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die – 2013, 2014
Heart concert at the America’s Cup Pavilion with Coit Tower in the background.
Cachaca 51, muddled lime and sugar over ice. $10
Eureka Restaurant & Lounge, San Francisco CA
I do love a good caipirinha! They are super refreshing and crisp tasting – a great drink to unwind with.
Bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum, Geraniaceae), Marina.
Vittle Monster 