Shortbread marzipan cookie – Victoria Pastry Company

Shortbread marzipan cookie Victoria Pastry Co

French shortbread cookie with marzipan filling and apricot and raspberry jam.
Victoria Pastry Company, Greenbrae CA

I’m not quite sure of the technical differences between a cookie and a pastry.  The shop called this a cookie, but I would’ve been more inclined to call it a pastry (and probably erroneously).  Maybe because it was quite large, glazed, and had marzipan and two different jams.  In any case, it was scrumptious!  It was so soft and not overly sweet.  The marzipan gave it a nice almond flavor and the jams were delicious.  I don’t make it out to Greenbrae very often, but I will swing by Victoria Pastry Company for another yummy treat the next time I do.

New Manhattan Philz Coffee

And, yes, I still had a Philz Coffee New Manhattan with me from the SF commute. They tasted pretty amazing together!  Mmm, gotta love Philz Coffee…

Apple tarte tatin – Caffe Pascucci

Apple tarte tatin Caffe Pascucci
Beautifully sliced apples baked onto a thin puff pastry shell.  I wanna say there was also some almond paste in it, but don’t hold me to that, hehe.
Caffe Pascucci, San Francisco

There was a lot of hype when Caffe Pascucci was opening its store near the Giant’s ballpark.  This was to mark the Italian Company’s first foray into San Francisco’s caffineine crazed, foodie culture.  My first impression of the space was that it was sleek and modern, but loungy and comfortable enough to plop down with your laptop.  The clientele was your well-heeled corporate crowd taking a break from their boardrooms and computer screens to swing by and get re-energized with a latte.  The food looked pretty inviting, and this apple tarte tatin was very good.  These tend to be bite sized at other coffee shops, but this one was larger than most.  The service was also friendly and efficient.  I think they’ve done a great job with the place, and if I worked closer I would stop by more often.

Cappuccino Caffe Pascucci
The cappuccino was good, but it didn’t have a distinct taste to it that differentiated it from other espresso brands.

Morning bun – Tartine Bakery

Morning bun Tartine Bakery
This large, warm creation is a perennial favorite among Tartine Bakery patrons where they have sheets of it waiting in their display case.  The crust is perfectly flaky and buttery with a wonderful scent and flavor of oranges.  The caramelized sugar on top (or bottom depending on how you eat it) adds a chewy texture and a pop of sweetness to this perfect breakfast treat!  $3.75
Tartine Bakery, San Francisco

7×7 Magazine’s The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die – 2010, 2011, 2012

Cafe au lait Tartine Bakery
Throw in a cafe au lait, and you have a perfect morning.  $2.75

Bacon maple apple donut – Dynamo Donuts

Bacon maple apple donut Dynamo Donuts
This decadent donut is studded with bacon and apples sauteed in bacon fat.  It’s topped with a maple glaze and more crispy bacon.
Dynamo Donuts and Coffee, San Francisco

I first read about this sinful morsel while scouring the SF food blogs and instantly knew that I should try one!  It’s the perfect combination of savory and sweet.  The bacon bits add a great flavor and texture to a donut that would be overly sweet from the apples and generous maple glaze.  The dough itself is light and airy, and the donut simply melts in your mouth.  I’ve tried other flavors at Dynamo, but this remains a favorite!

Philharmonic Philz Coffee
The Philharmonic coffee from Philz Coffee tastes great with this donut. Actually, Philz coffee tastes great with anything! Lol.