Where to eat in San Francisco

San Francisco is known for its food. I might have made that fact up. But if that's not true, it should be. The food here is amazing. Each section of town is totally different. Mission restaurants are either famous for their burritos or trendy in some farm-to-table, unique combination of ingredients type of way. Bernal Hill is my personal favorite right now, as it's less cool and more delicious. FiDi boasts a lot of amazing lunch spots that I have barely tapped into yet. The rest of the city is just an unexplored goldmine of delicious foods. I can't provide an expansive list as I am pretty sure that's impossible in this city, but here are the restaurants I have tried. Stay tuned for updates. And sorry, no photos. I'm just not that much of a hipster.

The Mission:

Trendy restaurants everyone has heard about. Usually overpriced. Often delicious.

Mission Chinese Food

• Hard to find... unless you spot the 30 people waiting outside. 
• Don't try to go in to talk to a hostess unless you want to prove you're a tourist. They will simply point you to the long wait list posted right outside of the main entrance. 
• Just as spicy as it is overrated. I say go to Big Lantern 2 blocks away. Unless of course, you'd rather be seen than have a great meal.

Big Lantern

• I'm generally not a tofu person, but Big Lantern's vegetarian chicken balls are better than chicken. I'd eat Big Lantern any day.

El Farolito

• My former roommate exclusively ate dinner at this taqueria until he exhausted the menu. It's good. It's probably not that good. 

El Metate

• My favorite taqueria. The outside area is great and they just recently ramped up their salsa selection with fresh fruit varieties.
• Delicious $3 veggie taco was big enough to be a meal.

Radish

• Their home fries are the best. 
• I'm partial because I have been to the farm in Sonoma and watered the farm-to-table ingredients myself. I know it's fresh.

Wise Sons Deli

• Thought I would love this Jewish deli, but didn't. 
• The challah french toast was nothing special and over priced.
• Great atmosphere.

We Be Sushi

• I'm not a huge sushi lover and really only like vegetarian options, but I would go here any day. 
• Super intimate space makes for a great date spot.

Flour + Water

• Incredibly pricey.
• Walk-in was a surprisingly short 2 hour wait.
• Walk-in seating is at the bar, which is actually the best seat in the house. You can see into the kitchen. 

Bi-Rite Creamery

• Yes, that is a red carpet rope outside. 
• Yes, that rope is to control the 20 people waiting in like to order ice cream. 
•  Yes, the ice cream is worth it. 

Sunrise Cafe

• Finally, a brunch spot without a 2 hour wait. 
• Delicious food. Great chai. 

Curry Up Now

• Oh god, their Indian fries! What is on them that makes them so good? 
• I actually want those fries right now. Yum. 

The All American Grilled Cheese Kitchen

• They put mac and cheese on a grilled cheese. Now if that's not genius, I don't know what is. 
• Don't get me wrong, it was pretty delicious. But it can't measure up to Cowgirl Creamery in the Ferry building. 
• The tomato soup was just meh. 

Dosa

• Too spicy. Way too spicy. What were they thinking spicy. 
• Lots of people like this place. It was seriously packed.

Frances

• Two words - bacon beignets. Think bacon doughnut, but way better. 
• We were intimidated by the 4 month waiting list to get a table, but found the walk-in situation to be pretty easy. 
• I wasn't big into the dessert, but the dinner was outstanding. Just give me more of those little bacon doughnuts.

Local Mission Eatery

• All of the food is locally sourced from Farmer's Markets around the city. The menu changes based on whatever looks good at the markets. 
• I saw the chefs cook my dinner right in front of me. 
• Worth forking over a little extra for this super delicious dinner. 

Bernal Hill 

There's no "scene" in Bernal, but the food is delicious. 

Little Nepal Restaurant

• Yum. So good. I have had many a curry, and this one is at the top. 
• Definitely a hole in the wall. 

Zante Pizza

• Biggest mistake was only ordering one slice. 

 Emmy's Spaghetti Shack

• Limited menu. They are serious about their spaghetti. 
• Delicious. One of the better Italian restaurants I have been to in SF. 
• Didn't kill the bank. 

FiDi

Here's where you go on your lunch break when you run out of food. It's a good thing you have a job, because these lunches could run you broke.

Onigilly

• This place is amazing. For around $3, you can have a healthy brown rice thing stuffed with deliciousness and wrapped in seaweed. Buy two. Or three. 
• Try the spicy bacon. 
• Just when you thought it couldn't get better, you realize... free tea. 

Sushirrito

• The made-to-order, over-baked agave-soy king salmon burrito with tempura asparagus, cucumber, butter lettuce, avocado, pepitas, and wasabi dust was the best thing I have eaten in months.

Plentea

• Fail. 
• Sandwiches don't belong on waffles. The end.

La Pasilla

• Great salsas. Free chips. 
• Chipolte-style salads, but this is the real deal.

El Faro

• Don't go here. It's trying to be El Farolito, but it's not. It's a trap.

Banana House

• This is one of my favorite lunch spots in the Financial District. 

Galette 88

• Great atmosphere. Offers a much needed break from office lighting. 
• Like the other Kearny Street restaurants, you have to go early or you'll regret it. 
• The food is OK. It's gluten-free and offers lots of healthy options. 

Boxed Foods Company

• I can make a better salad. 

Still on the to do soon list:

State Bird Provisions

Bar Tartine

Range

Delfina

Highway 1: SF to Big Sur for July 4th

 

San Francisco is not known for its fireworks. It's foggy, there's a drought, the temperature hovers around 60 degrees, and unknowing tourists flock to the city.  Blessed with a four day vacation, we decided instead to make our way from San Francisco to Carmel and eventually to Big Sur by driving down the infamous Highway 1.

It was challenging to drive more than two miles before wanting to stop in front of an abandoned barn, a cliff leading into the ocean, or a field of bright yellow flowers. The only advice I'd give roadtrippers is to go slowly.

Some of the highlights of the trip included the scenic 17 mile drive past the 18th hole at Pebble Beach (which come to find out isn't a beach, but a golfer's dream), a sunset picnic on Carmel Beach (an actual beach), an adventure across a newly built (and mildly terrifying) bridge to reach one of the best views on Highway 1, a drive across Bixby Bridge (and a pit stop to take pictures while standing on the side of a cliff), a visit to the Henry Miller Library, a short hike to McWay Waterfall, and a visit to Pfeiffer Beach (seriously the most beautiful beach ever).

Pfeiffer Beach can be tricky to find, but if you can find it, it is absolutely worth it. The best advice I was given was to locate the only road between the State Park and the Post Office. That road takes you 2 miles down a one-lane drive that seemingly leads to the middle of no-where. Eventually, that road drops you off at a tiny parking lot that leads into a secluded beach surrounded by rocky cliffs. It's exactly what you imagine but a million times better.

The drive from Carmel to Big Sur takes about 40 minutes if you drive it without stopping, but no one should stay in their car that whole time - it's simply too beautiful. One of our stops on the way from Carmel to Big Sur was at Bixby Bridge.  Most tourists stationed themselves on the coastal side of the bridge, but we ventured out to the other side, which I highly recommend because it provides a view of the cliffs, the bridge, and the coast.

One of the most iconic stops we made was at The Lone Cypress in Carmel. If you Google it, you'll likely read that it is "the most photographed tree in America." One crazy writer even says, "It stands along famously scenic 17-Mile Drive, raked by wind, swaddled in fog, clinging to its wave-lashed granite pedestal like God's own advertisement for rugged individualism." I don't know about all that, but it was pretty cool to see a single tree growing out of a cliff in the middle of the water.

Another often photographed spot is McWay Falls. The real directions say to go to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which straddles Highway 1, about 36 miles south of Carmel. But if you want the easiest way to find it, simply search for a ton of cars parked on the side of the road and gaggles of tourists toting large cameras set to automatic. Follow the half-mile trail and you will have amazing views of the tiny but dramatic waterfall and the beautiful coastal bluffs. Just be careful not to block anyone's view with your selfie.

All of the "official" stops along Highway 1 are great, but also be sure to stop at the less touristy runoffs as well. You'll find great views of the coast (and of the fog).

It's a super fun place to take photos. Tim gets all the credit for these last three...

 

One thing that caught me off guard was that one beach would be foggy, chilly, and windy and then a beach 2 miles down the road would be calm, sunny and warm. It makes it hard to know what to wear. I ended up wearing a bunch of layers and bringing an extra "summer" outfit in the car. Don't leave your bathing suit behind just because it seems cold - who knows, you might find a beach that's 80 degrees! 

 

Sausalito

Sausalito is only a boat ride away from San Francisco, but it feels like a different universe. I have been to Sausalito 5 or 6 times now, but only recently have I discovered the real heart of Sausalito. Many may see it as a tourist trap or a ferry stopover, but for those who actually live there, there is a rich community behind the facade of touristy perfection on the main drag: Caledonia Street. If you want real Sausalito, that's where you should go.

Go eat Indian Food at Sartaj.

Go shop for antiques at the John Wilmer Studio. 

Go sit by the dock.

And go ride the ferry.

A Weekend in Fort Bragg, CA

Deciding to drive out to Fort Bragg was a last minute decision. We knew we wanted to escape the city for a weekend, but were unsure of where to go. Frankly, we were overwhelmed with options. Should we stay in a tiny house in the middle of wine country? What's Big Sur like? Is Portland too far for a weekend? Fortunately, a friend suggested we stay at her aunt's Airbnb in Fort Bragg. Knowing next to nothing about the area, we rented a car and headed out there to explore.

The drive alone was amazing. We rode through wine country, up and down rolling hills, past random strawberry stands, then finally reached our destination: a tiny cottage in the middle of the redwoods. It couldn't have been more picturesque.

Starving, our first adventure was to find the main strip and seek out dinner. We quickly discovered Piaci Pizza, a clear favorite among locals. The tiny establishment was overflowing with people, and the menu looked so good that we ordered not one but three pizzas.

The next morning, we decided to venture out to the neighboring town of Mendocino, which overlooks the rocky coast of the Pacific Ocean. We spent some time wandering the artsy main drag, but the majority of our day was spent hiking along the coastline in awe of the crashing surf and nearby whales.

After checking Mendocino off of our to-do list, we headed to Glass Beach, a former city dump site that is known for having "copious amounts of sea glass." Let me start off by saying that the beach was absolutely beautiful. In fact, it was one of the nicest I have ever been to. The water was a striking aquamarine, the beach was deserted, and the rocky surroundings made it feel as though you were the only one for miles. The beach, however, was made of sand, and not sea glass like I had imagined. Perhaps there were pockets of glass elsewhere on the beach, but I didn't find any. After some research, I found out that tourism has depleted the sea glass stockpiles and what remains is a beautiful sandy beach. I couldn't really complain.

My only real complaint was that we only had one weekend. I can't wait to go back!!

Muir Woods and Sonoma

This past weekend, we went to Sausalito, Muir Woods, and Sonoma. I was quickly reminded that I don't leave the San Francisco bubble nearly as often as I should.

For this trip, I rented Zipcar for the day so that we would have enough time to see all three sites. First, we headed to Sausalito, one of my favorite places in the Bay Area. As you walk along the coast, you have a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, and the city. We didn't stop for lunch in Sausalito this time, but I have eaten at Sartaj on other occasions. Sartaj is a hole-in-the-wall Indian cafe with tons of choices and lots of character. Another go-to restaurant in the area is an amazing Puerto Rican restaurant called Sol Food. Get the lemonade or you will regret it.

After leaving Sausalito, we headed to the redwood forest to hike through Muir Woods. Hike might actually be a bit of an overstatement. Muir has both wood planked walking paths and winding trails through the woods, but we chose the easier of the two since it had recently rained and the trails were pretty muddy. Regardless, the woods were serene and beautiful, despite the large numbers of visitors passing through on the busy Saturday that we chose to visit.






After a morning hike, we set off on Highway 1 towards Sonoma for a wine tasting at Bartholomew Park Winery. Upon entering the vineyard gates, we immediately wished we had more time to spend on the 400-acre grounds. In addition to the wine tasting and museum tour, visitors also have access to picnic grounds and hiking trails. We had just enough time for a tasting before heading back to the city.

Dallas, Texas

A few weeks back, I went to Dallas, TX for a weekend of professional development at an event hosted by the Schusterman Foundation.

I spent much of my time in the hotel attending workshops and hearing from incredible speakers like Howard Behar (of Starbucks) and Ethan Zohn (winner of Survivor). The hotel itself, the Hyatt, was a destination and was home to Reunion Tower, which offers a 360 view of downtown Dallas.

The hotel was just a couple of streets away from where JFK had been assassinated at Dealey Plaza. I made sure to walk over to the Sixth Floor Museum, the site from which Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly fired the deadly shots.

One of the highlights of the trip was dinner at Life in Deep Ellum, a converted warehouse that is now a coffee shop-art gallery-performance space-cultural center. We had exceptionally good barbecue from Pecan Lodge and learned about the experiences of non-profit leaders in Dallas and beyond. At my table, we spoke with David Eisner, CEO of Repair the World, about the potential benefits of mandatory service post high school or college graduation. We also heard from a local restaurateur who started an organization that teaches culinary skills (and all of the skills associated) to young people leaving jail. Some of the participants in that program were serving dinner as part of their hospitality training. We ended the night with a concert put on by Michelle Citrin at the event space. It was a whirlwind trip, but it couldn't have been better!

The Best Time to Buy Airline Tickets

I have mentioned this company before, but it is worth mentioning again... check out The Flight Deal Daily and sign up for their newsletter to find the best flight deals if you are flexible about dates and locations. Just as an example, one of today's deals is on American Airlines from NYC to San Francisco, and costs $272 for a round trip flight. Not bad... especially if you want to come visit me!

What travel tool should you use to book your flight? My three favorites are Kayak, ITA Software's Matrix Airfare Search, and Hipmunk. Keep in mind, Southwest intentionally opts out of travel tool websites, so be sure to check directly on the Southwest webpage to compare fares.

As a side note, make sure you are always signed up for the frequent flier program for the airline you choose to fly. Even if you don't fly often, it is worth doing. Who knows, you might end up on an international flight with an affiliate of the airline, racking up enough points to score a free domestic trip. Right now I am sitting on enough points to take a free flight on Delta and a free on Southwest. Where should I go?

Trading in the Backpack for an Apartment!

I am trading in my backpack for keys to an apartment in the Mission district of San Francisco!

The end of the backpacking run is bittersweet. I have been on the move since last June, and have had the opportunity to expand my world, to volunteer, to meet amazing people, and to visit places full of history. It is difficult for me to give up the flexibility of being able to book random flights to places like Florida or Hawaii on a whim. But I am excited plant roots and to start a new chapter here in San Francisco. Don't worry, I will still be traveling! Dallas, Texas up next in two weeks!

“San Francisco is a city where people are never more abroad than when they are at home.”~Benjamin F. Taylor

Baker Beach, San Francisco

Out of all of the beaches that I have been to so far in San Francisco (disclaimer, I have only been to 3), Baker Beach has been my favorite. While the sun is more of a guarantee at Stinson Beach and the surfing is better at Pacifica, the view at Baker is unbelievable. 

When I first arrived at Baker, I almost left because the parking lot was thick with fog and it looked like there was no hope for sunshine. Fortunately, the fog quickly rolled out, leaving us with a postcard view of the Golden Gate Bridge. 

I definitely plan on going back, but next time I will bring not only a bathing suit, but also a parka. It's SF. Who knows what the weather will be like.

 

Top 10 Travel Apps

1. Day One - Keep a record of your travels in this digital diary

2. Whatsapp - Send free texts to other users via WiFi when traveling abroad

3. Swell - The Pandora of podcasts is perfect for long car rides

4. Uber/Sidecar/Lyft - Travel like a local using one of these car service apps

5. Venmo - Split checks with friends using this easy money transfer tool

6. RunKeeper - Keep track of how long your epic hikes are

7. Airbnb - Find cool housing options

8. Kayak - Book cheap airline tickets

9. iMovie - The only thing better than selfies is a movie about your trip

10. Duolingo - My favorite free language app