Working Girl Cooks!

 

The San Francisco Ferry Building was first built in 1898 as our primary transportation center and port. It was renovated in 2003 and became one of the most popular sites for foodies and tourists alike to visit. The Ferry Building is filled with cute little culinary specialty shops where they sell local wine, local and specialty cheeses, fresh bread, meats, and organic fruits and vegetables. The Ferry Building is also home to some very distinct and famous restaurants such as Taylor's Automatic Refresher (gourmet hamburgers and awesome milkshakes!) and The Slanted Door (modern Vietnamese food). Every Saturday, the most famous farmer's market in San Francisco is held here. Farmers, bakers, and cooks come from all over California to bring us locally grown fruits and vegetables, locally made cheeses and breads, and yummy gourmet goods.

If you come here though, do not bring your dog, they are not allowed! And even if they were I still wouldn't bring your dog because this place gets very very crowded. One of my favorite things to do on a Saturday morning is walk down to the ferry building to people watch and look at all the yummy things offered at all the stands. I don not usually buy too many things at this farmer's market though, because it is very very expensive.

 

There are stands that offer fresh flowers. The sunflowers are my absolute favorite. They are so simple, yet so very beautiful.

There are stands that offer every kind of heirloom tomato you could ever dream of!

And the fruit is so amazing! So ripe!

So fresh!

So exotic and beautiful. One of the best parts about the farmer's market is all the yummy fruit samples. I love sampling all of the different kinds of peaches and apples and exotic fruits they have to offer. Of course I always spoil my breakfast, but it's so worth it.

And the vegetables! I always come here thinking maybe I'll get some ideas as to what to cook for dinners during the week and I always get overwhelmed by the variety they have to offer.

They have a lot of fruits that I have never tried before, like these little tiny squash things.

And these tiny baby corns.

and these purple green beans!

The assortment is just amazing, and the presentation is always spectacular.

 

My favorite stands are the bakeries, with their freshly baked banquettes and pastries. I love bread! The San Francisco Farmer's Market is a very fun and lively place to visit, but just remember to bring a lot of cash with you because it is definitely not cheap!

Pazzia.....mmmm.....my favorite Italian restaurant in San Francisco! it is this little hole in the wall place tucked away in the SOMA district on the 3rd St. between Harrison and Folsom. We came here with our Australian friends, Tam, Cam, and Tam's "mum" who is here for Tam because she is about to have a baby!

Of course we had to get wine. This is a Toscana...I am all about Toscana's right now. They are yummy!

Here is Tam and Cam....the proud parents to be!

I started with a salad, this is a pear and arugula salad with blue cheese, walnuts, and a balsamic dressing.

Eddie had a classic Italian caprese salad that he said was amazing!

For an entree, Eddie and I shared a mozzarella and spicy sausage pizza. Yes I know there is a piece already taken. I got really into the conversation and forgot to take pictures!

Mum got the lamb...which she is obviously enjoying. It looks yummy! She said is was "beautiful."

Tam devoured her lasagna...I barely got a picture. But she's pregnant...so she has an excuse!

Cam got the spinach spaghetti with salmon and pancetta. I had this last time. It's amazing. All the pasta is homemade. This is an excellent very authentic Italian restaurant, even the servers are Italian. It has gotten so popular they are expanding and taking over the space next door!

Here is tam and her big belly. Isn't she cute!!!

And then dessert....of course we had to have dessert! We aren't big fans of Italian desserts so we decided to go over to Tam and Cam's house and bake brownies and make brownie sundaes. They were soooo good! Although sooo bad for you. I'm not even going to tell you how many calories. (yes I know how many calories....I know....it's pathetic....I can't help it!) It was worth it though! YUM!

Wow! What a crazy night Eddie and I had on Friday! We decided to splurge and go out to dinner. We decided to go to Houston's. I know what you are thinking...Houston's is a chain not a San Francisco Restaurant! I know! But it's so good! And swanky! And there is no corkage fee so we can get blitzed and not go broke!!! Now, before I go on I have to warn you that these pictures are not my best! I have not figured out how to use my camera at night or in dark restaurants!

Anyway, We decided to take advantage of the no corkage fee rule an brought our own wine. We brought a 2005 Stags' Leap Winery Nine Points Cabernet Sauvignon. Now I am definitely no wine expert. I can tell cheap bad wine from decent wine, but that is about as far as my wine tasting expertise goes. Eddie and I decided on this wine because it was on sale from $35 to $19.99. And it was pretty good! It was very smooth for a cab, not to acidic. I really liked it!

For an appetizer we got cheese toast (Eddie LOVES cheese!) It was pretty good, very mild. But we were starving so it hit the spot.

As an entree I got the crab cakes, which came with a mustard sauce, cole slaw, and potato fries. It was very good!

Eddie got the 14oz. ribeye steak with garlic mashed potatoes. Although Houston's is usually very good, Eddie was quite disappointed with this meal. He asked for it medium and it came very very rare. Houston's is very efficient, they got our food to us very fast it was fresh. I think it's because there is usually a long wait and the more people they can cram in each night the more money they make. But I was starving so I'm really glad they got the food out fast!

We usually get dessert at Houston's. They have AMAZING desserts. But walking to Houston's we walked the Fog City Diner. And people were drinking milkshakes that looked so good. Since we had never been there before, we thought we would check it out. We go the turtle sundae. Doesn't it look good!

Here let me give you a closer picture. Yum! Although it was very good. This dessert has nothing on Houston's desserts.

We were having a good night and we didn't want it to end. So we decided to have another drink. Eddie ordered us shots of patron. I do not take shots. I have never been able too.

But I did this night! And this is actually my second shot! I forgot to take a picture of the first one. By this time we were feeling pretty good! And the restaurant was pretty cleared out, so we made friends with the bartender.

Who made us more drinks.

This is his signature drink. He calls it "The Mexican Passion" It has fresh lime, Chambord, pineapple juice, and Herraduras Tequila. It was pretty good. His motto is "After three, that's when you feel the passion!" It was so funny! He was awesome. Anyway, this is my last picture, although the night went on for some time longer. More drinks at Fog City Diner. We eventually got kicked out cause we shut the place down. Then our friend came over and we kept drinking at home. It was a fun night.....but not a very fun next morning :)

Eddie and I are the type of people who never say no to good food, good company, and music. So when our friends Ken and Cerina asked us if we wanted to go see The Faint in concert at the Fillmore we jumped at the chance. Who is The Faint? I had no idea until Monday, August 4th. But before I get into The Faint and their music, I want to talk about The Fillmore. Unfortunately, no cameras were allowed in the concert or venue, so the pictures here are not my own.

The Fillmore is a historic music venue in San Francisco made famous by Bill Graham. All of the best, most infamous bands have played at The Fillmore. It's a really awesome venue, very small and intimate. They have artists make posters of all the bands that play there and give them out at the end of their concerts. The posters from past concerts are plastered all over their walls and it's really cool to look around and see all the famous bands that have played there. They also have a barrel of apples in the foyer for you to enjoy at the end of the concert. Apparently this is has been a tradition since the Fillmore opened. A friend told me that Jerry Garcia started it although I have no idea if this is actually true. Either way it's a random, but pretty cool tradition, especially since I LOVE apples. And let me tell you, there is nothing like a refreshing apple after a long night of jumping around, head banging, sweaty people, and loud music!

The venue, is quite conspicuous, easily missed if you don't know where you are going. Tucked away in the western addition, smack dab in the middle of Japan Town in San Francisco, it's named after the street it's located on: Fillmore street.

And the best part about The Fillmore? The Food of course! They have awesome awesome food! And the menu changes with each concert that plays. The food is fresh and healthy. I got the fish tacos and they were soooo yummy! I have never had bar, concert food so good in my life! Man I wish I had my camera there so I could show you how good the food was!

So anyways...on to The Faint. I had never heard about this band before I went to their concert. And after I heard their music, I realized why. It's a dance punk/ new wave band. I don't listen to dance punk...or new wave. The concert was fun though. The opening bands were crazy! I was kinda drunk so I don't really remember them. All I remember is that the first band had a guy playing a keytar! How awesome is that! And the second band was a two person band with a crazy chick for a singer who liked to trance around the stage flaying her arms...I think she was on drugs. The faint had so many disco lights and crazy flashing lights everywhere I'm surprised nobody had a seizure! It looked pretty cool though. Although not really my type of music, I had alot of fun! Apparently, they came out with a new CD today.

This is the album cover. And if you want to hear one of the songs from the new CD go here and click on "the geeks were right video."

Delancey Street Restaurant. If you have never heard of it it is one of the best secrets we have found in the city. Every chance we get we try to take everyone we know here. Delancey Street Restaurant was opened by the Delancey Street Foundation, the country's largest self help residential organization for people who have hit rock bottom to completely rebuild their lives. The Delancey Street Foundation provides a home and all services to the residents at no cost to the residents or tax payers. They earn all of their money through this restaurant and other enterprises they have started. All of these enterprises are run by the residents being cared for by the Delancey Street Foundation. The Delancey Street Restaurant is a training facility to teach these residents working skills that they can use to get jobs and get back on their feet. Now do you see why I love this restaurant? But it gets better! Because these residents are trying to rebuild their lives and reputations the service is so friendly and nice. Surprisingly, the food is really really good. And the best part is that it's super cheap! Good, cheap food! Something that is hard to come by in San Francisco!

Last Sunday, my mom was in the city seeing a show, so she stopped by to see me and she brought some friends.

This is Phyllis, she is my grandmother's best friend, they've known each other since high school! Isn't that amazing!

The woman on the right is Phyllis's daughter, Terry. On the left is Terry's daughter Kara. Three generations of women! I was so excited and thought, "what a perfect opportunity to go to Delancey Street for a yummy dinner!"

The food is awesome, it's American cuisine with southern and Asian accents. They offer awesome BBQ items and even a health conscious low cal menu. The only thing I will say is that they do not put salt on any of their food so it can be bland sometimes.

Phyllis got the crab cakes, an item on their low fat menu.

Kara got the pasta primavera with homemade tomato sauce and fresh basil.

My mom, the pickiest of us all got the pesto and smoked chicken pizzette.

Look! Even she was happy!

And I got the Mediterranean chicken and olives with Israeli couscous.

It was very Yummy!

And what is dinner without dessert? Since we are all women and need to maintain our girlish figures we decided to split two desserts between the five of us.

Creme Brulee...

and tiramisu. After dinner we were all stuffed and oh so happy. And the best part of it was that all of this food came out to $66!!!!

Anyone want to come visit me in San Francisco? I'll take you to a great fancy meal!

To find out more about the Delancey Street Foundation and their restaurant, click here.