I apologize for my absence, folks. I’ve been extremely busy in Boston getting my start-up off the ground, but Denise has been doing an excellent job! I just wanted to quickly share this image with you. I ‘wonder wheeled’ myself on Google this morning. (Regrettably)

I’ll be posting soon. Promise. We’re always accepting contributors, so if you’d like to share you eating adventures please contact me!

Keep eating.

Oops, that was quite a hiatus.  Making my mental return to San Francisco, and…

Day three required no ramp-up time, and after rolling off the couch and brushing my teeth, we took off for Dynamo Donuts. See earlier entry. It’s going to be a while until I can return to Dunkin Donuts after those babies.

Lunch was at Specialty’s. While it may be easy to write this place off as any other sandwich shop, you’d be a fool to do so. With Intelligensia coffee and a really impressive selection of fresh-baked sweet treats and loaves of bread, the place makes a name for itself as a bakery alone. But do try the sandwiches – most are served up on crispy, fresh ciabatta bread. My favorite is the BBQ beef – just the right touch of spicy chipotle, and as expected in Northern California cuisine, really fresh veggies tucked right in. There are several Specialty’s locations throughout the Financial District and SoMa, and they also have delivery segways (!!!), which I think are absolutely brilliant.  Afterwards we strolled down The Embarcadero along the bay to the Ferry Building, hit up some cute downtown shops, and napped in the sun at Union Square.  Heaven.

And finally, the much-anticipated dinner at La Folie. I was in good company, dining with my Chicago buddy Ian, my Chicago-turned-San Francisco buddy JoEllen (shameless plug, she works at Blue Bottle Coffee Company, which is pure magic in a cup), and my SF buddy Josh.   Executive Chef Roland Passot and his wife Jamie have been running this place - a giant in the SF French dining scene - since 1988. In a city thick with amazing restaurants and citizens of discerning (ahem, pretentious) taste, it’s been said that the five-year mark is the make-or-break for San Francisco restaurants. After 21 years, Roland’s got to be doing something right. And it’s all in the family - Roland’s brother Georges is the restaurant’s sommelier. The stairway to the office is peppered with pictures of Chef Passot with various celebrities who have dined at the restaurant, including one photo from a Sheen/Estevez family party of some sort. Emilio, if you’re reading this, je t’aime!

Anyway, this place has been so solid for so long that my review would be just another to add to the cloud. And I know I wouldn’t be able to do it justice. I spoke with Executive Sous Chef Patrick Kelly prior to our dinner to arrange a custom four-course menu for each of us, complete with wine pairings. With his typical wink and smile, Patrick nodded and said, “We’ll take care of you.” With the exception of the amuse bouche courses and soup course, we each got something different with each course. Incredible. We were thoroughly stuffed and delighted.

Recently La Folie opened a spot next door, the La Folie Lounge, with French cocktails, wines, a solid beer list, and gourmet bar noshes by Chef Passot. While waiting for our table, Ian and I noted a popcorn popper behind the bar. Don’t let this typical low-brow snack food fool you – La Folie Lounge serves up white truffle popcorn. Insta-high-brow.  Be sure to holla at Ted Ellis, the manager - he makes some killer recommendations, and he’s even thrown a few of his own drink recipes on La Folie Lounge’s signature list.

Anecdotes of note: my favorite amuse is Chef Passot’s signature salmon “lollipop” – house-cured salmon and mascarpone with herbs rolled up on a stick, topped with Passot Roe made by Tsar Nicoulai Caviar. When our third amuse was served, an incredible frog leg with frog leg cream soup, I jokingly asked our server Ben, “They’re not doing the salmon pops tonight?” Not too long later, while anticipating our first course, we instead got a surprise fourth amuse – the salmon lollipops. SO sweet, no? I sent my love with Ben back to the kitchen.

Roland also has a dessert that, on occasion, I fall asleep whimpering with the sheer agony of not being able to have one whenever I want.  It’s an Edam Cheese Souffle.  Edam cheese?  Souffle?  Topped with bacon?!  Too good to be true, I know.  Oh, but it is.

Enjoy the La Folie photo tour.

I started my day with some of these really interesting fiber-packed crackers I picked up on Clement St called “Digestive.”  Indeed they were. Then I took a nostalgic run through the Fillmore and Pacific Heights-ish area. Shamefully, this was the one and only day I convinced myself that running during vacation was ok. Regardless, I got to swing through two of my favorite spots – Mollie Stone’s (her produce is so-so and a little overpriced in my opinion; I’m really more interested in the hot bar – rivals Whole Foods’ – and cheese selection. Oh, and the awesome cookies) and Café Murano, my favorite neighborhood coffee joint from back in the day. Once I got a free mango bellini “refill” from my favorite barista (baristo…?) which earned Murano a spectacular Yelp review.

Got ready for the day ninja-style (Steel and Steph slept through my entire morning routine) then we all started the day with Steph’s recipe for Dirty Girl Scouts, another standing SF tradition from my living there. Hot cocoa and peppermint schnapps. Lethal at 10am. We giggled our way to SoMa and grabbed lunch with Steel and Robert at Primo Patio, this Caribbean place Steel wouldn’t stop raving over. It was a great atmosphere, and one of those places that really only makes sense in San Francisco – all breezy, patio seating in the middle of SF’s tech-nerd startup ‘hood (the Wired office is right down the street). My lamb pita with mushrooms and this orange chipotle-like mayo couldn’t have been better. Succulent (can I say “succulent?”) slices of lamb with perfectly sautéed mushrooms. So simple, so so delicious. Guava mimosas all around, and I was out cold during the entirety of the drive to the Jelly Belly and Budweiser factories.

That night was dinner at Ducca, where my friend Yonas, who I met during my La Folie days, currently works. A fairly new spot conveniently located in SoMa at 3^rd between Market and Mission (in the Westin Hotel), definitely check it out if you happen to be attending a conference at the Moscone Center or staying at any downtown hotel. There were perks to knowing someone on the inside, but I am confident that the quality of service and caliber of food preparation and presentation is consistent with each guest.

I had spoken with Yonas several times prior to the dinner and agreed to give him free reign over what I was served. He was giddy with the prospect of creating a custom menu. Ducca’s style is Northern Italian cuisine with a California influence. The modestly sized wine list reflects the hybrid of cuisine style, and with surprisingly zero input from the peanut gallery, I went with a Santa Rosa Pinot Noir – California love! Before we got to that, our server appeared with a complimentary bottle of Prosecco and a platter of assorted cicheti. Yes, please. A toast to Yonas, San Francisco, and friendship (aww) and we dug in.

Of the cicheti, the arancini (crispy risotto fritter, sottocenere) and polpettini frittini (crisp lamb meatballs, cipillini-orange marmellata) were my two standout favorites. A couple more amuse-type dishes, and out came the soup course – spiced rodetto di pesce – rock shrimp, Manila clams, true cinnamon. As opposed to false cinnamon, I guess. After that we were given a pasta course – a creamy linguini with shrimp, clams, poached egg (drool), and a light olive oil. Getting stuffed.

Next up, main entrees. The endless stream of food was getting to me, but so was the Pinot. Heightened unawareness, check. Most of my dining comrades had ordered a pasta course for their main entrée. I had no choice in the matter, as my dining experience was in my buddy’s capable hands. He chose to give me the Tai Snapper with asparagus and rock shrimp. I thought I had “won” the best entrée course, and then I tried Josh’s order - Halibut Cheeks Stracotto (Seppia, Black Polenta, Jalepeno & Mint marinara – also had garbanzo beans). So perfectly tender. One-upping bastard.

My descriptive powers and my ability to remember ingredients were severely impaired by the looming food coma, so the desserts are less fresh in my memory. Pictured below are three kinds of deliciousness – I do remember the ice cream sandwich was served with a mascarpone ice cream that lives on in my taste buds’ fondest memories, and the white blob with fruit and pomegranate foam on top was a really incredible Greek yogurt that Steph refused to let go.

Ended the night with a surprise drop-in visit to my lovely former coworkers at La Folie. I relayed our incredible experience at Ducca to Patrick Kelly, the Executive Sous Chef and managed to frame it as an extended challenge. I had reservations at La Folie the following evening. I knew I was in for a treat.

“Quick” nightcap at Rex Café across the street with a couple of the Folie crew and my other good friends, and we called it a day.

Even with my penchant for fine dining [read: pretentious locally-produced organic products with an outrageous upcharge, smothered in butter and served with anything described as a reduction make my toes tingle], I had to balance my favorite “trashy” noshes (after all, I am a Waffle House girl at heart) with what I already knew would be upscale meals at my friends’ restaurants. Luckily, my perception of San Francisco (food AND people?) has always been just that – a balance of simple and greasy but simultaneously legitimately organic and needlessly arrogant.

My challenge for myself during this trip – I absolutely had to hit up my old favorites from the year I lived in San Francisco, but I also had to try out all the new places my friends had been raving over. After realizing I forgot my giant bottle of Tums at home, I was a little disheartened, but refused to buy another and determined to commit to my challenge.

After my arrival (feeling gross, if you remember my previous entry) Stephanie and I hit up Clement Street first. San Francisco’s Clement stretch from Arguello to 25^th Ave is a really intense intersection of several Asian cultures that tends to overwhelm the Arkansas girl in me. Over 25 major languages are spoken here, and it’s not uncommon to hear Cantonese mixed with Spanish at the Korean donut shop. Within a few blocks you may encounter a Malaysian restaurant, Chinese bakery, Korean BBQ, Japanese sushi bar, and Thai noodle shop. Naturally, there are some misses…it’s best to go with a local.

We went to a takeout dim sum joint around 6^th Ave (Steph, if you’re reading this, leave a comment with the name of the place; I forgot to write it down) where Steph in flawless Cantonese ordered up a beautiful selection of sweet and savory bao (yet another foundational food of friendship). Our favorite was dai bao, literally translated, “big bun.” Stuffed with mushrooms, chicken, sausage, and egg, this thing was killer.

That night the bustle of the day hit me hard and we ended up ordering in for dinner. Nothing to turn your nose up to, though. My old standby, Extreme Pizza, may be nondescript and a little cheesy (figuratively), but serves up some really terrifically creative and balanced pizzas. The crust isn’t in your face because it’s not the star of the show – that honor is reserved for the fresh ingredients packed on top. Torn between the Paia Pie (Canadian bacon, Hawaiian pineapple, Mandarin oranges, fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella, and cheddar) and the Boar’der (Shredded pork marinated in a really tangy BBQ sauce,red onions, fresh cilantro, cheddar, and mozzarella), we struggled with indecision for at least half an hour before landing on the Boar’der.

Oh, and if you’re ever around a BevMo, it’s worth it to check out the five cent wine sale they have every once in a while – buy one bottle of wine, get the second for five cents. Um…that’s cheap. I picked up a fruity Malbec from BevMo that was decent, but didn’t really command my attention.  Regardless, paired with the Boar’der, it was a great way to end the night. And I did it just like old times, falling asleep on Steel and Steph’s couch while the room bustled around me. Ah, the smooth ramp-in to a weekend of gluttony.  Much more to come.

My first post!  Daunting.  Hi.  [must find a picture of me waving awkwardly] I’m Shane’s big sis, of sorts.  Food adoration is in the blood.

After nearly missing my [eternal] flight from MDW to SFO (I hold Denny and Paul partially responsible), sleeping through BOTH snack/drink services in-flight, and feeling generally gross (unshowered=NFC), seeing my friend Stephanie at the arrivals terminal ignited a feeling akin to the last scene in Home Alone when Kevin’s mom finally made it home.  Cue orchestra.

My half-delirious conversation on the ride back to the FuMa’s Western Addition penthouse -

Steph: So what do you want to do while you’re here?  Do you have a list? [Steph's a kindred spirit - she lists almost more than I do]

Denise: …I ‘unno…eat?

Steph: [I swear, with a glimmer of a tear in her eye] I’ve missed you so much.

I tried my best to hold off for a while and write a Master Entry of San Francisco Food Highlights, but my current food journal is getting a little out of control.  Yesterday was full of Dirty Girl Scouts, guava mimosas, lamb pita, tours of the Jelly Belly and Budweiser Factories in Fairfield, capping the day off at Ducca - think Northern Italy meets California - where my good friend and Ducca cook Yonas gave us the treatment - a custom menu, complimentary Prosecco, antipasti treats, this incredible cinnamon-savory soup with Manila clams and rock shrimp, the works.  Another day, another entry.

This morning I decided you guys NEED to know about Dynamo Donuts.  Staying true to the root of our friendship - donuts form the foundation of our love - this morning Steph, Robert, and I hit up this walk-up kiosk in the Castro for some breakfast delights. Our spread (after much deliberation): 1 bacon apple maple donut, 1 Meyer Lemon huckleberry donut, 1 vanilla bean donut, 1 hot cross bun (stuffed with vanilla pastry cream).  One murky, burly coffee.  Two perfectly sated ladies.  And Robert.

Tonight, I’m meeting up with SF pals Josh and JoEllen and Chicago pal Ian, and my sweet boys at La Folie are planning a dinner extravaganza to remember for us - 4-5 courses + wine pairings.  Stay tuned for more San Francisco culinary adventures, mixing my penchant for pretentious dining with my affinity for ghetto gourmet.

One last shameless plug.