Sunday 9 December 2012

Pigeon takes flight - San Francisco, CA Pt. 2

Z. Cioccolato - Russian Hill, SF

After my seafood blow-out at Sotto Mare,  I wandered up the street and the most HEAVENLY sweet smell began to waft my way. It was coming from a fudge and sweet shop called Z. Cioccolato. The large Tuscan-looking candy store stocked every flavour Salt Water Taffy, some house made ice cream and the most decadent layered fudge flavours I'd ever seen. The jolly guy behind the counter spoiled me with free samples, so much that I was too sickened to buy any. The Peanut Butter Pie Fudge was the king among deluxe fudges - A strata of Oreo cookie pie crust, with peanut butter and chocolate fudge, sticky caramel, and fluffy marshmallow (!!)
Peanut Butter Pie Fudge
 Just when I thought customer service could not impress me any more, the clerk scooped me a bag of hot caramel popcorn, gratis! Unbelievably good. Impossible to stop eating!

Free caramel popcorn
Z. Cioccolato
474 Columbus Avenue San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 395-9116


The Plant Cafe Organic - Marina, SF

To balance out all the fudge feeding, the following day I made a beeline for The Plant Cafe Organic in Marina. The Plant are the heart and home of organic, sustainable and free range food. The menu is heavily skewed in the way of vegetarians and so healthy and delicious. There are a few around town but this one at Marina/Fort Mason is the best. Its more relaxed than the other branch in the hectic Financial District, and the food is just that little bit more carefully prepared. I lunched on their signature PLANT veggie burger, $10.25 and asked for it bun-less. The veggie pattie was moist and flavoursome, made from lentils, mushrooms, beets, cashews & bulgur wheat. Served with a side salad and house-made pickles, tomato, grilled onions, lettuce and vegan aioli.

PLANT burger, house made pickles, onions, relish and salad, without bun, $10.25

Plant Cafe Organic on Urbanspoon



Saturday 8 December 2012

Pigeon takes flight - San Francisco, CA Pt. 1

Since late November I have been eating my way through the U-S of A. If you've been following my Facebook page, you would already know I'm going to be travelling around for three months and you will have already had a (vicarious) taste of what i've been noshing on. 

First stop was San Francisco, which is arguably one of the foodie capitals of the world. SF are spoilt for quality eateries, especially in the way of Mexican. Californians are passionate about organic and whole food produce too. It's hard to walk into a cafe or restaurant without finding the word 'organic', 'natural' or 'local'.  So without further ado, here's the best of my eats and treats in my favourite American city so far...

Gracias Madre - Mission, SF

The lowdown: a hip bar/restaurant with festive drinks and fresh tasting Cal-Mex that focuses on organic seasonal vegetarian produce.

Butternut pumpkin, black beans, kale, rice


Gracias Madre on Urbanspoon

Yoppi Yogurt - multiple locations

The lowdown: Voluptuous, creamy self-serve frozen yogurt sold by weight, that boasts zero fat and luxurious flavour. The cake batter flavour was the business. Classic chocolate was dreamy too.

Lots of naughty toppings!

Cake batter, chocolate, vanilla and peanut butter fro yo with Reese's bits and mini m&m's

Sotto Mare -  North Beach, SF

The low-down: Tucked away just of the main drag in Little Italy is this old school Italian Seafood eatery. The walls are clustered with nautical bits and bobs and nostalgic photos of the family who run the place. The seafood is SO fresh and SO generous. Dining alone, sadly I could not take on one of their famous Crab Cioppinos so I went for the grilled Sand Dabs, $19. At least eleven pieces of perfectly grilled fish fillets were plated in front of me. I managed to stop myself at eat five, and still felt stuffed.



Grilled Sand Dabs, $19

I surrender!

Sotto Mare on Urbanspoon

Until next time....TSP