Happy Trails, Part 1 San Francisco is full of culinary delights

Sorry I have been away for so long!

I was visiting friends and wine shopping in Sonoma, Calif., where I once lived. My wife and I started out in San Francisco for two nights and then headed to Sonoma for a four-night stay. There is a lot to cover here so I will have to write about the trip in two entries.

San Francisco –– what a food lover’s paradise. There are so many food options everywhere you look.

My favorite spot is the Ferry Building in the Embarcadero area. It sits right on the bay and offers a good selection of restaurants and shops to buy meat, vegetables, bread and other culinary related items.

My wife and I always start out by having lunch at Hog Island Oyster Company. This time, we were able to sit outside due to the unusually warm weather. We started off by ordering two-dozen Kumamoto oysters on the half shell. These are by far my favorite oysters; they are small, crisp and sweet. These oysters come from Tomales Bay, which is about 40 miles north of San Francisco. They are so fresh, and I have never found a better option. Believe me, once you’ve had these, you won’t want to eat any other oyster.

After we consumed the two-dozen on the half shell, we ordered two baked varieties. The first was Harissa, which is a spicy sauce made from chiles, garlic, cumin, coriander and olive oil. The second order was prepared Bagna Cauda, which is a sauce made with olive oil, butter, garlic and anchovy. Although very tasty, these proved to be not as good as the last time we visited. I just prefer the traditional Casino and Rockefeller style they have served in the past.

Hog Island is a very busy restaurant, and there is almost always a wait for a table, but they will pour wine or beer while you wait, and it is definitely worth the wait.

If you are ever in San Francisco, I highly recommend that you go to Hog Island for lunch and then spend the rest of the afternoon just walking through the Ferry Building. There is so much to see: fresh fish, meats, a caviar tasting room, you name it. If it has to do with food, you will find it here. I can literally spend two days in the building.

When you’ve finished strolling through this historic building, stop off at the Slanted Door, also located in the Ferry Building. This renowned restaurant is very difficult to get in. They book reservations two months in advance, and usually fill up fast, but you can sample some of their delicious offerings by taking a seat at the bar. They offer very creative and delicious cocktails, and the appetizers are stellar.

If you are lucky enough to be in San Francisco on a Saturday, the Ferry Building hosts one of the largest farmers market I have ever seen in the United States. There are vendors selling breakfast sandwiches, sausages, traditional Mexican cuisine and many other kinds of prepared food.

Of course, no farmers market would be complete without fresh produce, and it is abundant here. Fresh vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, herbs, floral bouquets and homemade canned goods, just to mention a few of the stands we visited. Many of the residents of San Francisco attend the market to get their weekly produce, and what better way then right from the grower? The freshness of these products is apparent.

We decided to have a late breakfast at the market and chose the Mexican option. I ordered the chilaquiles. Crisp tortilla chips sautéed with chili sauce and chorizo usually served with sour cream and eggs. It was amazing. My wife opted for the tamale filled with swiss chard, toasted pumpkin seed pesto and cheese. It was equally as good. They also offered fresh fruit puréed beverages. I had the raspberry lemonade, and my wife had the cantaloupe/cucumber drink. Both were delicious.

This proved to be a great start to the day, as we had tickets to see the Chicago Cubs go up against the San Francisco Giants that afternoon. Now I would really be missing something if I didn’t tell you about the food at the AT&T Park. Have you ever had sushi at a baseball game? Well, you can here. Of course, they offer the traditional hot dog or Italian sausage sandwich, but pair that with an order of garlic fries and wash it down with an Anchor Steam and you’ve really got something good!

Next week I will treat you to Sonoma.

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by Ryan Borchelt