A City's Farmer's Market

Wow!!  The farmer's market in San Francisco is simply Wow.  Where to start?!?!

We took the ferry over from Sausalito, and landed at the Ferry Building which is the old port of San Francisco.  Immediately, we were sucked into the crowd, happily swept away into the experience.  There are easily 100 stalls of produce, baked goods, spices, jams, oils, flowers and cooked food.  Walking up and down the aisles was a sensory kaleidoscope of colors, shapes, smells, textures and tastes.

There are samples of almost everything, and we walked around Costco style.  The most interesting thing  I tasted was a Bodega Goat Cheese sweet spread called Natilla.  It is made from goat's milk, brown sugar, molasses, butter and vanilla and it resembled a caramel or dulce de leche sauce.  The stall attracted a collection of Francophones, perhaps because the cheese maker was speaking French, and so we commented and critiqued en francais.  Even the Parisiens had never seen or tasted anything like it.

While I didn't buy much (carrying produce around San Francisco all day wasn't in my plans), I thoroughly enjoyed sampling the goods, talking to the vendors and taking pictures.  Thank you to my fellow photographer (with the much nicer, fancier, larger camera) for the advice- "Try to find interesting angles, don't just take pictures of the food", and the subsequent surprised compliments- "Oh, you have some nice shots and a really good eye.  Keep it up" when I showed you my pictures.  The lesson learned?  Don't judge a photographer by her camera.

Here is a taste of the market. The pictures don't need much explanation and are intended to capture the visual experience.  I hope you enjoy the sights as much as I did!

The views from the ferry ride across the bay.

Sampling a variety of pears... The Asian pears are my favorite.  

 Who knew that brussel sprouts grew on stalks?  I didn't. 

Salad bar?

Kettle corn- a must have at every farmer's market

In my opinion, wheatgrass juice tastes like a freshly mowed lawn smells.  Pleasant, but not desired on one's taste buds.  

The flowers added some bright hues to the already beautiful color palette at the market.  

The lavender smell added a Provencal vibe

Kids were enjoying the tasting as much as adults.

A visually stunning take on the classic bagel, lox and cream cheese (but on a baguette) 

After all that food, who wouldn't be hungry?  What a perfect place to sit and enjoy a snack.  

As if that wasn't enough, we went inside the Ferry Building and perused the permanent collection of  specialty shops and restaurants.  

There are mushroom shops.....

And tea shops...

And cheese shops...

And chocolate shops...

And candy shops...

And of course, the all-day-long-awaited Blue Bottle Coffee shop.  

For a foodie like me, it was the perfect way to spend a Saturday morning.   Time to go home...

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One (Food) Day on Earth 10.10.10

When I started my food blog, I had no idea how much it would influence my life.  I know that may sound like an over-statement but its true.  I started reading other blogs, both food and non-food related and I discovered a world of blogging artists.  I am constantly amazed by the creativity and talent that is out there, and owe much of my inspiration to my virtual friends.  Through the blogging world I discovered 10-10-10, One Day on Earth- a worldwide project to document the same day, all over the world.  The contributors are mostly documentarians, photo journalists and artists.  I checked out some of the videos and photos that were uploaded so far, and I warn you it is totally addictive.  If I were one of the lucky ones invited to add my one day on earth, it would of course involve food and it would look something like this...

Sunday brunch.  One of my favorite activities.  On this Sunday, we went to Crown & Crumpet, an adorable tea house in San Francisco's Ghirardelli Square.  It was full of cutesy, girly, pretty things and totally fun.  The tea menu was extensive and our pot of white tea with fig was probably the best tea I've ever had. The "tea-for-two" (or three in our case), is served with an assortment of mini-sandwiches, pastries, scones and crumpets.  I admit it, it was my first crumpet ever.  Here's how I would describe it: a denser, butter-filled, cooked-on-one side pancake.  One surface is smooth while the opposite side is bubbled.  We ate them with lemon curd and fresh strawberry jam.  

We tried 3 different teas, one black, one white and one oolong.  

The black tea was named Paris-blended by a Francophile, this riche tea is infused with tidbits of bergamot and vanilla, reminiscent of one of the most popular blends found in Paris.  Unique and chic!

The white tea was called Fig De Blanc.  The description in the menu was quite intriguing.  Imagine the ripe taste of Mediterranean fig and delicate white tea from the Fujian Province combined in one cup.  A delicacy for the finest of palates.  

The last tea was Lavender Oolong.  France meets Taiwan with this luscious lavender scented oolong.  Subtle but suave just like their respective origins.  

The sandwiches were an assortment of egg salad, chicken pesto, sun dried tomato, grilled zucchini & goat cheese, and the classic cucumber with cream cheese.  

The chocolate truffles were infused with Earl Grey tea.  Delicious!

After tea, we watched the Blue Angels fly as part of San Francisco's Fleet Week celebrations.  Here are a few shots.  I like the ironic juxtaposition of going from drinking tea in a pink girly restaurant to watching fighter jets fly over our heads, their deafening engines roaring.  

 After the show, we were ready to eat again.  I warned you, this is my food day on earth.  Being the all wise, all knowledgeable food goddess, Kitchen Em suggested we go to A16.  A16 is an Italian restaurant in the marina district named for an autostrada originating in Naples.  We opted for a table at the counter facing the open style kitchen, allowing for a full view of the action and a full culinary show.  It was unbelievable!  We talked to the chefs.  A lot.  We asked about the ingredients, their cooking methods, how they got there (the pizza chef showed up every day for 2 months and worked for free until the Executive Chef hired him), and all about the wood burning oven.  It is 800F and cooks a pizza in 90 seconds!  Yes, 90 seconds.  And if I may say so, it was the best pizza I have ever eaten in my life.

Our view into the kitchen

This pizza, the best of my life and cooked in only 90 seconds, was a classic Margherita.  Topped with tomato, mozzarella, grana padano, basil and olive oil.  

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Chicken Soup for the Soul

I was sick last week.  And for me that means two things.  Sleeping and chicken noodle soup.  Chicken noodle soup is my go-to comfort food, whether I am healthy or sick.  I could actually eat it every night and I think there were a few months back in 2007 when I did just that.

The first time I made chicken noodle soup from scratch was about 8 years ago when I came down with a terrible flu.  I got sick shortly after receiving a flu shot, and although the health professionals claim there is no connection, I am convinced it was the cause.  I was stuck in bed for days, and when I finally emerged all I wanted was chicken soup.  I bought a whole chicken, cut it up, and boiled it with carrots, onions, celery and dill.  I then strained the broth, pulled all the chicken meat off the bones and then added it back with a fresh batch of carrots and celery.  Lastly, I added noodles, more dill and voila, chicken noodle soup!  It was a huge success and tasted just like Grandma's soup (my Grandma on both sides- there is lots of chicken soup talent in the family).

While that recipe is delicious, it takes major commitment.  So of course I found an easier way.  I call it shortcut homemade chicken soup.  I start with chicken broth (preferably organic so its as close to making it yourself as possible) and then add onions, carrots, celery, noodles and dill.  Let it boil, let the flavors blend and serve.  Much easier, eh?

So last week when I was sick I made the short cut version.  And when that ran out, I ate store-bought soup.  And when that was gone, I ordered noodle soup from my local chinese restaurant, Tommy's Wok.  And after all that soup...my cold is beat.

Here is my short cut, quick and easy, almost homemade chicken noodle soup.  

mmmmmmmm.......

When there's no time to cook, Safeway's organic line is a great alternative.  

Technically this dish isn't on the menu, but when has that ever stopped me?  

"Can I get some chicken broth with the Hong Kong style noodles, chicken and veggies?"  

I've ordered it so many times that I can now just refer to it as chicken noodle soup and they know what I mean.

To quote Campbell's soup....mmmmm, mmmmm, good.  

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