Tartine Bakery

A week of good food and quality time with family and i'm finally warming up to sf. this was also the first time it didn't rain the whole time. i'm still not thrilled about 60s all the time weather. i say bring on the summer heat!

Our last day in sf we visited Tartine Bakery at 7am before our flight. There was already a line out the door so it had to be good right? let's just say it was a sweet way to say bye bye and see you again sf.

good Morning Bun

it was like a cinnamon bun but so much better (i don't like cinnamon buns). i loved the crispy sugar icing. A bit too heavy for me to eat a whole one in one sitting but special enough to come back for more.

bye little nephew!

what a cutie.

600 Guerrero Street, San Francisco, CA • 415.487.2600 • www.tartinebakery.com

Market Lunch

overall, the food was tasty, but i think the atmosphere of the market really makes the experience rather than the food.

the menu at Market Lunch

the atmosphere at eastern market really is unique

crab cake sandwich

pretty good balance of crab meat and breading!

a bite into the crab cake

i don't like too much mayonnaise in my crab cakes. this one was just right on the mayonnaise

cod sandwich

not too dry, breading wasn't too thick, but not that much meat on the fish filet...

fresh cut fries

pretty tasty, but nothing exceptionally special...

225 7th St SE, Washington, DC • 202.547.8444 • http://www.easternmarket-dc.org

Sushirrito,

I want to put you in my pocket and bring you home.  I like your glorified hand rolls, simple menu, and unique flavors.  I will visit you again next time I'm in sf. 
  

Latin Ninja (salmon, mango, avocado, asparagus, radish, meyer lemon, pickled red onion, cilantro, green onion)

It was fun biting into all that sushi.  I can eat one right now.

Three Amigos (tuna, salmon, hamachi, tobiko, avacado, asparagus, cucumber, radish, green onion)

still good, but not special. i wish they gave wasabi and soy sauce.

59 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA • 415.495.7655 • www.sushirrito.com

Chez Manelle

Chez Manelle claims it is the first Tunisian restaurant in America! That seemed worth a try! Not knowing what Tunisian cuisine was, my coworker recommended couscous.

Lamb Couscous with Sausage

The couscous was good, the lamb ok (not the biggest fan of lamb), but the sausage? Delicous! So juicy!!

2313 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA • 703.522.2140 • www.chezmanelle.com

Little Star Pizza

It was pizza day and we found little star on our walk around hilly sf.  I regretted our choice the moment we walked into a spacious yet empty restaurant, but we stuck with it and had an enjoyable lunch.

Caprese Salad

very fresh and perfectly seasoned.

Large Deep Dish Pizza (half vegetarian, half little star)

the toppings were really fresh, and the crust was crispy with a pleasant texture from the cornmeal.

Little Star Pizza (spinach blended with ricotta and feta, mushrooms, onions, garlic)

all 3 of us liked the little star pizza more. the vegetarian was kind of blah.

400 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA • 415.551.7827 • www.littlestarpizza.com

Hog Island Oyster Farm

hello again San Francisco! It was fun visiting family and friends again. My brother inlaw drove us about an hour and a half to Hog Island Oyster Farm. They brought us there years ago before I fully appreciated raw oysters. We did the whole bring your own picnic, relax, shuck your own oysters, it was great. Recently I started enjoying oysters a lot more, so I requested a revisit to Hog Island Oyster Farm. Luckily we made it there just in time for 4 of us to slurp up 2 dozen atlantic oysters. definitely not enough, so 50 more to go please. :)

 Tip: if you decide to bring home unshucked oysters, a shucker would be just dandy.

Medium Atlantic Oysters

$1 fresh oysters.  awesome! 

no shucker = hammer + screw driver + wood chisel + blisters = still worth it

20215 Highway, Marshall, CA • 415.663.9218 • www.hogislandoysters.com

Tacos El Chilango

Meet Jesús.

Jesús owns a taco food truck in the Courthouse area of Arlington, serving Asada, Lengua, Chorizo, Al Pastor, and Pollo.

Lengua (beef tongue) taco!

Deliciousness! Tenderness! Each taco comes with chopped onions and cilantro with cucumbers and radishes on the side. Sorry the picture is half eaten... I couldn't contain my excitement!

14th Street between N. Quinn and N. Queen Streets, Arlington, VA • 571.236.0355

my dear Yuraku,

Please don't ever go away. This is the best value sushi I've found anywhere.   This was roll night, but usually we order a sashimi deluxe boat as well.  Here are some of my favorite rolls!

Spider Roll (top), Punk Rock & Roll (bottom)

eek. I'm getting so hungry posting this.  If you like tobiko, there's a mouthful for ya!

Alligator Roll (top most), Spicy Tuna Roll, (middle), Salmon Roll (bottom left)

Sorry, don't have a good picture for the alligator roll, but it's shrimp tempura topped with eel and avocado.
I'm not usually crazy about spicy tuna, but look at the generous portions!
Also why you can't go wrong with the salmon roll if you like salmon like we do.

Nabeyaki Udon

We've made it a habit to end our meal with a bowl of tasty udon here.  mm. satisfaction.

Some kind of lobster roll? (on the house, after our meal)

Salmon Head (freebie appetizer)

oh yeah, did i mention the awesome value here?  you get salmon head, some veggie sticks and dip, salad w/ ginger dressing, steamed egg and miso soup (see below).  I think what you get for free is supposed to depend on how much you order.

Steamed Egg, Miso soup (freebie appetizer)

this reminds me of one of my favorite steamed egg dishes my mom used to make.
i must request this next time i go home..

19773 Frederick Road, Germantown, MD • 301.515.7448 • www.yuraku.com