Food Trippin'

Coming out of the BART Station and at the first sight of Montgomery Street, my drowsy face clears into a smile that would not be contained. I LOVE San Francisco! The city is a blend of old and new, with a touch of quirk, a lot of wit and all around hip.

At each visit, what I look most forward to is the eating!

Like a kid in a candy store, I ooh and ahh over restaurants and cafes that cater to a multitude of tastes. And every time, I trust my downtown guides Abbey and surfing miracle boy Greg McDonald to take me to the latest and the coolest...

'WICHCRAFT- With branches in NYC and Las Vegas, this casual sandwich service at Westfield Centre on 868 Mission and 5th Streets serves a variety of soup, sandwiches and salads perfect for the on-the-go. The Grilled Cheddar with smoked ham, pear & mustard on cranberry-pecan bread was sooo good inspite of my catch-up monologue. (www.wichcraftnyc.com)

SOUTH- Contemporary Australian and New Zealand food and wine is featured in Sydney celebrity chef Luke Mangan's (Glass Brasserie, Sydney/ Salt, Tokyo) Mod-Oz menu at SoMa's 330 Townsend Street. Chef Josh, formerly of Abbey's Four Seasons Hotel, prepared the most mind-blowing Hiramasa Kingfish sashimi with ginger shallot dressing and crumbled goat cheese, and treated us to yummy Honey Pudding with Pomegranate coulis and Blood Orange segments. (www.southfwb.com)

MAMA'S on Washington Square- Brunch is epitomized by this lovely classic on 1701 Stockton Street that has known hour-long queues. Understandably so, as evidenced by the best Eggs Benedict and French Toast I have ever tasted. Everything from the bread, pancakes, jams, and desserts are fresh and from scratch. (www.mamas-sf.com)



BLUE BOTTLE Coffee Company- Move over Starbucks and Peet's, Blue Bottle is what's in! Priding themselves as artisanal microroasters of organic coffees, this Oakland native takes freshness to a whole new level that borders on impractical. The modern Mint Street cafe was busy and full, certainly the happening place. (www.bluebottlecoffee.net)





The FRANCISCAN- November 15 having been the opening of Dungeness season, this 50 year old restaurant at famed Fisherman's Wharf was chosen as the venue for a mini reunion of old friends. Chucking queme aside, we got down to our fingers and picked heartily at the juicy clams, mussles, oysters... and of course, crabs. (www.franciscanrestaurant.com)