So here's the first post I drafted while avoiding homework like a million years ago. My computer is going to explode if I upload any more pictures onto it's happy ass so you will have to deal with the lack of pics.
Loving my new city. Austin will always be home, but San Francisco is now on my heartsies list. Here are a few things I have been up to in the short month I have been here:
1. Mission Chinese
So we went here as our first "let's get the heck-a-roo out of the house and stop unpacking" meal/drink/date night. Read rave reviews, waited in line forever, sat at a table with 6 people, sat across from a couple of "straight" guys. Ordered the Szechuan Pickles, Savory Egg Custard, Kung Pao Pastrami and a couple of beers. The pickles came and were 'picy and delish. Loved the peanuts. The custard came and was not spicy but a bit too much roe and not enough texture for my liking...a big bowl of fishy mush. Then can the pastrami. Holy butt burner. I imagine that this is what fire eating is like. Unfortunately for me I really liked the flavor of this hot mess and could not stop eating it even though I could hardly talk, think or breathe. I have never sweated so much at dinner. Shoulda worn my certain dry. Bug discovered that what we had thought were large slices of bell pepper were in fact jalapenos. The next couple of weeks I couldn't get that place out of my head and we headed back. A bit less adventurous this time. We ordered the pickles again, the Thrice Cooked Bacon, the Hainam Chicken Rice and a bottle of bubble (25 dollhairs!) So good. Ate like it was 1999. Love Love Love. The rice was nice and chicken-y and went great with the delish bacon. Loved how rich and yummy this dish was. Super heartsies shout out to Mission.
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Pastrami |
2. Bi-Rite Creamery
True love affair. In the month we have been here, we have ended up at Bi-Rite 4 times already. Fatties! They have this perfect widdle cone with this perfect widdle ice cream that is not too rich and will make you weak at the knees. I never went out for ice cream in Austin. I love the Salted Caramel like I will one day love my children. Possibly more. It is salty, sweet, and pure heaven on a cone. Bug likes the Coffee Toffee which is also delish and has super chunks of toffee in it that get me every time. Go here. Just do it. *Update* They have peppermint cook cream and it whomps Blue Bell's. I hate to say it but it is sadly true.
3. A-16, Chinatown, and Giants Birthday Celebration
For the big 2-7 I decided to celebrate all weekend. We walked around Chinatown Sunday afternoon which was too legit. It was the Autumn Moon Festival and it was cray. There was a parade complete with a huge dancing dragon. For dinner Bug took me to A-16 down the street. Were seated at the bar in front of the pizza oven. Whoa A-16. Ever heard of AC? Sweating my face off. Moved to the back patio. Much better. Had the Burrata, the Bianca Pizza to which we added prosciutto, the Maccaronara, the Peach Crostata and ret ret wine. Burrata and peach thingy...ehhh nothing to write home about. The pizza and pasta on the other hand were so beyond yum. I die. Monday after a long day in big girl school, I came home and Bug said he had a surprise for me. Got dressed and pumped up for a Giants game!! Lets go baseball! So fun! Awesome stadium, great weather and delish hot dogs, peanuts, and 20 dollhair beer. Happy Birthday to me.
4. Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
Best Saturday activity ever invented. Most awesomest farmers market award. Fruits, veggies, fresh butter, cheese, pasta, smoked salmon that you would trade your right arm for, fresh baked bread, any and everything you could ever want.
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4505 Bacon Hot Dog w/ Kimchi and Chicharrones |
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Farmers Market Spread and Bug |
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1st dinner at the new place...Fresh Pasta, greens, farm eggs, mushroom grab bag, prosciutto lardons |
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Farmers Market Brunch...tomatoes, smoked salmon, eggies, potats, Acme Bread |
5. Hog Island Oyster Company
Best Monday Ever. Drove up the 1. Got stuck in hella traffic. California is beyond beautiful. Can't believe it. Drove to Marshall, Ca. Teensy town where Hog Island is. Pulled up to a small building right on the water. Go through a little buffet type line where a guy piles however many widdle oysters your heart desires onto a plastic tray. Head over to the picnic area. Fall in Love. Yes, Love not love. This place is beyond what I could have ever wanted it to be. Set up our picnic of Cowgirl Creamery cheeses, olives, crackers, fancy sauce, beers, and oysters till tomorrow. Bug teaches me how to shuck oysters. CJR=rock star. Best picnic ever. Drove to Tomales Oyster Company after dreamy picnic. If Hog Island was Tiffanys, Tomales would be Walmart. Saw some of the biggest oysters I have EVER seen. Ate a nasty, fat oyster and ran as fast as we could the other way. HIOC 4 lyfe.
6. Delfina
Went here on a Wednesday date night. Meant to get pizza. Dummy CJR went into Delfina instead of Delfina Pizzaria. Oopsies. Waited 30 mins before discovering what I had done. Oh well. Olives, Boar Pasta, Calamari, wine. Yummy not great. Service was supa' bad. We sat in the bar area (still normal prices) and got bar service. Still had a great date and had wanted to try Delfina. Wouldn't go back. Half Heartsies.
7. La Condesa Napa Valley
Bug's friend from Uchi moved to Napa this year to help open La Condesa Napa Valley. Invited us to friends and family night. Drove out to St. Helena... Would like to live here please and thank you. Ordered Guac sampler, Cochinita Pibil tacos, Cangrejo tostada, two different kinds of margaritas (one was pineapple), Chifa ceviche, and the Cafe Con Leche. So yummy. Fun to try all the different guacamoles, ceviche was fresh...liked how it was sashimi style, margs were fun flavors and I think I could have had a billion of them, tostada was crispy and loves me some crab. So fun to get out of the city and meet Bug's homie.
8. Fisherman's Wharf
Walked from our place through Ft. Mason up the road to the Wharf. Wow. Tourist city. Think 6-flags. Gross. Saw the walruses at Pier 39. Got nappy clam chowda and cotton candy. Food poisoning. 5 full days of "why the f did I eat that cotton candy?" Never again.
9. Misson Dolores and Ft. Mason Parks
Mission Dolores trip with champy in hand. Expected a calm end to our day. Were met with a billion hipsters and hippies smoking pot, playing Frisbee, selling special brownies, drinking, boom boxing. Such fun to watch it all. Ft. Mason...4 blocks from our house. Walked the dogs here. Awesome park. Can see Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Downtown, sailboats and basically Heaven. Can't wait to spend a lazy Sunday here with a baller picnic.
10. Gracias Madres
Another "must get out of the house" date. (Not having friends and going from school/work to home everyday makes the bugs go crazy.) Planned to go to Mission but that little B was closed. Saw a line at Gracias Madre and jumped on the bandwagon. Sat at the bar and ordered the Gorditas, the Tamal, and the Tacos w/ Greens, Honjos, and Rajas. The lady had the Sangria w/ agave and the Bug had a strawberry marg. After inspecting the menu we discovered that GM was vegetarian. On the way home the little dummies figured out that it was Vegan as well! So this is Vegan. Me likey! Everything was so good and fresh tasting. Little Mesican lady making tortillas in the back made me a happy girl. It was Mexican food w/o guilt. The Greens Taco was my fav. It was insanely good. Just greens and a homemade tortilla. Die. Another Wednesday night date success.
11. Golden Gate Park
Super duper heartsies. I want to live here. Homeless style. This place is gorg beyond words. Went to the Conservatory of Flowers...sleepy heads didn't make it in time. Sat outside and had a little cheese and beer snacky. Walked around. So many different areas with such different feels. I will be back here until I have explored the whole thing Dora the Explorer style.
So moral of the story...I love to eat and go to the park.