Laura’s back, with her latest commentary on life in our office, a.k.a. WHO TOOK MY STAPLER??
Life at cityseekr: Office Supplies are Serious Business
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Top 5 Valentine’s Day Restaurants in SF
Yes, yes, there’s no question that Valentine’s Day is a much maligned holiday, with adjectives like “consumerist” and “cheesy” thrown around left and right. I understand that, and if you’re of that mindset, this list is not for you. But, if you are one of the people who likes – or even, loves – this day, and likes the idea that there’s nothing wrong with celebrating love and the closest people in your life, please read on. These are my picks for restaurants to spend Valentine’s Day…
FIREFLY
Located on the quiet side of 24th Street in Noe Valley, Firefly has a rustic chic vibe, with a billowing, fabric roof, Mason jar candle holders, and reserved elegance. For Valentine’s Day, they’re going to be serving their regular a la carte menu, but with some special items from both their chef and pastry chef. Also, since Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year, my guess is they’ll be serving up their incredible fried chicken (only served on Tuesdays) – which magically manages to be light while being , you know, fried chicken.
FIFTH FLOOR
For those who want all the bells and whistles, Fifth Floor – aptly named for being on the fifth floor of Hotel Palomar – is offering some major decadence. Starting last week, the restaurant is serving a seven-course menu, which includes dishes like Foie Gras Torchon, Celery Root Agnolotti and Poached Maine Lobster. For the special day itself, Fifth Floor is bumping up their menu to a nine-course tasting menu, giving you and your honey plenty of time to spoil yourselves.
L’ARDOISE
If you’re looking for something more understated, try L’Ardoise (the French word for chalkboard). Sitting quaintly on Noe and Henry, this beautiful and intimate restaurant combines neighborhood charm with heightened ambiance, packaging these traits together with authentic French food. For Valentine’s Day, they are serving a special three-course menu, which includes such options as Tiger Prawn Raviole, Braised Venison Shoulder, Caramelized Tarte Tatin… I’m going to stop because it’s making my mouth water!
FRASCATI
The charm of Frascati begins at its location. Perched on the leafy corner of Hyde and Green, where cable cars rumble past, this restaurant feels like quintessential San Francisco. And since San Francisco is the most romantic city in the world (it is), this is a great beginning to a dining experience. Add to that, delicious Mediterranean-inspired dishes, an extensive wine list (hello, champagne!) and a menu that says, “Cell phones in use will be confiscated and made into soup,” and you are guaranteed a romantic dining experience.
BI-RITE MARKET
Okay, no, this is not a restaurant. But, for those who believe that nothing is more romantic than a home-cooked meal, Bi-Rite Market is a perfect place to buy the goods. With its high-quality meat, cheese, fish, ice cream and prepared foods (if you want to cheat), Bi-Rite Market will start you on your path to creating a special meal for the evening. Don’t forget to buy a pretty bouquet of flowers on your way out.
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While the above are my picks for romantic meals, here are a couple of runner-ups for other kinds of Valentine’s Days…
VELVET CANTINA
This is my pick if you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with girlfriends – or, as Leslie Knope calls it, “Gal-entine’s Day.” With pitchers of delicious margaritas, a fun atmosphere, and tasty Mexican food, you’re guaranteed an excellent night out with your friends, who, of course, are your other loved ones. (Men, you are also free to take this suggestion!)
PIZZERIA DELFINA
My choice if you have children in tow. Pizzeria Delfina delivers the best of all worlds: delicious pizza, a good selection of wine, and a casual, yet graceful, atmosphere. And since it has two locations (one in the Mission and one in Pacific Heights), you have two shots at celebrating your family with style and fresh mozzarella. (A bit cheesy? Sorry. I can’t stop…)
15 ROMOLO
No, you’re right. This is mainly a bar. But, it’s a very good bar, which is why it’s my pick for the place to go if you’ve recently gone through a break-up. You won’t care about cute couples when you’re sipping on 15 Romolo’s Pimm’s Cups. Also, they do have a small but excellent bar menu in case you need to eat something.
I hope that one of the above restaurants suits your Valentine’s Day needs. And if they are already booked up (as these wonderful restaurants are sure to be in demand), they’ll serve wonderfully any other day of the week!
What do you think of Alexa’s recommendations? Let us know in the comments sections or via our Facebook and Twitter accounts!
Photos courtesy of Firefly and L’Ardoise.
Restaurant Review: My Tofu House
Full disclosure – I am obsessed with Korean food. It’s partly because I lived there for two years and partly because it’s insanely delicious and unlike any other cuisine out there.
Of course, it’s not the nicest cuisine to look at:
You’re so delicious, I don’t care that you’re ugly!
If San Francisco has a Korea Town, then the Richmond is it – that is, if a Korea Town was spread out over a radius of several square miles. Luckily for me, many excellent Korean restaurants are within walking distance from my house, and a notable entrant at the top of the pantheon is My Tofu House, a restaurant so Korean that I immediately become overcome with nostalgia as soon as I see the neon lights.
Inside, there are booths, usually filled with chattering groups of Koreans, with dishes of banchan laid out in front of them. My Tofu House specializes in soondubu jiggae, a spicy soft tofu soup. You can get many different versions, and it’s served bubbling in a stone pot and honestly – it looks a little like the devil’s cauldron. You then drop in a raw egg and stir it in vigorously. The portions are huge and the soups are a great deal at just over $10 – this includes a delightful range of side dishes and plenty of rice. You will not go hungry here. Continue reading
Restaurant Review: Cafe Bunn Mi
It’s winter time in San Francisco and that means…that the Richmond and Sunset neighborhoods aren’t foggy. For these few, short months, seasonal equilibrium reigns and I think it is an excellent time for folks to venture to my part of the city. To celebrate being fog-free, I will be writing a series of reviews showcasing the best eating of the Richmond and Sunset. I shall wear my stretchiest jeans.
Cafe Bunn Mi on Clement Street.
Cafe Bunn Mi opened in the summer of 2011 to little fanfare, but has gradually built up a loyal following thanks to its clean, pretty space, friendly staff and its slightly nontraditional take on banh mi. It also serves pho, rice plates, and other dishes, but really…go here for the sandwiches. The freshly baked bread is crisp, but not dry, and it has the right amount of give for an absolute stuffing, which is how Cafe Bunn Mi generously serves its sandwiches.
Fish banh mi.
I am partial to the fish banh mi, which features breaded sole, perfectly cooked, Vietnamese coleslaw and a ridiculous amount of cilantro. I am one of the genetically cursed who cannot bear even the sight of cilantro curling out of my food, so luckily it was in big, easy-to-remove pieces. The pork belly sandwich was a tender, flavor-packed bomb of cubes of garlicky pork belly, boiled egg and coleslaw. Continue reading
Postcards from Disneyland
Cue our second Disney-related post! Ayeon, our intern from Korea, is back with a few snapshots of her recent trip to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park. For her, it was a slice of her childhood.
What’s one place in the USA that people from all over the world can’t wait to visit? I think it’s Disneyland, the happiest place on earth! I was lucky enough to have a long vacation from work over the holidays, so I decided to make it special by spending the first day of 2012 in Disneyland. Disneyland is one of the main reasons why I wanted to come to the USA.
I’d love to introduce a few tips on how to really enjoy Disneyland.
Tip No.1: Enjoy the benefit of the Fast Pass
Disneyland is too huge to experience in only one day. It consists of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. You should take advantage of the Fast Pass system to spend your time effectively so you can visit as many spectacular attractions as possible. First, pick one from the list. When you insert your admission ticket into the Fast Pass machine next to the line for the attraction, it creates a Fast Pass ticket. If you visit that attraction at the written time on it, you could be the very first person in the long line.
Tip No.2: Place your luck on the game table
Forget fortune cookies for today and try luck your at one of the game tables. I think we need to return to the innocence of childhood sometimes, so be a kid again at Disneyland. Play, talk and love! At Disneyland California Adventure Park, there are some game booths where you can fish, shoot a target with a water pistol, or score a goal. You can be a superman in front of many people, so claim the spotlight and win the prize! Continue reading