Sandbox Bakery, Bernal Heights San Francisco

Sandbox Bakery, San Francisco

My friend Sumi and I went to Sandbox Bakery in the Bernal Heights area of San Francisco. The owner, Mutsumi Takehara was trained at La Farine and Chez Panisse...with time at Rubicon and Slanted Door. With that past, I knew it would be delicious.

The bakery has a lovely display of yummy pastries. They sell single drip coffee as well as some savory foods too. See the full menu here (prices I quote are from a January 2013 look at the website menu).

Ginger scone. If there is a ginger scone in the bakery, it is going into my bag. I love ginger scones. This one was very light and tasty. I would definitely buy it again. $2.00

Top: Melon pan. This is a very light, sugar topped brioche. I could probably eat a dozen of these...but they are brioche so that probably isn't the best idea :) $2.25

Bottom: Curry pan. Oh, this is yummmmmy. You can find a curry pan at many Japanese bakeries and it is an easy way to get a bite to eat. $3.00 (online menu, but from the photo I took, it looks like it is more than $3.00 now - anyway, worth it)

This is the Negi-Miso Kashi Pan. It is challah bread with miso paste and green onions inside! Challah and Japanesey flavors? Lovely, and my favorite item from our little visit. $2.25

If you are in the Bernal Heights area of San Francisco, be sure to try out Sandbox Bakery!
Sandbox Bakery
833 Cortland Avenue, San Francisco

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Milk & Cookies Bakery Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Milk & Cookies Bakery Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

I borrowed the eBook of Milk & Cookies Bakery cookbook from the library. So high tech to get an eBook from your library...does your library offer this service? You should check it out if they do. It's convenient and allows you to check out eBooks in your pajamas, and browse a cookbook before purchasing it.

This cookbook has several "base" recipes followed by "add-ins". This chocolate chip recipe starts with the Vanilla Base and has two types of chocolate added. You can also use the Vanilla Base to make Milk Chocolate Orange Cookies, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies, and Dark Chocolate Toffee Cookies.

The vanilla base has oat flour as well as all-purpose flour. It's old fashioned oatmeal pulsed in a food processor until fine.

The chocolate chip has two types of chocolate: bittersweet shavings or curls, and semi-sweet chunks (I used semi-sweet chips). The directions say to blend it in the KitchenAid until streaky, then scrape the dough onto a floured surface and finish "mixing the dough by using a light kneading motion, working until the dough is just blended." After, you blend in the chocolate with a wooden spoon.

I was unclear if I was supposed to knead the Vanilla Base together, then put it back into the mixer or bowl to mix in the chocolate with a wooden spoon. I ended up blending the whole thing on the counter and made a crazy mess.

My cookies are smaller...the recipe yield is 2 dozen and I got about double that.

For some chocolately good cookies, try these Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies from Milk & Cookies Bakery.

Recipe: Available on Cooking Channel HERE
From the book Milk & Cookies: 89 Heirloom Recipes from New York's Milk & Cookies Bakery

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The Sycamore Kitchen, Los Angeles

The Sycamore Kitchen

La Brea, near Third Street

Nothing like waking up and having a delicious meal with an dear friend. This morning, JustJenn and I went to The Sycamore Kitchen in Los Angeles for their pastries and breakfast. Karen and Quinn Hatfield, chef-owners of Hatfield's, opened The Sycamore Kitchen in 2012.

If you are in Los Angeles, you should wake up tomorrow and do this same. It was delicious!

Above, it's a buttercup ($2.75). Described to JustJenn as "It's like a croissant but with more sugar..." (that was an easy sell), it was light and flaky. My pick was the Blueberry Oat Bar ($3.25) filled with fresh blueberries and just the right amount of sweetness. The crust was perfect.

We ordered a few items from the Breakfast menu (until 11:30 M-F and 12:30 Sat/Sun). The Cinnamon brioche French toast, grated apple slaw, and whipped creme fraiche ($10) was sinful. It was quite rich and sweet. I could have that slaw on everything!

The Pork belly hash with roasted peppers and onions, russet potatoes, two fried eggs and spinach ($11.50) was delicious. The eggs were perfectly cooked. The savory dish was a nice balance to our almost-dessert french toast.

There are many more baked goods available...a return trip is definitely in our future. They have comfortable indoor and outdoor seating.

They also have a lunch menu that looks intriguing too. I want to try the Chinoix Salad with chicken, cabbage, apple, almond, puffed rice and muddled ginger vinaigrette, as well the sandwiches such as the Double BLTA with crispy and braised pork belly...next time!

They serve Stumptown Cold-brewed bottled coffee ($4.50) that Jenn picked up. I adore the bottle! And a little something for later? Of course! Salted Caramel Pecan Bobka Roll ($3.50).

The Sycamore Kitchen
(see their website for great photos, all my photos were just taken with my Droid phone)
Breakfast & Lunch (8-5 pm)
143 South La Brea (between Beverly and 3rd Street)
Los Angeles, CA 90036

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Craftsman and Wolves - San Francisco

Craftsman and Wolves - San Francisco

I just got back from a mini-break to San Francisco. I have a lovely time visiting friends and family...and eating and eating. I'm going to post about my visit shortly, but wanted to highlight a new place in the Mission: Craftsman and Wolves.

Located within walking distance of veteran Tartine in the Mission, this place adds to the major food scene in the Mission. It's near a cheese shop, soon-to-be chocolate shop, and Abbot's Cellar. Top right is a Cocoa Carrot Muffin - it's really moist.

My friend Sumi and I got six things...for TWO people! :) We just had to try as much as we could! Look at the beautiful pastries and baked goods. Besides, calories on vacation don't count, right? (Don't worry, we boxed up the leftovers)

Chocolate chip cookies (for the flight home...so beats airline peanuts) - don't remember the price, but the peanut butter one is $2.00. The Pain au Cochon $3.75 with cheese and ham is a flaky happy place.

The first thing you notice upon entering the simply designed cafe is the friendly staff. We went very early in the day before the breakfast crowd. Yes, I wake up early for bakeries. We picked our choices and they were plated. Seating includes a long table with stools and a bar (see first photo). The tisane tea $2.50 includes freshly picked spearmint and peppermint leaves...you can see the plant on the counter. Bottom right is a lovely Passion Sesame Croissant $3.50 - super delicious!

The brownie has caramel in the center. Oh, shut up and sit down. It's hella rich. My favorite was the tomato, strawberry and pistachio scone. Perfect combo of a bit savory and sweet. (Sorry, I don't remember all the prices and Sumi treated so I don't have the receipt, but most items were around $3-4 I believe. The Sandwiches are $9 and savory plates are $8-$11.)

Next time, we'll sample the sandwiches and savory plates...if we have any room left after eating pastries!

Craftsman and Wolves
Website : Facebook : Twitter
Yelp
746 Valencia St (between 19th St & 18th St)
San Francisco, CA 94110

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David Schat's Bakery - El Segundo, CA

David Schat's Bakery, El Segundo, CA

This morning, the conversation between my friend JustJenn and I went something like this:

Ring Ring (Yes, young people, people still use phones to actually talk and not just text)

JustJenn: Free for lunch?
Me: Yes!
JustJenn: I need to eat something light...big dinner tonight.
Me: Hum...let me think.
pause
JustJust: Oh! I know! There's a bakery I want to try!
Me: Coming over.

Yes, when we think meal, we actually think bakery.

JustJenn and I went to David Schat's Bakery in El Segundo, CA. El Segundo is one of the South Bay beach cities, between Manhattan Beach and the LAX airport. If you've ever driven up to Mammoth, you may have visited Eric Schat's Bakery in Bishop...my parents always bring home Sheepherders bread. Each one of the Schat's Bakery's are independently owned and operated, but they have a long history of Dutch baking.

I'm excited to have Sheepherders bread in the Los Angeles area now...along with some delicious sandwiches and baked goods.

JustJenn and I both got the combo for lunch...

Classic Turkey Sandwich with fries, drink and a cookie, $12.00

Roasted Vegetable Panini (comes with cheese, but I opted out) with sweet potato fries, drink and a cookie, $11.75. I like that they use 1/4 sheet pans as serving trays!

Rose cupcake $1.50 (very good white cake cupcake). Mini Eclair & Mini Cream Puffs ($1.00 each) - they also have large size elcairs and cream puffs.

It's a small world! We ran into friends who were having lunch...and they totally didn't mind me taking a shot of their Roast Beef Sandwich and Grilled Cheese! (They are friends who understand food blogging - I got to show them my new camera too! :)

Finally, they sell some Dutch treats such as De Ruijter bread toppings. Holy smokes. I looked over, saw the boxes and I was transported back to the early 1990's. My UCLA roommate, Agnes is Dutch and we had a shelf of the chocolate sprinkles and anise and little pink & white ones in the apartment. She introduced me to Nutella...when you had to buy it at import stores. Oh, the Dutch and their bread. Delicious combos. Great memories.

Anyway, if you are in the South Bay (or have a crazy layover at LAX), I suggest stopping by David Schat's Bakery! They have a breakfast menu too...can't wait to try that! The staff was very nice, service was really fast and there is plenty of seating (outdoor seating area as well). There is street parking and they are next to a city parking structure.

David Schat's Bakery
131A W. Grand Ave., El Segundo, CA, 90245
Twitter :: Facebook

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Bouchon Bakery Pop-Up Store - Beverly Hills

Los Angeles - Want a great way to ring in the holidays? Head to Beverly Hills and pick up some Bouchon Bakery goodies...especially the chocolate chip cookies. Get some for yourself and a few for Santa.

Bouchon Beverly Hills Bistro has a Bakery Pop-Up for the month of December. Unlike the other Bouchon restaurants, Bev Hills doesn't have a stand alone bakery at this time.

JustJenn and I headed over to the Bouchon Bakery on Tuesday. She's been to the restaurant and I'm JustJealous.

THREE Chocolate Chip cookies are $6. These are so good I would have paid $6 for one. But three? What a deal and soooo delicious! Jenn picked up the Bouchon Bouchons (bouchons are the chocolate cork, brownie-like yummies) ($9 for the bag) and they were delicious. (We went on my 40th birthday and I brought out my 40th candles to celebrate!)

Our celebrity sighting of the day was Tony Kanal of No Doubt eating at the Bouchon Bar. We didn't bother him, but did take this photo from afar. (Used Picnik to blur out the rest of the people.)

Ahhh. Beverly Hills. I forget how fun it is to wander around the completely manicured spaces. I'll definitely be back before the end of the month!

Bouchon Bakery Pop-Up

Month of December 2010
11:30 am - 7:30 pm
235 North Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

* Updated to add the price of the Bouchons (12/11/2010)

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Ferry Building (Delica & Miette) and Tartine, San Francisco

Holy Smokes. I'm finally at the the end of my Restaurant Week from recent gallivants around Los Angeles and a recent trip to San Francisco. New resolution: Eat, Shoot and Post.

Today, we celebrate eating, laughing, walking around, and enjoying a recently freaking freezing August trip to the Bay Area.

This is 5 year old Julia. I was lucky to spend 4 days with her and her mom, Agnes in SF. We drove up from Los Angeles to visit our RA from the UCLA dorms, Sumi. Julia is a doll - full of life and just so sweet. She is really polite - always offering me a Mentos candy in the car. Her older sister was with Agnes' husband at the Star Wars convention in Florida, so this was one of the first times Julia got her mom all to herself.

Of course, we headed to the Ferry Building on our first full day. And even though there are so many delicious places to eat in the Ferry Building, I always head toward Delica, the Japanese deli. Here are some of my favorite Delica dishes: Wasabi potato salad and spinach sesame salad.

Delica's Roast Beef sushi (so fantastic), green bean miso salad, potato croquette, and a FANTASTIC corn mascarpone salad. Oh, it is fresh and delicious.

I just love this photo of Julia. She's waiting for the bus to take us to the Ferry Building.

See the beautiful cakes and pastries in the Miette display case? Julia had her pick...and she picked...

A bag of jelly beans. She loves pink. She love jelly beans. So naturally she bought candy at Miette!

Agnes and I split a double ganache chocolate cake. Forget the jelly beans.

Inside looks like this.

We also went over to Tartine for some breakfast. All San Francisco mornings should start with a big dose of hot chocolate and butter. I mean, Tartine's croissants.

Tartine's ham and cheese croissant. Agnes said it was delicious!!!

Almond croissant for later.

Tartine's lovely lemon tart. Holy smokes...this is beautiful and lovely.

Yes, a four-day period, I saw Natalie Merchant in concert, and Wicked at the Orpheum Theatre, and ate and ate. Here is Julia all ready for Wicked in her perfect green dress. She knows all the songs too. The family listens to the CD in the car a lot!

Agnes, Julia, Sumi, Diane, Pam, Toby, Shannon - Thanks for a great trip to the Bay Area. Let's do it again very very soon! - mary

Restaurants and Shops, San Francisco:
Ferry Building Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street
Delica
Melitte
Tartine 600 Guerrero Street San Francisco, CA 94110 415 487 2600

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85 C Bakery, Irvine, CA

"Restaurant Week...or a bit longer" continues on the blog. I'm cleaning up unfinished restaurant posts, and sharing all the eating out I've been doing lately. After eating at the Guppy House, JustJenn and I headed over to the much loved 85 ° C Bakery in Irvine, CA.

A few weeks ago, the LA Times Food Section profiled the Taiwanese 85 ° C Bakery in Irvine, California (Los Angeles Times, July 13, 2010). Irvine is in Orange County and I don't pass through it very frequently. However, since the Cupcake Camp OC was held in Irvine, JustJenn and I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

The line is long and they limit the number of people in the bakery. But the line goes pretty fast and you can spend your time thinking about what carbs you are going to pick up! :)

The LA Times article describes customers waiting around for staff to bring out a tray of hot bread. When I was in the shop, a man came out and yelled "Taro Bread" - and I grabbed two purple ovals of goodness!

85 ° C Bakery has a large display of refrigerated desserts and cakes, but I was all about the breads! See JustJenn's earlier visit for more photos, including the famous Sea Salt Coffee.

This place is totally worth the wait. I love, love the Taro Bread. I could eat it everyday...and would probably end up looking like a taro. This bread had a swirl of taro paste in it.

JustJenn said these cakes were yummy so I picked up a strawberry and blueberry jam cake. It wasn't until I was home did I discover that coconut surrounded the cake, trapping in the wholesome goodness. A paring knife sliced off the offending coconut! Hey, a girl has to salvage her carbs. The sponge cake was light...and I could eat a bunch of these.

I wanted to fill my tray with so many other goodies, but I did just eat cupcakes all day so I had some self-control. So, if you head into the O.C., I would definitely stop by 85 ° C Bakery

Bakery:
85 ° C Bakery
2700 Alton Parkway, No. 123 (Diamond Jamboree Shopping Center)
Irvine, CA
(949) 553-8585

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