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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Arugula Salad with Blood Oranges, Beets, Avocado and Almonds

Arugula Salad with Blood Oranges, Beets, Avocado and Almonds

I went to the Bay Area last weekend and had the most lovely time! The next few posts will be about the trip.

While there, my friend Sumi made the most delicious salad for lunch for me and my other UCLA roommate, Diane. I'm lucky to have such wonderful friends - you know the ones where you pick up just where you left off no matter how much time there is between visits? Sumi and Diane are those friends (although I promise to visit more frequently so the stretches aren't so long!)

Sumi went to the Ferry Building's Farmer's Market and found great citrus including blood oranges, and golden beets. She adapted a vinaigrette from a Martha Stewart cookbook.

We microwaved the beets to save some time. I love golden beets - they are sweeter than red beets, and they don't get all over your hands...an added bonus.

Sumi picked up some Asian pears...my favorite. Asian pears are perfect for a snack tray because they don't brown like regular apples.

The salad was a reflection of California agriculture! Everything was grown locally: arugula, avocado, blood orange, almonds, golden beets.


Because Sumi is just kinda awesome, she had some poached pears in the refrig. These are Harry & David pears too - awesome! Topped with caramel sauce, ice cream and/or herbs...lovely finish to our delicious lunch.

Friends.
Food.
That's all you really need.

After lunch, we went for a hike (Diane and I call it that) or walk (Sumi's description) in Golden Gate Park...passing the de Young museum, Stow Lake and getting to the top of Strawberry Hill for some fantastic views of the beautiful city and county of San Francisco.

Salad ingredients:
Arugula
Almonds
Avocado
Golden beets - peeled, cooked, and diced into bite-size pieces
Blood oranges
Shaves of parm cheese

Vinaigrette:
1/4 c extra virgin olive oil (depends on preference)
1 t grated orange zest and 1 t grated lemon zest
1 T - 2T orange juice (depends on preference)
1 t lemon juice
3 T red wine vinegar
1/2 small shallot, mince
Salt & pepper to taste

Whisk together. Taste and adjust seasoning. Dress salad. 

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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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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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Vik's Chaat, Berkeley, CA

Sorry I haven't been blogging in a bit...summer has been crazy busy. I'm finally catching up on some posts and baking again. So, here goes a few more restaurant posts from my trip to the Bay Area. Yeah, I think this is Restaurant Week #523. - mary

My friend Pam and her adorable 9 month old son, Toby and I went to Vik's Chaat in Berkeley for some Indian food. We've been before...but now they have a new location.

This is the most beautiful sign around. The new Vik's Chaat location has a freaking parking lot. Awesome!

Vik's new location has the same system of ordering at the counter and then listening intensely for your name to be called over the speaker. The acoustics are kinda bad for it, and the speaker usually holds the microphone too close to his mouth, and there might be an accent. Somehow, we all get our food. And now they have different sections for dosa, special of the day, etc.

Pam and I got the Masala Dosa. I love the Dosa. One of the best Indian dishes on the planet.

I love how big the dosa (thin savory crepe) can be!

This vegetarian dosa is filled with potatoes and curry. Pam and I seem to always get the same thing so I can't really tell you about the rest of the menu! :)

And the best thing about Vik's? Cute little Toby, of course! How cute is he?! I wanted to put him in my bag and bring him home. Hopefully, Pam will come down soon for Toby's first visit to the Los Angeles area. We have some great India food here...so, please come down! Next up, a trip to Ici in Berkeley for some ice cream and sorbet!

Restaurant:
Vik's Chaat
2390 4th St, Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 644-4432

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