Hello all -
Apologize for the lack of posts recently. We are preparing for a big trip and have been a bit busy with that. Look for a return to force in January of 2010!!
Thank you all!
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Tamal de Queso Estilo Corunda
Nopalito
(1) 415 – 437-0303
306 Broderick Street
(between Oak and Fell)
San Francisco, CA 94117
Open Hours:
Daily 11:30 am – 10:00 pm
Nopalito, the smaller offshoot of Nopa, presents local and organic Mexican cuisine with authenticity. There are plenty of vegetarian options and the meals are exquisitely tasty without being heavy and greasy. The ultimate test is passed by the house hot sauce provided with each dish; peppers are peeled then charred, giving a delicious and gentle smoky flavor.
The service was friendly and fairly attentive. We loved the fact that they took our cell number so we could wander the neighborhood while we waited for our table. This is so simple I’m amazed I come across it so rarely. I poked my head into Nopa (about 2 blocks away) and it looked like the large upscale eatery that it is- next trip to San Francisco!
The dish that surprised us the most was the Sandia con Chile y Limón. Which is slices of sweet crimson watermelon, chile de arbol, chile guajillo and lime. This is one of those combinations that I never would have thought of, but makes oh so much culinary sense.
The Tamal de Queso Estilo Corunda (Housemade masa, queso cotija, grazzini squash, poblanos, tomatoes, manzanos chiles and crema) was another soft delight. The masa really contains a quality that speaks for dedication.
The dish that we ordered twice was the Quesadilla Azul de Hongos (Blue corn tortilla, mushrooms, corn, poblanos, jack cheese, queso fresco and salsa de molcajete). The mushrooms were deep and flavorful – and this combined with the smoked hot sauce was stunning.
Mexican cooking is on the west coast is an entire step above that on the east. We really enjoyed the variety and effort that was put into bringing this wonderfully diverse deliciousness to our plates. Nopalito a true taste of contemporary culinary artistry!
Corn Salad
(above photo © Nopalito)
Quesadilla Azul de Hongos
Sandia con Chile y Limón
Hazelnut Powder Cookies
(above photo © Nopalito)
Acme Bread Company
(1) 415 – 288 2978
1 Ferry Building, Market Shop #15
San Francisco, California 94111
www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com
Open Hours:
6:20 am – 7:30 pm Monday – Friday
8:00 am – 7:00 pm Saturday – Sunday
Founded in 1983 out in Berkley, CA by Steve Sullivan, Acme Bread was a pioneer on the Artisan Bread Culture. Now 26 years later with two bakeries in Berkley, one in Mountain View and one in the Ferry Building downtown San Francisco, dedicated customers are still enjoying the flaky joy that is warm bread.
While visiting this commercial handmade bread company, it is hard to make a choice once you reach the counter! There is a perfect selection of the sourdoughs that San Francisco is famous for (it is because of the humidity and climate that the starters take so well). Acme uses French and Italian techniques and only organic flour to create their magnificent selection of Viennoiseries ( croissants, Danishes, Brioches) and Breads (Ciabatta, Focaccia, Baguette, Sourdough, Swetbread, Rye, Pumpernickel ……).
The Ferry Building itself is a wonderful foodie enclave. If this were in another, more commercial city it would be housing all sorts of chains (read Au Bon Pain, Starbucks, Sharper Image, etc ..). I was expecting another lost, culturally significant locale- a la Fanual Hall in Boston or the South Street Seaport in New York. I was so happy to find all local food producers and a climate that defines San Francisco eating: width, breadth taste and locale. Bravo.
Today – August 9th, 2009 marks the 1 year anniversary of our 1st post. One I put together on my changing experience through the years of arriving at El Dorado Int’l Airport in Bogota, Colombia. Starting from the early days when the airport was full of money changing hustlers and I was a green eyed gringo new to the continent!
10 years after that first visit to Colombia, I’m happy that we have landed on 5 Continents! (Oceania & Antarctica here we come!)
Our love of travel really comes down to the joy of seeing the “how” of different world views. Views that are expressed in thought, architecture, cuisine, art, stories, …
We started writing this blog as a result of consistent requests asking for recommendations and advice on travel and dining. We are continually adding, subtracting and revisiting our mental list. Always striving for openess to all things regardless of their apparent status – and try judge everything based on their own merits. Thus we are equally excited by the kebab shop in working class Istanbul that puts out the most delectable of grills as we are of the Palais Rhoule outside of Marrakesh (just imaging a 5 star hip-hop video set! LOL!).
Thank you for reading this and please drop us a line anytime !
Ethan & Ondina Rosch
hello@ablogvoyage.com