"A Happy Halloween !"

This was one of many MURALS in the allies in the Mission.

I didn't even know Jonathan took this pictures until I got back home.

This is the perfect card I can think of for the Halloween.

HERE IS MORE SPOOKY STREET ART. 

"Art Happened in Conservatory"

By the time we finished seeing many beautiful plants, 
the rain had stopped and 

The sky changed to Beautiful Blue and the Sun came out.  

Perfect San Francisco Picture Op.

During the stay in San Francisco, we had a few rainy days.  
What do you do on Rainy Days in Hilly City of SF ?  Walking with Umbrella will never be an easy things to do in the "City by the Bay"  Do you stay indoors ?  
Go shopping or try to find a great Cafe in the flat part of Down Town ?  
Or, you can go to the Museum ?  But does everybody get same ideas ?
So, one rainy afternoon we asked B & K to drop us off  at the conservatory in Golden Gate Park.  I have been in that park several times in my SF visits, but I never made it to the White Glass Building.  It looks almost like Brooklyn Botanical House or the Conservatory in Washington DC.  
But this one is accompanied by Palm Trees.  That could never happen in those locations even in the Summer Time.
It was Warm & Wet, just perfect for the plants in the building. Some of them are almost unreal, look like they came from another planet..
Don't you always find that we never know how many unknown plants are existing with us on this fantastic planet called " Earth".
And Nature does Big Magic with plants to show us living things can be Fantastic Art Works !

This is not a Turtle-Shell.  It's Tree Bark.

Blue Leaves ?  Does it come from "Pandora" ?

The Orchid Room's entrance was almost like a Chinese Moon Gate.

Did you know chinese loves their Orchids, almost frenetic !

AQUATIC SPECIES

Peruvian Lily.  Jonathan's Grandmother grew these on her front porch.

THREE SPECIAL ORCHIDS

I call this one "Halloween Orchid"

Outside of the Conservatory, there was a Huge "Dahlia Garden"
They said "dahlias" are easy to grow in the Bay Area and will produce more flowers than any other plant relative to its size. Dahlia Flowers are also available in all colors, except Blue or Black.  They are divided into 4 types, Collerette, Decorative, Ball, and Cactus.
I found many huge flowers to small flowers with Magenta, Orange, Purple, Pink, Red, White, and Yellow.  All imaginative colors were there.
Just like they were competing which one is the prettiest!  I couldn't decide which one is my favorite. Who can make such a decision?  They are all so beautiful. 
Here are some of them I loved in the Garden.

I was not the only one who was taking pictures of those Dahlias.

Although he looked Professional.....

"Delicacies in San Francisco"

 Cafe Au Lait at "Tartine" a very popular Bakery in the Mission.

People will wait in line to get Bread & Pastries & Coffee.

We found more customers with attitude than NYC.
Because of that, many locals are not going there any more.

But, if you going to San Francisco you must try this place.

18th Street in Mission is the very best Grommet Street in the City. 

Starting with this shop.

We are back from Vacation on the West Coast.
Our dear friends B & K  invited us to their house for my birthday.  We talked about it when she was here in the Spring for her birthday.  She is a Jewish Girl from New Jersey, so I know what she wants to have when she is in New York.  
So, she & her Husband were working so heard to research what dishes we can't get here.  OH they did, more than ever to satisfy our Huge New York Stomachs during our visit to San Francisco.
Every place they took us for lunch & dinner & even for snack and coffee were all superb.  And had specific things us to try.  For example, when we are walking around their neighborhood "The Mission" she said "I know we have reservations for a dinner in a few hours, but we had to take you to that place over there for one dish & drinks !".  I only needed to chose what I wanted to drink, then perfectly cooked "Carciofi alla Guidea" arrived in the front of us.  That was the best one we ever had outside of Rome.  We started with just one order, but we ended up with 3 more. We all had own plate of Whole Artichokes Deep Fried in Olive-Oil.  
They were almost like a Potato Chips but so much better, and healthier !
We had many days & nights like that.  Believe it or not, we had so many dishes we can never find in New York City.  I think, maybe SF has offer more authentic foods than NYC, especially Asian Food. 
If I decided to leave this city for some reason,"City by the Bay" will be the place to become my next home.....  

Breakfast at "Tartine"

We are lucky that it is only 5 blocks away from B&K's House.

First day in SF, I had to start with 

"Croissant, Almond Croissant, and Cafe Au Lait"

 Excellent Vietnumese Dishes from "Out The Door"

"Summer Roll" and "Dikon & Potato Pancake" are must have Lunch in SF.

My choice of Lunch-Box at "Delica"

Spinach with Sesame-Miso Dressing,

Rice with Roasted Sesame Seeds,

"Kakiage (Japanese Fritter of Shrimp & Mixed Vegetables)"

This is another must visit place in the Ferry Building.

We found "Marshmallows with Candy Cap Mushroom"

Believe it or not, this mushroom tastes like Maple Syrup. 

I never knew this mushroom existed !

My favorite place to visit in San Francisco is the Ferry Building.  

Located at East End of Market Street.

Untill 6~7 years ago this place was just a run-down old building, but it revived as the Foody's Gathering Place.   

Fish Shop, Meat Shop, Mushroom Shop, Cheese Shop, Bakeries, Sweet Shops, Chocolate Shops, Coffee Shops, Chinese Tea House, Catering Place where you can take Cooking Lesson, Takeout Places.  

Anything about Food, It is there.  Better version of "Chelsea Market" in NYC.  

And you can find "Slanted Door" the best known restaurant in SF specializing Vietnamese Cuisine.  But you don't have to get in the restaurant to have their food.  You can try some of their famous dishies at "Out The Door"  

I can go there every day, looking around the building to see something new to try for lunch or snacks.

By the way, twice a week the Ferry Building has a fantastic Farmers' Market.

I always go there on Saturday Morning to see what's new !

Perfect "Carciofi alla Giudea" at  "Locanda" on Valencia Street.

Accompanied by a Chilled Rose.

I felt like we were in Rome.....

"Grilled Yellow Bean TOFU" at "B Star"

"B Star" is a Burmese Restaurant in Inner Richmond.

Pomegranite Ale was refreshing  !

Fanciest "OCHAZUKE" I ever had at "B Star" 

Ochazuke is traditional Japanese Dish "Rice with Tea"

This one came with Fried Egg and Grilled Salmon and Pickled Greens.

I never seen this type of dish at non Japanese Restaurant before.

"Miso Cod toped with Asian Slaw" at "B Star" 

Side order of "Crispy Brussel Sprouts with Furikake"

"Furikake" is a Flakey Japanese Rice Topping.

It will come in many flavors.

Choice of Coffee in SF is "Blue Bottle"

This small stand is the original location.

It all started just off Gough Street in "Hayes Valley"

They make each coffee by the cup, owners got the idea from visiting Japan.

They have one shop in Willamsberg Brooklyn NY,  did you know ?

"Ceviche Verde de Pescado y Calamare" at "Nopalito"

"Nopalita" is Organic Mexican Restaurant.

It came with very crunchy Home Made Tortilla Chips.

Complimentary "Fried Chick Peas" were so good !

"Taco de Pescado al Pastor" & "Enchiladas de Mole con Pollo"

Seared Fish in ancho chile adobo, orange, onion,

cilantro and salsa de morita & tomatillo.

Sauce of chiles, chocolate and nut, shredded chicken,

tortillas, onion, queso fresco and refried pinquito beans.

"Ceviche Verde de Pescado y Calamare" toped with sliced Avocado.

My main course was "Machaca de Camaron con Huevo y Salsa"

Smashed Shrimp, Egg, Serrano Pepper, Tomato, Onion, Cilantro.

with Refried Black Beans and Salsa Lijera de Jitomate.

This was the Best Mexican Food I ever had !

"Fried Thinly Sliced Zucchini" at "Rose Pistola"

In North Beach, well known Italian Neighborhood.

This is the another dish we had to taste on the way to the dinner.

We sat at an outdoor table to enjoy this crunchy very light deliciousness !

On My Birthday 

Breakfast at "Tartine"

Birthday started with famous Bread-Pdding with Fresh Fruit.

I asked Jonathan to get me a Cup, but he came back with a Bowl.

It was just like I remembered, very custardy and buttery.

And, I got extra berries on it, because Jonathan flattered the server...

What a way to start a Birthday !

Lunch at "Pizzeria Delfina", another favorite restaurant of mine. 

We had to start with "Arancini"

Deep Fried Small Rice Ball with Mozzarella Cheese in the center. 

Nickname for these is "Suppli al Telephono (Telephone Wires) ! "

"Broccoli Raab Pizza"

Home-dried Sprigs of Oregano, Peperoncino, Hand-Shaved Cheese 

are always on the counter for you to add to your Pizza.

Thin & Crispy Pie were to Die for !

"Delfina" is the one of other restaurants we must go when we are in SF.

Coffee Break at "Dynamo Doughnut & Coffee"

B & K took us to this shop on 24th Street.

Bitter Queen, Apricot Cardamom, 

Chocolate Spice, Candied Orange Blossom.

Those were the choices for that day.

They didn't have that afternoon, but menu said they have 

Bacon Maple Apple, Lemon Pistachio, Strawberry Earl Grey

Sounds very exotic, don't they ? 

"Duck Confit" at "Q" on Clement Street

This dish takes 16 days to complete. Cherry Sauce makes it so fantastic !

I had to try "Tater Tots"  These were my first.

They were small crunchy delicious things aren't they ?

Our Last Supper in SF

B & K was asking us where we wanted to go for the last meal in SF.  They gave us a few Choices.  We chose restaurant in "Dog Patch"  It is an up-and-coming Neighborhood.  They said up to few years ago there was no public transportation, nobody living there, only rundown warehouses & factory buildings.   

Now, many new medical research centers are building up and residential buildings are following to appear.  Naturally restaurants are opening up.  

They took us to "Poquito".  It was not Spanish Tapas Restaurant, but a Latin American Tapas Bar.  It was not so crowded, so we did't have to scream at each other.  But I had a feeling that as development continue neighborhood will become trendy, therefore this restaurant will become popular.  We will not be able to have civilized conversations in the dinning room very soon.

But for that night, I was so happy not hearing many young people's screaming voices....

 "Habas Fritas, Patatas Bravas, Maduros"

Fried and Salted Fava Beans, Oven Roasted Potatos with Spicy Dressing,

and Caramelized Sweet Platain Strips.

"Red Snapper Taco"

 A Wrapper of Thin-sliced Jicama with pickled slaw, 

and Creamy Salsa and Guacamole.

"Shrimp Ceviche" 

Traditional Ecuadorean Style Shrimp Ceviche with 

"Tostado (crunchy corn kernels)" 

and Popcorn and a wedge of Lemon.
They said that is a traditional way to serve "Ceviche"