San Francisco is a BIG city. Much larger than one would imagine. Thus, it has a lot of different neighborhoods, often divided by just a few blocks. My first internship was in the "China Basin" down by the ball park and my new one is in the "Financial District," a few blocks south of Market. Technically, both are identified as SOMA (South of Market) but the blocks that separate the two define them a lot. The closer to Market St. you get, the more lively you get. The closer to AT&T you get, the calmer you get (and more homeless people); well except for Game Days.
The thing that I am discovering about San Francisco is that it is one of the most diverse food places in the world. In fact, several magazines in the last few months have been featuring it as the "new food capital of the world" (please don't quote me..I just remember this statement, not the publications it was in). So naturally, a food loving gal like me would want to look around. Of course, as much as I love food, I am notoriously picky. Like crazy picky. But even if I can't find something on the menu I like/would eat, I do like to go in and see what it's all about. My new office is surrounded by TONS of little restaurants.
My first morning, I didn't have to be in the office until 9 am and had been told that no one really arrived before then. So, because I didn't have a key and didn't want to stand next to the door until someone came, I went to the cafe next door to get some breakfast (I am horrible about eating before I leave the house these days - 6:30 am breakfast makes this girl hungry again by 9 am). It was adorable and called Bay Area Gourmet. I didn't notice until later that day that they had a huge "GRAND OPENING" sign fluttering in the ever-present San Francisco breeze. It was interesting because they offer "personal drip coffee." Now, I am a coffee drinker, at all, but I found this process fascinating. The lady would scoop a cup full of coffee beans, put it in the grinder, slip a filter in a little holder with the beans in it, place a cup underneath and then pour boiling water into the coffee grounds and whisk them up, thus letting the very freshly brewed coffee drip right into the customer's coffee cup. I had never seen anything like it. And yes, I know, I am verrrryyy easily amused and fascinated. But hey, it's all about new experiences.
There is also this sandwich place called The Toaster Oven, who specializes in, you guessed it, toasted sandwiches. And I tried one the other day and even with my pickiness, I found it delicious. There's also a soup place across the street called San Francisco Soup Company, that is literally a door a counter and a menu. That's it. No seating area, hardly any room inside for any type of line. I must try it. My coworkers frequent there and the soup always smells delicious. Also, Specialty's is around the corner on New Montgomery. Now, I know this is a chain but I really hadn't been there much and have now fell in love with their chocolate chip cookies (only gotten them once..but oh goodness they were good.) What interests me so much about this particular location is the people who work there. The few times I've been in there (my agency orders snacks from them for client meetings), it's always all guys working and most of these guys look like the total opposite of what you would expect from a bakery worker. Specifically, they're all covered in tattoos and would look more comfortable in a store, well any other place than a bakery. But they are the nicest guys! Gotta love SF :).
So, since I have pulled away from writing about the books I have read (I swear I'm going to pick that up again), I will write about the little food places around my new place of employment.
Enjoy! And come visit me in SF!!
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