Friday Favorite: A Bowl of Ramen

For those cold winter days...what could be better than a bowl of hot ramen. Here are some pictures from a recent "Ramen Rave" I was at:

And the final product!

So good! I can't wait to have another bowl of Richie's ramen.

Friday Favorite: Boating Lights

A pretty photo of some boats in the San Francisco Bay. This was taken the night they won their last home game of the World Series!

Friday Favorite: Pretty City Garden

Anyone know where this garden is? A few hints. It's in San Francisco. It's in the back of a business, and kind of hidden.

I absolutely love this little sunny oasis. And sorry folks, if you don't know where this is, I'm not telling! I want to keep this little gem all to myself. :)

Friday Favorite: Giant Horseradish

I've taken A TON of photos at the Farmer's Market before. But this one is one of my favorites. Check out the fresh horseradish. Makes me think of my friend's Bahram and John. We've got grand plans for a dinner party--and horseradish is going to have a role in it! Can't wait!

Friday Favorite: Mr. Toad

I was walking to work the other day, and I saw this. I was cracking up SO hard.

Then I saw in my favorite neighborhood blog, Mission Mission, this post. Turns out someone else had also seen it. They had snapped a photo (which I'm borrowing for this post since although I was laughing hysterically, I didn't actually stop to take a photo), and cleverly coined it "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride". Haha.

Oh just another day in SF...

Friday Favorite: Pretty SF Shot

Just another gorgeous shot from San Francisco. I've lived in the Bay Area my whole life, and there are still days when I'm just taken aback by how pretty this city is. This shot was taken in an alley in North Beach--just so simple, but oh-so San Francisco.

Friday Favorite: Elephants on Parade

My fellow San Franciscans, where is this?

One of my favorite outdoor drinking spots in the city! Here's to summertime!

Friday Favorite: Urban Hike Home

On a recent urban hike, this home caught my eye. It looked so idyllic. So warm and inviting. Cottage like. I love the little gate. And the potential of having a small garden too!

Guess I've always been a sucker for these picture perfect homes. Maybe someday I'll have a home like this. But until then? My little home is pretty darn perfect.

Scenes from an Urban Hike

On my recent urban hike through San Francisco, I was surprised by how many different types of architecture there was!

This was practically a palace right out of the Mediterranean



I loved this little earthquake cottage!



GORGEOUS! Almost like a cabin in Lake Tahoe



And one of my favorites? This bush outside of this house--they were the perfect little round balls. Straight out of a Dr. Seuss book

I loved checking out all that SF had to offer. So many different types of homes. I can't wait to explore a different neighborhood on my next urban hike!

Urban Hike--Liberty Hill

What a great way to kick off the new year. I was suppose to be hiking in Marin with some friends today, but that was canceled due to the recent rains and muddy paths. So instead? I talked two of my good friends into an urban hike instead! And it turned out to be a beautiful morning for it.

Check out these photos from the various parts of our hike on and all around Liberty Hill today:

And to think--all of this, within the SF city limits. I saw SO many cool spots this morning, and all relatively close to my house. There were some intense hills, some stairs, some STEEP downhills, and lots of curves and turns. It was an AWESOME hike. I can't wait to explore more of the local hills, neighborhoods, and sights. Thanks to Jason and Eric for the great company and especially to Eric for leading us on this great hike. When are we going again??

Smallest Big City

San Francisco isn't large in terms of area. But when it comes to population? Latest figures show that there are more than 808,000 people living in our little 7x7 square mile city. It often surprises me that for as small, geographically, as the city is, and as much as I'm out, I don't run into more people. I guess it's the abundance of restaurants, bars, and things going on around the city. There's so much to do at any given time! Or maybe because there really is almost one million people here. Or maybe it's that little thing that is a continuous theme in my life- timing.

Well, recently, I've been running into people. Lots of people. And all in my little Russian Hill neighborhood. That same little neighborhood I'm leaving in just a matter of weeks.

From running into people in a small neighborhood restaurant, to seeing friends drive by as I'm enjoying a glass of wine at night, to see a friend from work walking by the restaurant I'm dining in. When did this start happening? I’m leaving a neighborhood where I’m surrounded by friends. Friends around the corner from me, just down Polk, just up Hyde, and just over on Gough. And umm. Not to mention my sister and uncle minutes away. And I’m just talking about my close friends. I am surrounded.

This is my comfort zone. But just as I’m getting comfortable in my little neighborhood (some may say I’ve been living in a small bubble), it’s time to leave. And life must go on. But I have a feeling all these run-in’s has been the universe’s way of asking me "You sure you wanna move?" "You really want to leave Russian Hill?"

Yes. I am ready to move. I am ready for a new ‘bubble’. I am ready for new run-in’s (already have had one in my neighborhood—one day as I was there checking out the apartment for one last walk through, I ran into an acquaintance grabbing a cup of coffee at the local coffee shop.) It’s time for new surroundings. To start thinking about who’s in my new neighborhood. And preparing my self for new run-in’s and pleasant surprises.

Home Sweet Home

A phrase we've all heard before. But what does it actually mean to you? Me? My home is an important place to me. A place that's more than just the four walls around me. A place that I feel safe. My retreat. The place my family and friends can congregate in. A place to relax and to be myself.

I've live in my apartment for more than five years. It's been my home. My retreat after bad days, bad break-ups, and the death of my mom. It's also been a place of celebrations. Christmas trees, birthdays, dinner parties, girlfriend's over gossiping, romantic dinners.

I am excited, proud, scared and nervous to announce...

I bought a condo. And escrow closed. I officially own a little piece of San Francisco. On a beautiful tree lined street, I will have a place to of my own to call home.

So! As my entire life savings has been invested into this little place, I'm sure the months to follow will include many more home cooked meals. And many more nights when I'll have friends over and we will be staying IN!

Here's to the next chapter of my life...one that includes trips to hardware stores, saving pennies for the mortgage, DIY projects, and many new memories in my new home.

Saying Good Bye to Russian Hill

I've been so lucky to be a Russian Hill resident the past 5 years. The hills, the ding ding of the cable car, the classic SF Edwardian style buildings, views of the water and both Golden Gate bridge as well as Bay Bridge.

It's a great neighborhood-with a real neighborhood feeling. Little boutiques, coffee shops, and cute restaurants on tree lined streets. I've got many friends that live nearby, and are literally only minutes away from me. Making it easy for that last minute invite for dinner or that much needed post work glass of wine. And not to mention, my sister and uncle are both blocks away from me. My uncle always joked that if I needed anything and yelled loud enough, he could actually hear me.

What more could a girl ask for?

A place of her own. And so, as I began the search for a new place to live (and quickly put an offer in on a sweet spot!), it hit me. In a matter of weeks, I mayno longer be living in this place I've been calling home.

Second to my childhood home, this is the place I've lived in the longest. This is the last apartment of mine that my mom saw. And thinking back now to that last move-in day, I'm not really sure how I'm going to do it this time without her there. I know she'd be excited for me. I know she'd love the new apartment, and be so happy that I had a place to call my own.

I'm trying not to dwell on all of that. And while there's still a long process ahead of me and I may not even be moving, I am instead focusing my energy on spending as much time in my neighborhood as possible. Gotta duck into two of my favorite shops, Belle Cose, Limonia and Picnic a few more times. And MUST buy a few more old used books from Russian Hill Bookstore. And let's not forget the Jug Shop! Wonder if Chuck will miss seeing me in there as much as I'll miss going in there?

Must hit up my last Taco Tuesday at Nick's Crispy Tacos, sushi at Okoze, another meal at the bar of Pesce, coffee and brunch at Nook, take-out (including the pork fried rice and HUGE potstickers) at U-Lee, bubbles outside on a sunny weekend day at Bell Tower, ladies night at the Cafe Meuse, ice cream at Swenson's, ZA pizza, wine and eye candy at Amelie, burger at Polkers...the list could go on.

Russian Hill. It's a great little neighborhood. And it's been my home. Some of the best spots in the city. The upside to all of this? Hopefully I'll have a new neighborhood to discover!

Saturday Market Funny

There aren't even words to describe this. It's been at the Ferry Building Farmer's Market the last few times I've been there. It's a pop up 'screen'. And yes, it's a banana. And a monkey. With little holes cut in where a 'face' and 'arms' might be. Weird, right?

Well. That's not all. There's a guy playing the guitar and a guy planning a saxophone that go with this. They stand behind the 'screen', and stick their heads in the 'head' holes. And then there are little 'arm' holes too. So that they can stick their hands through and play their instruments.

It's beyond bizarre. I can't really explain it, but just had to snap this photo and share.

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out

Poor Ralphie. Now I know how he feels.

I’ve been thinking about getting a scooter for some time now. And have always wanted to zip around the city. I know that there are dangers associated with riding a scooter. And I know that if I plan to drive one, I need to be careful. But little did I know that the immediate reaction for so many people the second they heard I was going to get a scooter would be “Oh my god. Be careful.”

Who did they think I was? Some irresponsible kid? Yes. I will get motorcycle safe shoes, jacket and gloves. No. I won’t wear open toed shoes when I’m riding. And umm, no. I won’t be drinking and driving. Thank you very much. Safety classes? Yes. I’ll definitely sign up for that. Insurance, driving permit. Of course!

I know many of my friends and family members are all concerned for my well being. I appreciate it. And I love them all for it. But I am not just jumping into this. I’ve done my research. And I’m going to do it right. I’m going to take the right steps and take every precaution. I’m not rushing into anything and hoping on the scooter before I’m ready.

I want this to be a good experience. I want my little scooter to change my life—to make things easier for me, to make grocery shopping and every day errands a little bit easier, to minimize the amount of time it takes me to get from one neighborhood to another and maybe to save some money on cab fare. I’m not going to do anything to jeopardize this!

In the meantime, I hope my experience turns out a little bit better than Ralphie’s…because as the loyal fans will remember, he did shoot his eye “out”.

Beep! Beep!

I’ve always envied those people zipping by me on their little scooters. I look on enviously as I’m cramped between two people on the MUNI bus. Or I longingly eye the one parked across the street each weekend day when I think about the errands I have to run and just how easy it would be if I could scoot around town, neighborhood to neighborhood picking up all the things I need. Or even more recently, with a full batch of jam successfully made, I wanted to have my own little jam delivery service. Delivering sweet jars of goodness to my friends.

I know that riding a scooter can be dangerous. But I also know there are precautions you can take. And that I can take some classes and learn tips and ways to be safer. And hey, I can't not do something just for the chance of getting hurt!

After some initial research it appears that my two best scooter options are the Vespa ET and the Yamaha Vino.

Both aren’t too high off the ground (since I’m not so tall!) And both seem to be relatively light and good beginner scooters. Thoughts from anyone? Preferences? Positive or negative experiences with either?

Friday Favorite: A Secret Garden

Recently, I was walking through the Bernal Heights neighborhood, and came across this wonderful garden. It was an amazing plot of land, on a slope, filled with veggies and flowers. It was incredible.

I found myself so jealous. It would be so amazing to have a little plot of land in the middle of this great city. I'd love to have my own little veggie garden! Tomatoes, corn, peppers, squash, fresh herbs, and of course tons and tons of fruit trees. it would be so great!

Oink Oink!

I love pork. My favorite meat, hands down. Well, I recently had the chance to attend the Cochon555 event in San Francisco. A pork lover’s dream come true. Basically, in an effort to raise awareness about heritage pigs, five chefs were invited to attend and cook a 100 pound heritage pig. In addition, there were five vineyards pouring wines to pair with the delicious porkiness. Cochon (little pig). Five pigs, five chefs, five vineyards. Is it all coming together?

Some food highlights from the event?

Chef Nate Appleman from A16 and SPQR made a pork skin sushi roll! And umm, porchetta. Chef Ravi Kapur of Boulevard served a trotter cake, a slider, and oh, the best thing ever: a porky bacon rice crispy treat. Chef Ryan Farr had a chicharrone taco and a yummy corn dog! I missed out on the lard cookies (bummer! Think this means I’ve got to get myself out to Humphrey Slocomb soon for the Boccalone lard shortbread cookies!) Chef Stefan Terje from Perbacco made an awesome blood brioche sandwich. So good. There was also pork shoulder with polenta. Winner of the competition was Chef Peter McNee from Poggio. What could beat trotter tots? Oh, maybe his apricot crumble with lard and bacon.

Another highlight from the event?

The piggy decorations and the full pig that was butchered in a demonstration!

All in all, a really fun evening. An evening of swine and wine and lots of good friends.

San Francisco Snob

I think I've officially become one. I am a San Francisco snob. A person that just thinks San Francisco is the greatest city ever. That we do things better here. And that life doesn't get better than this. When I'm in other cities, I compare everything to San Francisco. I find myself saying things like "Wow, I can't believe they do that here!" Or "In San Francisco, it's better."

I was recently in Sacramento for a weekend. A city that I have lived in. A city that I actually even enjoyed living in. But that was before. Before I lived in SF and before I became a snob.

I found myself wondering, could I live there again now? And the answer is clearly no. And actually, I don't even think there are many places I could live in (at least not in the United States!)

I found myself thinking about it. The food scene in San Francisco is better than most (maybe only rivaled by New York City.) I was talking with a friend from Sacramento and some how the topic of octopus came up. Apparently it's hard to find on a menu in Sacramento. Not the case in SF! And while I wouldn't say octopus is a favorite food, or even an ingredient I crave, I like seeing it on our menus. And I like ordering it. And more importantly, I like having it as an option, and having people being open to seeing it on the menu. And ahem. Octopus? That's just the minor leagues. If Sacramento can't even handle octopus, where would I get my Head to Tail dinners and such?

The people in SF are relaxed, without being too relaxed. We've got our hippie history, but have also grown a little beyond that. (Those reasons are probably why I wouldn't be able to live in Portland, a city that each time I visit, part of me wants to stay in.) We're not too intense, and fast paced (which is often my complaint of NYC.) We've got access to great farmers, vineyards...which means the freshest and best fruits, vegetables, and wines a gal could ever ask for all year around (which is more than I can say for even New York City!)

We've also got culture. From theater to music to museums. I'm fulfilled in SF.
But there's also culture in other ways. I can get really good and authentic ethnic food in SF. Peruvian? Check. Good Indian? Southern or Northern Style? Cause we've got both! Great Mexican? Yup. And just about anything else! I also have access to my Chinese grocery stores, and restaurants. I love the little enclaves of Chinese immigrant neighborhoods where I can feel at home. These are the places I can find my Chinese vegetables or ingredients when I'm looking to cook some traditional foods. I love it.

My latest 'thing' has been to travel to other cities that I've looked down upon (in terms of food, culture, and my ability to live there and love the city) and try really hard to like the cities. I'm trying really hard to give them a chance, and am in fact asking friends, to 'win me over'. Show me why your city is so great. But so far, no matter how hard I try, they just don't compare.

I was sitting in a restaurant in Miami recently having dinner with two friends. One friend was trying his hardest to tell me all the great things Miami had to offer. But as soon as we started talking about the great things SF had to offer, he took out his iPhone to show me photos from a recent trip he had made out there. Just the photo of the fog over the Golden Gate Bridge was enough to bring a tear to my eye. As I flipped through the photos, I found myself more and more homesick for my city by the bay. It's a sign, don't you think?

Happy Easter

I don't really celebrate Easter. I don't connect with the religious aspect, and growing up, it wasn't really anything we celebrated. If anything, it was more a sign that Spring was here. That my birthday was near.

Well, a few weeks ago, I was doing my normal morning routine and getting on the cable car and heading to work. One of my favorite conductors was on the cable car that morning, Ben. As usual, we made some small talk, the usual chit chat. About work, life, his wife and family. The usual. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Then, out of no where, he reached into a bag he had, and gave me this:

It was an early Easter present. He said for brightening up his day. I thought it was sweet (as I awkwardly held a big gold foil wrapped chocolate 'bunny'). My sister thought it was a little creepy. What do you guys think?

Hope you're all out enjoying this gorgeous Easter Sunday!