People ask me why I travel so much. Apart from the expected thrills and discoveries of the unknown, a huge reason is that many of my closest friends live outside of California. We all found each other during college, but as school ended, each left to pursue his or her dream in Chicago/Austin/NYC/DC/Not SF.
On one hand, having such an extended network gives me the opportunity to hop in a plane pretty quickly. On the other, it reinstitutes that internal struggle of whether this is the city for me.
It isn’t the first time this whiff of displacement has occurred, and so I’ve learned that the best way to get back on my feet is to rediscover SF. Lucky for me, the arrival of a close friend for the weekend meant I could play tourist and tour guide in the most San Franciscan of ways.
When I play tour guide in SF, you are going to eat. A lot. There will be lots of brunches and subsequent walking around. There will be dessert(s). And this time of year, there will be figs (check out the photos to see just how many figs there were).
One great thing about the city is its nuanced neighborhoods. Most of the year, we stick to the places we know, but this time around, I stretched my boundaries and took my friend from the Western most section of SF to the Eastern most. Within its 7×7 diameter, we got to see just why everyone comes from all over the world to be here. From pistachio cocktails to underground wrestling to seaside bars to Sutro Baths to cafes that Bey + Jay eat at (twice!), this is a packed city of competition, challenge, and potential. Here, we push all the buttons and see what happens. And then we salsa dance.
This weekend, I got to view the city through the eyes of a tour guide again, and man, it’s pretty damn amazing.
Of course, don’t forget the figs. What fig recipes do you recommend?
Neighbourhood eats at Maven
The Dogpatch was the hood of choice on Saturday, starting with brunch at the awesome hideout Piccino
Goat cheese, basil, walnut, and fig crostini – The first of many figments of the weekend (see what I did there?)
Leather mason jar koozies – so SF
This is Courtney. She loves figs as much as I do. We are basically dating.
His and hers beers at the Ramp
¡Suavemente!
Things that happen in SF – Amateur wrestling matches held in warehouses
Nothing is complete without Sunday brunch, this time at Nopa
O hay figs – what shall I make with you?
Last fig photo I swear – but how amazing does that financier from B.Patisserie look?!?!
Lands End on a beautiful cloudless day never looked as fantastic
Hoodrat in crime for the weekend – come back soon!
Creme brulee and brown sugar ginger caramel. Do I need to say from where?
Oh, you live in SF too! Yay!
I love living in SF, but it is SO expensive, and the people seem to get less and less friendly. It is beautiful here though, isn’t it? And it’s so, so walkable.
O hay there! SF power! Let’s get together soon and eat! Shoot me an email at skaiwarkar@gmail.com 🙂
Figs on figs on figs! <3 So glad we could nom hard with Dedashi this weekend!
He is just the best, as are you!
would you give me a tour when i visit? I would love to explore SF and eat a lot.
YES! When are you visiting again?!?!