Category: Sweets

I always get a little nervous traveling to a new city. If you think about it, a lot can go wrong on your trip. Along with not being able to book a hotel, getting lost, and countless other mishaps, you could find yourself trapped in a touristy area forced to eat at an over-priced and under-staffed restaurant, leaving you with a hurting pocket book, a growling stomach, and a bit of resentment.

I’ve actually found out a handy trick to avoid this problem. Whenever you’re headed to parts unknown, travel with a local! I was a bit shocked however, when on a recent trip to Monterey my "local" guide had led me into one of the most touristy parts of the city to get a bite to eat...smack in the middle of the Fisherman's Wharf. "You've got to be kidding me!" I thought silently as she led me down the wharf, which was full of screaming kids running around hopped up on ice cream with frustrated parents in tow.

My "local", who at this point I thought had lost her mind, re-assured me we were eating at a good place, and eventually led me to a relatively simple looking restaurant called the Old Fisherman's Grotto. The restaurant sign said it had been on the Wharf since 1950, so I figured it had to be at least OK. We walked in and I prepared for the worst.

This restaurant is usually packed with tourists because of its location and free samples offered outside, yet to my surprise, despite the commotion we were seated quite quickly. There were two things that I immediately noticed with this restaurant; it had a great view of the harbor from the dining room, and, despite the fact that it was located right on Fisherman’s Wharf and had a great view, the prices were pretty decent. A sandwich with fries costs between $8-$10 dollars, whereas a more sophisticated seafood meal like crab or lobster will cost between $16 and $22 dollars, which considering the location, wasn’t too bad.

I opted for a sandwich and a bowl of their clam chowder. While the sandwich was good, it wasn’t anything to write home about (the turkey was a little dry), but the clam chowder is hands down the best clam chowder I’ve ever had in my lifetime, and I think that means a lot when you take into consideration that i don’t care much for seafood. The bread that they gave you with the chowder was not your run of the mill free restaurant bread either, it was actually quite moist and fresh. If you don’t want your chowder in a regular bowl, they also offer chowder in fresh sourdough bread bowls. My friend enjoyed her half chowder half-sandwich special ($9 dollars), and actually was so full by the time she got to her sandwich she couldn't even finish it. Throughout our lunch the wait staff were actually quite nice, attentive and served us very quickly. Overall it was a pretty good place to eat, and it didn't hurt the pocketbook too bad either.

My only complaint with The Grotto was that there isn’t much to select from on the menu if you’re not big on seafood (lunch wise, I had a choice between chicken and a sandwich). Also, the ambience of the restaurant is not that great (it’s a great place to take your wife for lunch or meet up with some friends, but not quite first-date material.). I would definitely recommend the place to anyone who is a fan of clam chowder and fresh seafood (My local friend told me that the fried Calamari is one of her favorites).

If you’re looking for a quick place to grab dessert, there is also a LOT of ice cream and candy stores within a short distance of The Grotto. I stopped by Carousel Candies on 31 Fisherman's Wharf, which is next door and has prided itself on making handmade fudge, toffee, and chocolates for over 45 years. I grabbed myself a quarter pound of toffee for $5 dollars, and it was so rich and full of flavor that I was actually quite impressed! They even show you part of the toffee making process in the front window display of the store. Even though I think my dentist might hate me after eating a quarter of a pound of sugar, overall, I would have to say my trip to Monterey was a sweet success.

I always try to keep from getting in a restaurant rut, and I’ve worked at this most particularly since I started writing for PlanJam. All too often though, in this gastronomic wonderland we call home, I have to stifle a desire to visit the same spot every single day, because their offerings are just that good. La Boulange was the most recent discovery of that sort, and I have to admit defeat – I’ve visited at least once a week since the first time, several weeks ago. Because where most cafés do at least something right to keep me coming back, La Boulange does it all right, every time. From the atmosphere to the food to the prices, there’s not a thing I would change.

Being a makeup fiend, there are plenty of shops on Union Street that I visit fairly regularly. Usually, I find an excuse to head out for an afternoon of shopping just before it’s about time for a little something, and that something can always be found in this cozy café, regardless of what sort of treat I’m craving. For example, I need my coffee – I know I’m not alone in this. Every morning of mine has to start with coffee. Some of them have to start with a LOT of coffee. For those days when even a LOT isn’t quite sufficient, a BOWL of coffee, also known at La Boulange as a double latte, is the only way to go. Prefer tea? Their selection includes eight standard flavors of Mighty Leaf tea with a few random rotating varieties sitting alongside the regular ones.

If I’ve already had my caffeine for the day and just need a little nibble, their pastries are exceptional. The tarts in particular come in a fantastic array, from sweet potato to tropezienne, leaving no sweet tooth unattended. If it’s time for lunch, an open-faced sandwich here is just the right size to finish off every bite without feeling sluggish and full or as though there wasn’t enough meal for the money – I’ve tried the tuna melt, smoked salmon, roasted turkey, and the club, and each one has spoiled me for the same thing anywhere else.

They make their own potato chips, which are kettle cooked to perfection, and their side salads are crisp and generous; either of these comes with each sandwich they serve. Also available are main course salads fairly overflowing with delicious ingredients, as well as a handful of brunch plates, served all day. Two soups are also on the menu each day so if you need a little warming up, try the fantastic carrot ginger or, their specialty, French onion. Don’t have time to sit and chat? Grab one of the mini sandwiches on fresh baked crusty rolls or the most adorable baguettes I’ve ever seen – the fillings could be anything from apples and brie to avocado and hummus to turkey and provolone, all sure to satisfy.

You know, all this talk about their food is making me a little nibbly… I think it might be about time for a little something. I’m sure you can imagine where I’ll be heading…See you there, perhaps?

Being the hedonist that my partner is, particularly when it comes to food, it's a rare occasion when I introduce something she's never had before. Not long after arriving in San Francisco in January, I had the opportunity, and I relished the fact that I'd found them before her as much as the delicious discovery itself.

One afternoon, a colleague arrived at work with a yellow cardboard box and a giant smile on his face. "Beard Papas!" he exclaimed. "What? Beer poppers?" I had no idea what he was talking about. He set down the box and opened it to reveal six wax paper wrapped pastries dusted with confectioners' sugar. Cream puff style pastries, from what I could tell. Well that's cool, I thought; I've never met a cream puff I didn't like, so sure, I'll try one.

One wasn't enough. The three of us at work that day made it through the entire six before we headed home. Every bite was punctuated with a wide-eyed exclamation or a guttural moan of delight. Full to bursting with a unique blend of vanilla bean custard and whipped cream, each pastry was light and crispy on the outside but slightly doughy on the inside, containing the filling with the perfect blend of consistencies.

The Beard Papa story is told on their website in a cute animated short. It all began in Osaka, Japan, with a small bakery where a man the people of Osaka called "Beard Papa", because of his fluffy white beard. After being asked to create a new sweet, Beard Papa was prompted by this nickname-inspiring feature to create the world's most perfect cream puff. Beard Papa now has locations throughout Japan, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Australia, Singapore and the US, serving the "World's Best Cream Puffs" in a variety of flavors as well as éclairs, cheesecake sticks, and fondue au chocolat. Always available for Beard Papa fillings are chocolate and the original vanilla bean, and on a rotating weekly schedule are green tea, strawberry, caramel, tiramisu, and pumpkin. Each puff is filled when you order it, ensuring that the pastry itself is still crisp and light.

You can find Beard Papa in the Westfield Center, or at the nearby storefront on Yerba Buena Lane between 3rd and 4th streets. Try just one, if you think it'll do the trick, but I'd suggest having a cup of coffee and eating it nearby – there's a good chance you'll end up going back for a yellow cardboard box full for you and yours.

When I select places to review for PlanJam, I generally try for the types of shops, coffee houses, and restaurants that visitors to the city, or even residents who are new or have less time to wander outside of their own regular stomping grounds, may not have heard of or visited before. Sometimes though, I'm going to have to share a place that many people know about but that is worth reviewing for the one person who may not have heard of it. It would be an injustice if a single person in San Francisco, be it for good or for a few days, didn't know that Mitchell's Ice Cream is a must.

My first visit to the city last year was a whirlwind – shopping on Haight Street, visiting Coit Tower and Fisherman's Wharf, hitting Ocean Beach and the Musee Mecanique. In all of the sightseeing, my partner made very sure that we made it to Mitchell's, and, being a New England girl, I was surprised to find myself contemplating my now wavering loyalty to my favorite Vermont based ice cream men.

Mitchell's is open from 11:00 to 11:00 daily, and I've never once arrived and been able to go straight to the counter. Sometimes the line is ten or more people, and their deli style ticket dispenser is absolutely necessary. Other times, just a few people are ahead of me and I get a little panicky because I know I'll never make up my mind before it's my turn. With over fifty flavors of ice cream and sorbet in their standard queue and seasonal flavors on a rotating schedule, choosing what's going to land on my cone or in my cup is a difficult task. Thankfully, the staff is very helpful and friendly, and they'll let you sample any flavors you want without once looking at the growing line behind you.

Perhaps their most famous flavor selection is the tropical group – from avocado to lychee to thai tea, choosing a scoop from the tropical list is always an adventure of the most delicious kind. If you're not sure where to start, try a delicious Halo Halo, a traditional Philippine summer cooler (only made in Spring, Summer, and early Fall). If you're looking to get a couple of different scoops but don't know what flavors are going to taste best together, ask your server – they're always ready with an amazing combination that's guaranteed to make mouths happy.

My most recent Mitchell's experience, as suggested by my server? Their seasonal Pumpkin Ice Cream atop a scoop of Mexican Chocolate. The cinnamon of the Mexican Chocolate combined with the explosion of spices and cream in the Pumpkin was just like something that should be served after every holiday dinner. And it can – Mitchell's also pre-packs half-gallons of all of their flavors, and will hand pack a quart, pint, or half pint at your request. For larger gatherings, one and a half gallon or three gallon containers are available, as are round cakes, sheet cakes, and pies.

Visit Mitchell's and see why they've been a San Francisco favorite, earning awards and recognition from magazines, television shows, and local publications and fairs, for over fifty years.