I’m on a brisk two and a half day visit with my girlfriend in San Francisco and yesterday I had a chance to check out a couple places I’ve been wanting to…

Blue Bottle Coffee Co.
Where I write this post from right now….actually I’m typing it up here as they don’t have wireless. Besides that though, it’s a bright and clean little space with good food and great coffee. (Thanks Scott for the recommendation). I haven’t seen the little kiosk location in Hayes Valley, but the cafe is perfectly tucked away behind Market St. in a warehouse surrounded lane.

Delphina
A lovely little Italian restaurant where I had some of the best spaghetti of my life (super simple and perfectly cooked noodles). Just a few blocks from the epic Dolores Park in the Mission. The winelist is quite inspired - we had a bright, citrusy and stoney glass of a Kerner from Alto Adige made by Abbazia di Novacella ‘07 and a rich nutty and minerlly Falanghina blend from Campagna called “Ravello” made by Marisa Cuomo - both fantastic. Also excited to see the Coenobium on the list for something like $45.

RN74
I had to check out Michael Mina’s new winebar/restaurant, named after the road that winds through the villages of Burgundy, almost entirely because of their “Last Bottle Board.” It’s a large letter flipping, European train station board which they post bin end bottles and it updates once someone has chosen one. Brilliant idea. The by the glass winelist has some interesting picks and we tried a Morgon “Cote du Py” from Trenel (quite herbaeous and soft) and Au Bon Climat’s ‘06 La Bauge Au Dessus (amazingly silky but a little too much wood for my palate). The decor reminds me a little of a Earls or Cactus Club with a summer patio theme. Not my kind of place but interesting to see none the less.

On my way to the Ferry Building and then to Terroir where I plan to spend the afternoon. More on all this soon. Wish you were here Kurtis!

2 Responses: