San Francisco treasures

So I spent five lovely days in the City by the Bay buying art, eating good food, hiking an almost insurmountable hill, relaxing in The Snug and hanging out with friends (and admiring the view from their new house).

San Francisco always woos me when I go there. It is my home town, after all. There will always be a part of me that belongs to the fog, sleepy trains and ocean air. I love New York - especially the size, pace and complexity of it- but when I go back to San Francisco I remember that I have a love affair with the slower, more casual but very cosmopolitan city on the West Coast.

My friend, Jess, and I went to Chinatown and found the perfect wedding cake for me and fiance.



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My fiance is part Chinese and I thought the first two cakes would be a classy, understated way to make his family feel comfortable.

We saw these in the window of the A&A Bakery in Chinatown in case you're interested.



Now possibly my favorite restaurant in the whole world - or at least in the top three - is Betelnut in San Francisco. If you are in the Bay Area for the love of good meal, go there.





Get the Little Dragon Dumplings.



The Korean Charbroiled Pork.



And I recommend the Minced Chicken in Lettuce Cups (eaten too quickly to get a photo), the Emerald Fire Noodles and the Tiger Shrimp if they're on the menu. My friend and I had some sake Lemon Drops that were also divine.



If you have never been to the Pelican Inn then your life is not complete. It is one of my favorite places on Earth and I suggest you make a reservation to stay there for a night or two posthaste. It is snuggled in the hills of Muir Beach and Muir Woods. Muir Beach is a five minute walk away, they have an English pub complete with local beer and a dart board and rooms with four poster beds, bathtubs and reading nooks. In essence, it's as close to Heaven as you're gonna get for under $300/night.





We walked to Muir Beach and hiked up a large hill overlooking the ocean. I felt like I was going to keel over and only made it to the top thanks to the urging and lying of my friend (as to how close we were).







This view is from very far up *the hill* which we later learned is affectionately referred to as "Heart Attack Hill". These are the Farallon Islands which my companion, a native San Franciscan (born AND bred, unlike myself) explained. There are located in a treacherous stretch of sea and rock that is a popular breeding ground for Great White Sharks. Needless to say, I'm glad I was viewing it from this far away.



We stumbled back to the Pelican and crashed out in one of most charming places: The Snug.



The Snug is for guests only and is located right off the bar. We had a few glasses of wine next to the fireplace sitting in arm chairs discussing life, love and how out of shape we were.

If you like fog, food and dive bars San Francisco is a good bet for a relaxing and invigorating getaway. It is indeed my home away from home.

One man's creation is another man's madness.

Dear Readers,

I feel compelled to warn you that the following material is not appropriate for the faint of heart. Proceed at your own risk. Achtung! Peligrosa! Beware.

When my fiance and I drove up to Southampton last Friday night it was quite foggy and dark by the time we reached the Hamptons. We drove along Route 27, a two lane, windy road along which there are many houses and businesses of varying sorts. We passed some kind of lot with large, looming figures posing in the dark that appeared to be only what I can describe as a monster-factory. Turns out it was "Yesterdays Treasures".

So on our way back to Brooklyn we had to stop and take photos of what had given us quite a start on our nocturnal journey a few days before.

Behold.

A lobster roll, some fried clams, a beer... and a ring?!

(I'm not sure why my blog is cutting off all my photos, but I'm working that.)

That's right ladies and germs. I was proposed to at The Clam Shack on Montauk, L.I. yesterday over a lobster roll, a clam roll and a coupla beers while "Goin' to the Chapel" was on the stereo. As my brother said, "Does it get any better than that?".

I think not.





About The Clam Shack

I highly recommend the lobster roll and the steamers. The lobster roll is something of an art in that it is almost always over-thought. It should be, in my opinion, extremely simple and fresh and therefore unbeatable in terms of taste. This lobster roll has mayo, celery for a little crunch and maybe some seasoning I didn't taste because I was too busy enjoying what I should be: lobster. It was on a sweet roll and came with a wedge of lemon and some cole slaw. My idea of heaven.



We ate there twice and the first time my fiance (giggle, giggle) had the steamers which the waitress informed us had just been taken out the water on Shelter Island that day. They were delicious. The next day he had the clam roll - also on a sweet roll and served with lemon and tartar sauce - which was just as scrumptous in a fried kinda way.

We had come from Montauk Point - a state park which is (guess where?) on the point of Montauk right on the ocean. It's a nice drive and a lovely view. There's not much there besides a gift shop, a lighthouse and greasy diner-type restaurant. But if you need more than the ocean to get you out there, I don't know what to tell you.





We saw a particularly strange vehicle in the parking lot while we were there and had to document it:








As my fiance said, "That's dedication."

We stayed in Southampton, L.I. at The Box Farm Inn which was quite nice. Here are some photos of the place. A woman named Connie introduced to the house and the set-up when we first arrived Friday night.







We stayed in the Library Room just off the main entry and it was lovely. The one downside is that the inn is right on Rte. 27 which is the main thoroughfare so there is traffic noise most of the day and some of the night. There are still crickets and birds however and the grounds are beautiful. Your room fee includes a home-cooked breakfast the next day by Alice, the chef, who made some of the best corn muffins I've ever had as well as eggs, bacon, pancakes and toast.







There is also an open bar to all guests (danger! danger!) and a pool that is heated to 85 F and open 24 hours a day with complimentary beach towels.





All in all, it was a lovely weekend complete with rest and good food and romantic dinners. We ate the first night at Trata's, a Greek seafood place with a club-like atmosphere that caters to the rich and soulless. The food was good, but even with excellent service it was not worth the price and if you're like me and do not leave NYC to see and be seen, then this is not the place for you.

Also, at The American Hotel in Sag Harbor the scene is busy and glam in an urban getaway kind of way. I'm sure most of the Hamptons are like that and like I said, not my thing. If I want fancy, sceney food I'll stay in Manhattan and while I like a nice, dark hotel bar and restaurant as much as the next 75 year-old man, this was not that. I don't recommend it even though the food is quite good.

Both my fiance and I preferred Montauk for it's more laid back atmosphere and natural beauty. Next time, you can find us on the ocean or at The Clam Shack munching on some lobster.

Healthy Muffins - good & good for you

So further along my attempts at healthy baking I made Banana-Buttermilk Muffins and Date-Apple Oat Bran Muffins from Williams-Sonoma's Essentials of Healthful Cooking.

The Banana-Buttermilk Muffins are delicious and moist and yummy. The Date-Apple Oat Bran Muffins were slightly less yummy, but I think I might have baked them for too long. All in all, these recipes were incredibly easy and yummy.

I recommend the cookbook. The recipes are relatively simple, healthy and tasty.

Tonight I'm making Savory Mint Lamb Chops from epicurious.com along with red (new) potatoes and steamed asparagus.

Annnnnndddd my honey and I went out to dinner in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn at a great restaurant that has a small but intriguing menu. The Farm on Adderly. I recommend the burger which, if you like medium rare beef, is tender, juicy and delicious. It comes on an english muffins and you can substitute the fries with greens. But the fries are good. And for brunch try the Farmer's Eggs.

If you're in Ditmas Park and want something a little more naughty - read: Southern cooking - try Picket Fence. All I have to say about that place is that they have smoked Gouda mac 'n cheese.

Off to make the lamb chops...