Golden Boy Pizza - where it’s hip to be square

That is Golden Boy’s motto. If you have partied and hung out in the North Beach area of San Francisco chances are you have been in line at 2:00 in the morning with the rest of the drunks, waiting to score a tasty piece of this hangover staving pizza.  Since 1978 Golden Boy has been serving thick but not too greasy squares of heaven—focaccia bread smothered in tasty sauce with fresh toppings.  They proudly display their pizza in the window on Green Street just to temp and cajole customers, not that they really need tempting. 

Golden Boy is a North Beach staple and worth the $5.00 you spend (remember, tipping is sexy.) They let you pick out what piece you want and warm it up so it’s really fresh and hot. I always get it to go but they do have bar stools, beers on tap and wine—I can’t vouch for any of the wines as I haven’t tasted them.  But I have never been disappointed in the pizza. I usually do the opposite of everyone else and have a piece BEFORE I drink to avoid a hangover and I save myself from spending money on an expensive dinner, more money for alcohol, oh yes!!

The pizza is hot…watch out, don’t burn your mouth.....

Pizza	slice	Sheet
Cheese	2.75	35.00
Pepperoni or Sausage	3.25	41.50
Clam/Garlic	3.75	48.00
Pesto/Vegetarian	3.75	48.00
Combination	3.75	48.00
beverages
Beer & Wine on tap, Bottled Beer, Soda, & Water

Golden Boy Pizza - 542 Green Street, San Francisco, CA 415.982.9738

Sunday – Thursday 11:30 am - 11:30 pm

Friday and Saturday 11:30am -2:30am

CASH Only

’3 Things in the City’ I Love contest

I can name the many cities that I’ve had a crush on when I visited them. I’ve had affairs with Bangkok, Paris and Santorini but as the cheesy song goes, I left my heart in San Francisco. Traveling is what I live for but there is something about flying into SFO and seeing that familiar fog hugging the hills. There are so many great things about San Francisco—the food, the wine, the diversity of the neighborhoods and the architecture. It’s hard to narrow it down to my three favorite things as I’ve lived here for almost ten years and I’m still finding new things to do and love about my city by the bay.

Coit Tower and Telegraph Hill:  Coit Tower is high atop Telegraph Hill right near the buzz of North Beach. The hike up to the tower will get your heart pumping but the view atop ‘The Hill’ as the locals call it, will be your reward. Telegraph Hill is known as one of the Seven Hills of San Francisco and is home to some of the oldest homes in San Francisco. Along with the stunning views, you also get a chance to enjoy the lush gardens and possibly catch sight of the feral parrots that have made San Francisco their home for the past 25 years. Take a walk through the first floor of Coit Tower to view the Diego Rivera inspired fresco murals and for an additional $6 fee you can take the elevator up the tower and enjoy the 360 degree view of San Francisco. http://sfrecpark.org/CoitTower.aspx


Alcatraz: The Rock, Escape from Alcatraz and the lesser known movie Murder in the First were all filmed, or inspired by Alcatraz. The public has always been fascinated by this tiny island which accounts for approximately 5,000 visitors a day. Take an audio tour which details the days of the notorious prisoners like Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly and the Birdman of Alcatraz and the ferry ride which is a joy in itself. On a clear day you can see the neighboring Angel and Treasure Island and get a panoramic view of San Francisco, including the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate. Alcatraz is a photographers dream as the textures and colorings of the old buildings are very rich and vibrant. You can stay all day but make sure you catch the last ferry as you don’t want to get stuck on Alcatraz because no one can escape.


Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge:
Even on a foggy day, walking or biking across the Golden Gate Bridge is an exhilarating experience for any visitor coming to San Francisco. To make it a full day, get breakfast at one of the cafes in the Marina, take a walk around Fort Mason to get a great view of the bay, do some people watching and then take the muni bus (#28) to the bridge. It will take about 40 minutes to walk across the 4200 foot main span. Make sure to bring your camera. If you are more adventurous you can keep walking and take the bike trail that connects San Francisco to Sausalito

Whether you are coming to San Francisco to restaurant hop, hike the hills, take a cable car ride or just chill in Golden Gate park, you will not be disappointed. And you might just leave your heart in San Francisco.

This is my submission for the ’3 Things in the City’ I Love contest by Velvet Escape, Traveldudes and Wimdu.co.uk

From pancakes to wine

It goes a little something like this—unemployment equals very little money but the ability to drink in the middle of the afternoon on occasion. So in one day, with my limited budget, I was able to have a yummy lunch, a nice glass of wine, a bit of dessert, see a free concert and go to happy hour with the girls. All this for under $60 which is good by SF standards. (For the rest of the week it’s top ramen and two buck chuck)

First, breakfast starts at home with some healthy pancakes

Yummy and healthy whole wheat pancakes

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 cups low-fat milk

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 teaspoons almond extract

1 large egg

1 tablespoon canola oil

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl.

2. Heat pan on medium and pour batter into pan to desired size of pancake. (You have to make at least one Mickey Mouse pancake)

3. When bubbles appear on surface of the pancakes, flip and cook on other side until brown.

4. Repeat with remaining batter until all gone. (I make a bunch and then just reheat them during the week.)

5. Prepare favorite topping (I like to add a dollop of slightly melted peanut butter mixed with my maple syrup) and cook up turkey bacon.

6. Open pie-hole and insert food.

A few hours after I ate my healthy breakfast I met one of my employed friends in the financial district aka fidi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_District,_San_Francisco) for lunch at B & M Mei Sing.

My go to dish is the shrimp and green beans in black bean sauce with rice. It’s one of my favorites and at a budget worthy price. ($7.60). I try not to go over $10 for lunch–in the fidi it’s hard to get a bargain unless you go to food truck or fast food. I do love food trucks but haven’t found one that serves this dish. I usually eat half at lunch and take the rest home for dinner. Now THAT’s a bargain.

The shrimp are big and juicy, the green beans have just the right amount of crunch and the sauce is addictive with the right balance of ginger, onions and spices. You can also choose chicken, beef or pork for your protein; I can never pass up a good shrimp dish. They have free water and tea. It is cash only and no frills, but worth it.
B & M Mei Sing – 62 2nd Street (between Market and Mission)

Next we stop quickly for a glass of wine at Sutter Station Tavern or as it is affectionately called the ‘Sutter Gutter’ ($7) for a very good pour– as noted in the picture, the orignal pour is where the finger is pointing ♥.

I think one should indulge in a lunchtime cocktail every once in a while. It mixes up the work week. I know, I should talk. The Sutter Gutter has been around since 1969 and it’s a wonderfully (in my opinion) divey bar that is right on Market Street. Very non-pretentious and a cool place to get a midday or after work cocktail. In addition to wine they have a full bar and even though I am not a fan, I’ve heard they make a mean Bloody Mary. You’ll have to go and check it out for yourself and report back. They also have free popcorn and on Fridays they usually have free pizza in the evening, get it while you can. AND if you need hair of the dog in the morning before you head to work, have no fear as they open at 6:00 in the morning. They have two happy hours—noon-2 and 7-9. Gotta love it.
Sutter Station Tavern – 554 Market St (between Sutter St & 2nd St)

My friend regrettably went back to work and I wanted to indulge my sweet tooth. I remembered there’s a crème brulee cart near so I went in search of burnt crème.

I did find it on Market and Sutter and had a few flavors to choose from. According to the Crème Bruleer that was working the cart they are there seven days a week and I had to wait in line, the crème brulee business is doing well. I went for the Vanilla Bean ($4.00) and enjoyed cracking the top to dig into the light and fluffy vanilla filling which had a nice lingering taste of lavender.

After gobbling up my tiny but satisfying dessert I headed to 525 Market Street for some free music courtesy of the city. There are many different types of music, from Latin to R&B, Reggae and even some opera. Check out the link for a schedule http://peopleinplazas.org/

I headed home at the top o’ the hill to change into my sparkly pink heels and then met my friends at The Hidden Vine for some wine and girl chat.

I had never been to the Hidden Vine, but immediately loved their decor with high ceilings and textured blue walls. We kept petting the soft velvet wallpaper as we sipped on wines from Australia, Spain, Portugal and France. They do not have any happy hour specials but had a huge wine list and variety of upscale bar nibbles to indulge in. They did have some good deals on wines by the glass and I found the perfect fit in the Broadbent Vinho Verde, earthy, light and fruity, but not too sweet ($7for a medium pour).

For food I opted for the Wild Mushroom and Asparagus Flatbread with Idiazabal.($10). One of the girls had the Heirloom Tomato and Peach salad with baby beets, laural chenel, arugula in a Verjus vinaigrette ($11). I had a taste and loved the combination of fruits and veggies and the vibrant colors of this salad. Although we didn’t play a game, they have a bocce ball court, which is pretty unique for a wine bar in the financial district. Let’s check it out next time.
The Hidden Vine – 408 Merchant Street (between Battery and Sansome)

My total at The Hidden Vine was $33 (I had four glasses of wine–dang I sound like a lush–and shared the flatbread), a bit of a spurge for me but the total for the day was $59.60 (including tax and tip) and it was well worth it.

A delightful day with good food, wine and great friends is always a blessing.

Until next time….

The Lucky Penny – sometimes it’s not about the food but the memories……..

Not to say the food is bad, it IS diner food, and some of it is delicious. This place was my staple for 4 years when I lived down the street at Turk and Masonic in the Pan handle/Western Addition/Upper Haight/NOPA, whatever it is referred to these days. Here are a few key things I like about the Lucky Penny:

It’s cheap - Well it is a diner, I usually get the gool ole grilled cheese, some fries and drink and it’s under $6 bucks. The one to try is the Rail Splitter, thinly sliced hot roast beef grilled with american cheese on Sourdough bread. Oh yes!! It’s open 24 hours – You’ve drank your body weight in gin, wine and/or shots, shots, shots and your cupboards are bare. But you don’t want to wake up with your head feeling like it’s been stomped on by a herd of elephants. Tell the taxi driver or the responsible driver to head to the Lucky Penny. It’s not pretentious - Yes it’s fun to hang out at a trendy wine bar or have a nice 5 Course Meal. If you want grilled beef cheeks, buttered buffalo lips or something highfalutin or fancy, this is NOT the place to go. But you can get breakfast 24 hours a day, usually with a smile and sometimes with a joke and it will most likely cost you under $10 bucks, not bad by San Francisco standards.

The one thing I love is they have a no cell phone policy. I admit I am glued to my phone but it’s nice to have reason to take a break, don’t want to make management mad. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX_pZTlERaI. The clientele might be in the geriatric range, the carpets are a little dirty– I don’t even want to think how many times it’s been barfed on since it is frequently the stop before home for some drunkards but it doesn’t stink and the bathrooms are clean, not the case for a lot of diners in the area. AND you can buy a lotto ticket when you are there – Good luck(y)!! So if you are in dire need of greasy sustenance after a long night of drinking, you have insomnia and want a milkshake or want to hide from the ‘In’ crowd, step into the Lucky Penny, but make sure you put your cellphone on silent. Address: 2670 Geary Blvd (at Masonic Ave) San Francisco, CA Neighborhood: Laurel Heights (415) 921-0836

Fat Angel on Fillmore

I know there are a lot of wine bars in San Francisco, but how many of them have draft wine and butter on the menu? Fat Angel opened in the very historic Fillmore district in February of 2010 by Jason and Cyrick, two local guys who wanted to make a name for themselves by serving tasty comfort food and offering a variety of local wine and beers (38 different wines and about 15 kinds of beer).

It is saying a lot that they are still standing and have a great local following. If I was living in this neighborhood I would definitely have my name on one of the bar stools that is shaped like an iron saddle, it cradles your butt in comfort. The décor is rustic, charming and all of it was built with recycled, refurbished and repurposed material that was found in San Francisco. These guys are green to the core!! Always fun to meet up with friends for a bite and a catch up—and of course share your food–if you don’t share, we cannot be friends, virtual or otherwise. On the menu: •Butter– Garlic and chili infused, served w/ warm organic Firebrand whole wheat levain (fancy name for wheat bread) ($4.50) •Salad – Smoked trout on organic greens w/ horseradish vinaigrette ($11.00) •Flatbread – Basil marinara, arugula and spicy sausage w/ricotta ($10.00) •Mac ‘n Cheese – Gruyère, aged cheddar, Parmigiano-Reggiano (a trio of yumminess) ($11.00) *********************************************************************

Draft wine –This was the first place where I tasted wine from a tap, draft wine, very good wine for the price, I had a fun and fruity Sauvignon blanc and I can’t have just one. According to Monkeydish.com–“In a more casual and informal operation, wine on tap can be very exciting and innovative on a host of levels,” declares Michael Green, president and creative director of the Liquid Assets Consulting Group. “One, there’s less of a carbon footprint. Two, the unusual dispensing technique can be an interesting marketing concept. And three, in certain cases, operators are able to pass on savings to the customer.”

Butter -served w/ warm organic whole wheat bread. Helllllllllo butter–obviously not the healthiest thing in the world to eat but a small slab of flavored lard won’t kill ya. Just do one hour of cardio that day and you’ll be able to eat it guilt free. There was a choice of Lemon caper sage, Garlic chili, Maple bacon, Chocolate cinnamon, Honey and we went with(dramatic pause) the Garlic chili of course. I’m not much of a garlic fan since it usually overpowers the meal but this had just the right amount and the chili gave it a tasty zing at the end. Top it with a dense piece of warm bread and we were in heaven.

Salad – Smoked trout on organic greens w/ horseradish vinaigrette. Elaine Benes (yes there will be the occasional Seinfeld references in this blog) would be proud of this BIG salad. A bit overdressed for my taste but the smoked bits of trout cut through it and blended well with the blue cheese.

Flatbread -- Basil marinara, arugula & spicy sausage w/ ricotta. I do love a crunchy flatbread to go with my BIG salad. There was crunch all over, in the bread, the arugula and the bite of the spicy sausage, yes there was a party in my mouth. Mac ‘n Cheese – Gruyère, aged cheddar, parmigiano-reggiano.Why do I always burn my mouth on Mac ‘n Cheese? Because I can’t wait to eat it as soon as it gets to my table. I must learn self-control but when a plate of bubbly, cheesy, noodley perfection is put before me, I dig in!! I never have room for dessert after eating here but it’s a good thing since they don’t serve it. Just do as I do and order another glass of wine, that can be your dessert. So if you are in the Fillmore district, maybe to see a show at Yoshi’s or The Fillmore or want to get away from all the fancy shops, cross Geary and go to the dark side (okay it’s not the dark side but don’t wander too much if you are not familiar with the area), you’ll find a sweet wine pub (did I just coin a new phrase?) that might be small in size, but is big on quality food, style and of course….WINE. Tell them Laurie sent you, not because you’ll get a discount but because it will puzzle them…until next time. Happy eating!! 1740 O’Farrell St SF, CA Hours Monday - Thursday 5pm to 12am Friday 5pm to 1am Saturday 5pm to 1am Sunday 4pm to 11pm

Mo’s Grill in North Beach, it’s more than just burgers….

San Francisco is a brunch town and I do love a leisurely brunch with eggs Benedict, lots of champagne, shiny silverware and linen napkins but sometimes I just want a down home, no frills diner breakfast that won't cost me $60Mo's Grill in North Beach is the place to go if that is what you want too. But be ready to EAT. This is not an egg white omelet with a side of fruit kind of place.

When you walk in you will see, hear and smell the potatoes, pancakes and the not to miss slabs of bacon twirling and roasting around the circular rotisserie type set up (I know there is probably a fancy name for it but I have no idea what it is) and you will also notice the wonderful kitsch of the place, pig and cow states on the wall, a black and white framed picture of The Three Stooges and everyone waiting for their hangover food. It's a small place so be ready to eat with the neighboring table but it has a warm feeling and the wait staff is great. I was in an omelet mood but it was hard to decide between the Norwegian (Smoked salmon, mozzarella cheese, green onion and crème fraiche) or the Italian (roasted red bell pepper, eggplant, sun-dried tomato, pesto and parmesan cheese) but I opted for the bacon (of course), avocado and cheese omelet with a plateful of home fries and a mimosa.

There is nothing worse than a watery omelet, it's like eating a soggy sponge, but have no fear, at Mo's you will get a hearty, flavorful, and in my case, cheesy plate of omeletty goodness. Follow that with a mountain of not too greasy home fries and a tangy mimosa and you won't have to eat for the rest of the day. I admit I couldn't make a happy plate because there was so much food but those re-heated potatoes made a perfect midnight snack!! So if you are traveling to San Francisco or are a native San Franciscan stop by Mo's Grill and check it out. My next thing on the menu to try is one of the burgers, so stay tuned. Happy eating!! 1322 Grant Ave (between Vallejo St & Green St) Hours: Mon-Thu, Sun 9 am - 10:30 pm Fri-Sat 9 am - 11:30 pm