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    • Pancho villa: Home of the burrito

    By | February 19, 2008

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    For people who love burritos San Francisco is heaven. The burritos here are like nowhere else. You have burritos with freshly grilled beef, pork, chicken, veggies with rice, beans and any other optional topping you may want. All these awesome stuffings are rolled up in a tortilla to create one monstrous burrito.

    There are lots of places in San Francisco that serve delicious burritos and one of the most popular is Pancho Villa on 16th Street which is near Mission Street, the hub of good food.  What makes Pancho Villa stand out from the rest is among many other things, the fact that their ingredients are so fresh. The portions are mammoth and it is a great favorite of many.

    Though the place is slightly more expensive than others the quality is obviously well worth it because there is often a very long line at peak hours. The décor is clean and authentic Mexican and the whole area gives you a very nice feel and makes it the best taqueria in town.

    The Super Tacos here are great and they are probably a meal in themselves. To actually manage to finish a burrito in here you need a big appetite. They also serve superb grilled seafood burritos which are made right in front of you. Their grilled steak is also superb and they have a great selection of salsas.

    They also serve what is called an Agua Fresca which is a drink made of fresh fruits and delicious Jarritos Mexican sodas and smoothies made to order. Pancho Villa is a great dining experience and something you must visit if you like Mexican food.

    Though they have a couple of other branches in B Street in San Mateo and the SF Embarcadero, the Mission Street joint is probably the best and it has that charm.

    Topics: Bay Area Dining, Uncategorized | No Comments »

    Places to see in SF

    By | February 19, 2008

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    San Francisco is full of history and there are hundreds of places to see and hundreds of things to do here.

    You could stroll down Fisherman’s Wharf which happens to be one of the liveliest neighborhoods in the city and take a look at the harbor and the fishing boats. This place is full of old and unique museums and you’ll also find some barking sea lions. This place is also home to Pier 39 which has many shops, street performers and also houses the San Francisco Aquarium. 

    Climb to the top of Telegraph hill and take the elevator to the top of Coit Tower. The Coit memorial tower was erected in 1933 and the interior is decorated in Fresco which was authorized as a public works project and undertaken by the city’s architects. It was completed in 1934.

    Then there is Chinatown which is the largest of its kind outside Asia. Since the 1850s this area has been home to Chinese merchants and tourism has been a booming business here ever since.

    There is the Cliff House which is located at Ocean Beach. It is a historical spot and has bee renovated and rebuilt several times. There is a restaurant in the Cliff House and it has beautiful views of the sunset. The gift shop also has a great collection of old San Francisco.

    Fort Point is located at the tip of the San Francisco Presidio and beneath the arc of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is only open from Friday to Sunday because of retrofit construction on the Golden Gate. You get a great view of the underbelly of the bridge from here and if you walk to the very edge you can see the water.

    San Francisco has some beautiful sights and places worth visiting and every week I’ll bring you more such places.

     

    Topics: Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge, Uncategorized | No Comments »

    Limon restaurant

    By | February 17, 2008

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    The Limon restaurant is one of those upscale restaurants where only a certain kind of people go. The restaurant is located on Valencia Street in San Francisco’s Mission District.  The district is popular for restaurants and this particular one is unique for the fact that it offers a Peruvian menu. Peru’s food isn’t exactly served all over so this is a novelty in itself.

    The place is abundant in seafood and there is a remarkable confluence of Latino, Native American and even Chinese and Japanese influences in the food.  There are a few dishes that you absolutely have to try if you’re here and this list includes the Empanada Don Walter which is made with chunks of beef, eggs and raisins in a crunchy crust with perfectly steamed shrimps in a romesco sauce.

    They also have an amazing pork chop on a bed of mushrooms, cabbage, bacon and chopped potatoes which is simply divine. Then there is the Pargo Rojo which is a whole red snapper deep fried and served with rocoto curry sauce and a portion of coconut rice. The whole thing is very well presented and tastes awesome. The Arroz con Mariscos which has clams, mussels, scallops, shrimp, and calamari cooked with saffron rice in a pepper shrimp sauce is simply out of this world. All the flavors of the shellfish came out so well in this one dish.

    For desert try some truly exquisite fruit ice cream which is flown in all the way from Peru and something you can’t leave Limon without having tried.

    The service here is superb, the prices not too high and the ambience is dark and quiet and perfect if you want to spend some quiet time together. Limon comes highly recommended.

     

    Topics: Bay Area Dining | No Comments »

    Deep Dish pizza in ‘Frisco

    By | January 31, 2008

    Chicago style deep dish pizza is a variant of the pizza and has an extremely thick base. Much thicker than even a thick crust and is peculiar to San Francisco. There are a few places in San Francisco that can replicate Chicago’s deep dish pizza with great success and should make a place on your must do list.

    Zachary’s Pizza is one such place. The pizzas here are simply superb and shouldn’t be missed for anything. They have a lot of vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian pizza options. Each pizza comes loaded with a lot of veggies all over it. Their spinach and mushroom pizza is extremely popular and is generally preferred over the non vegetarian options on the menu. It is all over the East Bay and is a place frequented by families. They are the recipients of countless number of awards and they display them all proudly on their walls. The drawback at this joint is definitely the crusts which aren’t all that great and they also tend to get soggy.

    Little Star is located in San Francisco and there crusts are excellent. The crusts are sinfully unhealthy and made with a lot of butter. They are a lot tastier than those at Zachary’s and they can also hold the toppings better without getting soggy. The pizzas here also are excellent and this place has its own loyal clientele. The spicy chicken wings here are also excellent and have to be tried when here.  This place is a little fussy however in the sense that they accept only cash. So be sure you’re carrying a little extra when you get there.

    My personal favorite would be Little Star though that is only my personal opinion. Check out both to form your own opinion about both these great joints.

    Topics: Bay Area Dining | No Comments »

    Guzzle it up in ‘Frisco

    By | January 23, 2008

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    When on a holiday it is great fun to explore the city’s nightlife, the pubs and the bars. San Francisco is a great place for all that and more and this week’s post is all about that- the bars and pubs of Frisco. What you should do on such a night out is to leave you car behind and take a walk through the streets of the city.

    The Beach Chalet:  This place has overpriced food which doesn’t taste all that great and is also very greasy but the beer here is simply amazing.  It also has a beautiful view of the ocean and it’s a nice place to sit for a couple of bars and sipping delicious beer.

    The Alembic: The Alembic is another great place for beer which is this area’s speciality. They have delicious Southern-inspired food with great beer flowing from the taps. They also serve beer from all over the world and all this is combined with comfortable and cozy décor which makes this place the perfect thing to hang out for a couple of hours.

    Thirst Bear Brewing Company: Letting a beer lover into this place is akin to leaving a six year old in a candy shop. Anyone is bound to go crazy in here.  Here you can munch on Spanish tapas and have a couple (or more) craft beers.

    Then there is the Lucky 13 which has a decidedly punk rock feel to it.  Located in Market street this place is known for having the longest bar and a great beer collection. This place is regularly visited by beer connoisseurs who swear by it and it has the things typical of beer bars like pinball and foosball and also a pool table.

    CA is known for the great variety of beers and you will need almost a day if you want to do some major beer sampling here.

     

    Topics: Arts & Entertainment, Bay Area Dining | No Comments »

    take a look inside

    By | January 15, 2008

     

     

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    The Castro theatre has an awesome façade but it doesn’t just end there. The overwhelming beauty of this theatre situated in the heart of Frisco’s gay district can only be fully appreciated when one in inside it. The theatre is modeled loosely on the architectural style that is prevalent among cathedrals in Mexico. It was built in 1922 and became a historical San Francisco landmark 55 years later in 1977.Once you are inside the theatre you will realize that it is much grander on the inside. There is a large staircase on either side of the theatre’s entrance which leads to the mezzanine and the balcony. The main theatre is exquisitely designed and there is a beautiful chandelier from the 30s that hangs from the centre of a ceiling that is equally beautiful and ornate. On either side of the screen is a pipe organ which musicians play for a few minutes before the movie begins.

    Though the building is grand and absolutely breathtaking it is not the architecture but the film culture that the theatre has created that will cause it to be remembered for a long time to come. It has several unique features like interactive sessions for the movie goers and rare participatory themes that are unique to the place. Very often it has its own production of special events and the original stars of the movie also perform live. It is an awesome way to watch great classics and all the while stay truly involved in them.

    Most tourists come and see the historic gay area around it and the façade of the theatre but very few bother to go inside. The inside is an experience like no other. Take a walk around or watch a show here sometime. You will cherish the experience for as long as you live.

    Topics: Arts & Entertainment | No Comments »

    Fill up in Frisco

    By | January 10, 2008

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    San Francisco has a thousand eating options, each more tempting than the next. The Bay Area is famous for its good food as are placing like China town and the malls. There are places that are absolutely brilliant as far as food goes:

    ‘Wichcraft: This place has some of the most brilliant sandwiches you’ll ever eat. The Westfield San Francisco Food Centre is very different from more food courts in malls as it serves gourmet cuisine. ‘Wichcraft is one of the many places in this food centre which are awesome.  The use the best kind of salami, beef and cheese in to make the most delectable sandwiches. The grilled cheddar with smoked ham, pear and mustard was absolutely brilliant as was the slow-roasted pork. It gives a very tavern in a small town kind of feeling which is very endearing.

    Range: The menu at this place has a huge variety to choose from and is quite well priced so you may end up ordering much more than you can eat. This is the place for Californian cuisine with mushroom stuffed pasta with sage-brown butter and almonds, broccoli di cicco and horseradish sauce and pimento peppers and lemon aioli. Brilliant cuisine.

    Slanted Door: One of the best places for Vietnamese cuisine this place started in 1995 has stayed true to its soul. It offers great Vietnamese street food with a few local ingredients, a mix which leaves you wanting more.           

    Ritual Roasters: If you are a coffee person, you absolutely have to go to this place. Here each coffee bean is a masterpiece in itself.  The expresso is brewed from beans which are hand roasted in small batches. The Hairbender is amazing.

    Swan Oyster Depot: In spite of its rather geriatric timings, this one continues to be a huge favorite. It closes at 5:30 and is open only for breakfast and lunch but the crabs and oysters are absolutely out of this world. The atmosphere is amazing and makes for a great experience.          

    Topics: Bay Area Dining | No Comments »

    Places to visit

    By | January 4, 2008

    There are many things to do in San Francisco. There is the sea front and there are bars, clubs and great restaurants in the city. If you’re in San Francisco there are some places where you must go:

    The Golden Gate Bridge: The Golden Gate Bridge is an engineering marvel and is one of the biggest tourist attractions of San Francisco. It is highly enjoyable and walking on it is something that everyone should experience.

    Alcatraz: The former prison made famous by many Hollywood movies is now a very popular destination for tourists. Also because it is so popular these days tickets get sold out early so it is best to book in advance.

    Fisherman’s Wharf and Ghirardelli Square are one the waterfront and has many restaurants and shops. You could shop for antiquities at any one of the hundreds of shops here and also drop in for a bite and sample the seafood Frisco is famous for. These places are in many senses different from the rest of San Francisco and offers you a different perspective.

    Sausalito: Sausalito is on the other side of the bay of San Francisco Bay and it offers one of the best views of San Francisco. You could take a ferry to the other side. There are also many good art galleries and very nice restaurants to have a meal at.

    Another thing that one must check out when in Frisco is San Francisco’s cable cars which are one of its biggest landmarks. Also a great way to see some parts of the city.

    One of the most favourite tourist areas is China Town. An architect’s impression of China, it is nevertheless quite real and the alleyways and shops are a real treat.

    There are many great places to visit in Frisco and for the next few weeks you shall be enlightened about them.

    Topics: Alcatraz, Architecture, Bay Area Dining, Fisherman's Wharf, Ghiradelli Square, Golden Gate Bridge | No Comments »

    The Golden Gate Bridge: A modern marvel

    By | December 25, 2007

    The Golden Gate Bridge is the one thing that has been made synonymous with San Francisco and even the whole of California by movies and television serials. The bridge is a suspension bridge and one of the marvels of modern architecture. The bridge spans the area from the opening of the Golden Gate to the Pacific Ocean and it is a part of the U.S Highway 101 and State Route 1. When it was constructed in 1937 it was the longest suspension bridge to have ever been made.

    The chief engineer was one Joseph Strauss who believed that the bridge could be constructed at a cost of $ 17 million while the original estimate was $ 100 million. While he was in charge of the project since he did not have much knowledge about cable suspension and how it worked, the work was mainly done by other architects and engineers while Strauss overlooked. It was eventually finished 25 years after its initial conception by an engineering student named James Wilkins at a cost of a shade over $ 27 million, $ 10 million more than what Strauss promised and at 1/4th of the original cost estimated by Wilkins. Before the bridge was constructed the only means of transport was ferry and thus the bridge was a much needed mode of getting across the ocean.

    The Golden Gate Bridge sees an average of 1,00,000 vehicles everyday and is rather infamous for the number of accidents especially head-on collisions that occur on it. It is also the spot most frequently picked by people contemplating suicide and by 2005 one such incident occurred every two weeks on an average. The bridge is a perfect mixture of a architectural site which still is being used unlike most that have lost their significance to mankind and remain mere reminders of past glory.

    Topics: Golden Gate Bridge | No Comments »

    Napa Valley

    By | December 21, 2007

    Everyone remembers the Bliss wallpaper that comes with your Windows computer, but no one knows that it is Napa Valley in the picture.  Napa Valley is a picturesque county in San Fransisco which is famous for the wine industry. It has a warm summer and the county has a lot of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna. The county is home to 125,000 people which means that it is relatively sparsely inhabited and almost 80% of the population is white with small groups of other ethnicities. Age wise the population of the county is evenly distributed with people of all age groups being present in equal numbers.

    In 1776 a fortress was built by a Spanish governor and between 1821 and 1846 Napa Valley was under the control of the Mexicans who divided the county into 12 portions. The county was exposed to white occupation comparatively late and it was only in          the 1820s that European explorers visited these parts. The great writer Robert Louis Stevenson spent a good amount of time here in and around 1880 where he honeymooned and also spent some time writing.

    Napa Valley is a very popular weekend getaway for San Franciscans who come here to escape the cold and depressing weather and to enjoy the glorious and warm weather in the valley. A large portion of the valley between Napa and Calistoga has been preserved for farming and this preserve was the first of its kind in the state of California. While this preserve has caused the growth of residential areas to slow down the development and modernization within the cities has not been affected. There are a large number of light industries and business parks in this area which have sprung up in the recent past. The Valley is well connected by rail, road and air to the rest of the state.

    Topics: Napa Valley | No Comments »

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