A San Francisco Treat

A fun little fact that I learned during the short time that I lived in San Fran last year...the people there LOVE egg whites in their cocktails. They also enjoy things like absinthe, bitters, french vermouth, and even egg yolks (really?) in their concoctions. There's no better place to explore this oddly intriguing kind of libation than at 15 Romolo in North Beach.

Walking through North Beach/Telegraph Hill

While living in that gluttonous city I discovered all kinds of fascinating restaurants and bars...but I was missing something...someone to enjoy it with...my partner in crime. My husband (who was my fiance at the time) was back at home while I was walking every inch of SF and taking copious amounts of notes in my spare time. The notes were of all of the places we would visit together when he was able to fly over. After all...how great can an experience really be without the one that you love?

My love has arrived...finally!

By the time he came to visit I had a long list of pizza joints, watering holes, and little hideaways for us to hit...one of the top places on my list was 15 Romolo.

Usually referred to as a "modern speakeasy", they specialize in artisanal cocktails. There is nothing but solid execution going on here. The "Track 42" AKA "The Frothy One with the Leaf on Top"- (manuka honey vodka, apple juice, lemon topped with egg white and a basil leaf) is something I only wish I had the skills to recreate.

The food that they dish up is just as appealing...maybe even better. Between the tempura fried avocados, the peanut butter and bacon burger, and the Nutella pancake ballz with brown butter ice cream and snookie dust...you just cannot go wrong. Ever. This place is an experience that's unique, inventive, decadent and entertaining.

When the day arrived that we would be sightseers and explore all that San Francisco had to offer, we walked the entire city...well, at least it felt like it. We started in Union Square and walked to Nob Hill (where my house was located) and covered Lombard Street, Ghirardelli Square, Fisherman's Wharf, Coit Tower and then headed through North Beach to ultimately find 15 Romolo...the final reward.

Quick stop to Nob Hill for a drink on my rooftop. Wearing my "Love SF" shirt in SF...what a shameless tourist :)

We were the perfect tourists during our mission...well at least I was...snapping photos of every landmark, statue, and graffiti-covered building that we passed during our journey. It was exhilarating and exhausting at the same time.

One of my favorite things about walking SF...gorgeous graffiti everywhere

Only one trolley ride was taken the whole day...and we were parched. I mean REALLY thirsty.  Visions of basil leaves floating atop apple juice and vodka were dancing through my head. Of course we planned to hydrate with water first...and wouldn't think of skipping lunch or dessert.

As we walked through town and approached The Basque Hotel on Romolo St. I began to feel a fever of excitement. Not because of the strip club located at the front of the building...though I have to admit the man at the door did make quite a case for us to come and see the beauties that they were showcasing in the middle of the afternoon. As enticing as that may sound...that's not what the flutter was about. It was all for this little gem located down the alley in the back of the building.

I made Tommy pose in front of this sign...even though he felt like a pervert

Further up the alley...are we there yet?

We snapped a few pictures of the alley walls as we walked up a 179 degree grade hill to find the front door. The excitement was building with every step. We're getting closer and closer...wait...let me catch my breath...we're almost there....yes! we made it!...and the sign says..."Closed". What? This can't be!

But it was. Sadly, we had arrived around 4pm and the bar didn't open until five. With nowhere to go to waste that hour we walked back to where we started...good old Union Square...and grabbed something that was undoubtedly awesome (as I believe every dish might be in SF)...although I can't recall what.

We find solace in the fact that we will be back to that great city...and when we do return...we will hit the ground running for Romolo. They've been there since 1998 so I'm pretty sure they're here to stay.

They do say it's about the journey...not the destination...right?

Our very short trolley ride

The Best Little Shrimp...on Kauai

We have arrived in paradise!

Savage Shrimp Truck in Kauai...near Poipu/Koloa

A Very Basic Menu :)

A quick drive-by photo

Shrimp Station on Kauai...the contender

Who has the best shrimp on Kauai? There seems to be quite a debate between many of the various food bloggers and "Yelpers" out there.

Before arriving on the island I researched all of the best places to see and restaurants to visit (as I always do prior to traveling). One thing kept coming up in my food searches...the mysterious Savage Shrimp Truck on the south side of the island (in the Poipu and Koloa Town area).

When does the truck arrive? Nobody knows. Where does the truck park? On the side of some unknown road. What time does it stay there until? When the shrimp is gone.

Since I hadn't been on this island before the task of finding this elusive truck seemed daunting...but I was determined. I had read that it was usually found near the round-about on the way to Spouting Horn. Guess where we went the second that we reached the south side of the island? Good old Spouting Horn. The entire way there I had my eyes peeled. No truck to be found. Granted, once we reached the attraction it was beautiful to look at the water "spouting" out of the hole in the rock formation...but all I cared about was finding that darn shrimp truck.

It wasn't until the next day that we were able to lay our hands on that enigmatic food freighter. When we did, it all started to make sense...and become well worth every bit of energy that we used to find it. We started by ordering two coconuts...she proceeded to poke holes in the top with a metal tool...then stuck red straws in the holes for us to drink from. Awesome.

There were 3 styles of shrimp available: Garlic, Bahia, and Grasshoppa. We ordered the first two and were blown away. The two scoops of rice on the plate were swimming in these mouthwatering sauces and the shrimp tasted like they had been marinating in flavor since they were still alive and floating around in the sea. We both licked our plates clean and began feverishly searching for extra cash in order to buy a plate of the third flavor...Grasshoppa. No luck...and no ATM on the side of the road. That's okay...my hunger had been satiated for the time being.

As we began telling bartenders and waiters...basically anyone who would listen to us...about our experience we were urged to try Shrimp Station in Waimea. It was a harrowing search...similar to that of the Savage Truck...but I'm not sure why we had such an issue? We had a GPS and this place had an actual address...ah anyway! We finally found it after seeing the awe-inspiring Waimea Canyon (that's a whole blog entry in itself). This shrimp place was great. They have a wide selection of food...well, wider than Savage...and the shrimp I had was fantastic (Sweet Chili Garlic Shrimp was my fav). I can completely see why there's a debate between the two.

There's just something about pulling over to the side of a dirt road and drinking straight out of a coconut in your car that wins my vote. In all honesty though, I don't think there needs to be a winner. Although they serve shrimp they do things differently. Both worth exploring. When I return to Kauai...and that's a definite...I'll go to both!

*** Ironically enough, after writing this I read that Savage will move to an actual shopping center sometime in 2011. No more truck? Bummer. There is a silver lining though. Open at all times of the day and always to be found.

Paciugo in Hermosa Beach Ca.

Ahhh Paciugo! Sometimes you don't have to travel far from home to find something that is a pure delight! After discovering that this sweet treat had 70% less fat than ice cream I was not only surprised but over the moon with excitement. Paciugo (pronounced puh-choo-go) has some of the best gelato ever made...at least I think so. No I haven't been to Italy yet...our 2012 trip will be booked soon...but I just can't imagine any way that it could be better. You can bet that when we do arrive in Italy next year I will put it to the test. Probably several.
When you visit Paciugo you have the choice of 4 different flavors in a medium cup. I'm kind of becoming an expert about this place and have decided to go with 2 instead. So far nothing beats the Sea Salt Caramel mixed with the Brown Sugar Waffle Cone flavor. I've labored over many creative flavor combinations and this one is the true winner. Are there other excellent flavors? Yes...but this particular mix will knock your socks off. Just in case you don't believe me you can ask them to let you taste a flavor...or four. They're always so accommodating with giving out samples. If you're ever walking around the Hermosa Beach Pier you MUST make a visit to Paciugo.