I was about to post another “lunch in San Francisco” article, but I got sidetracked yesterday by a wonderful breakfast outdoors in the sun at Boulette’s Larder in the Ferry Building: poached eggs with heirloom tomatoes, freshly shelled white beans and parmesan reggiano. The white beans were divine, the tomatoes ripe and luscious, and the olive oil drizzled over the beans was marvelous. The breakfast menu is small, with only a few items but, judging from what I had, I am certain that nothing will disappoint you. The location is unbeatable: outdoors by the water behind the Ferry Building.  Now, I’m dying to go there for lunch.

Boulette’s hosts private dinners for up to 24 persons, but it’s open for breakfast and lunch to the public.

Boulette’s Larder
Ferry Building
San Francisco, CA
+1 415 399 1155
M-F 8:00 - 10:30 (breakfast)
M-F 11:30 - 14:30 (lunch)
Sun 10:00 - 15:00 (brunch)

Check out the Mapplr San Francisco favorites on Google maps.

Lunchtime is always such a gamble in San Francisco if you find yourself along the Embarcadero or in the Financial District. There are few good places to eat because most restaurants cater to the office crowd who put a premium on speed and large portions. As a result you find a lot of submarine sandwich outlets like Subway, Asian restaurants that serve bland udon noodle soups (and not so fresh sushi), and greasy Mexican food joints.

That’s why I find myself going back again and again to Delica rf-1, a Japanese delicatessen in the Ferry Building whose takeaway salads and bento boxes are tastier and healthier for you than the standard lunch fare in most SF restaurants. My favorites: the spicy burdock and lotus root salad, and the hijiki and soybean salad. Their selection of cold Japanese green teas, especially the ones that are not sweet, is much appreciated. I like to take my salad plate or bento box outside and eat along the water as I watch the container ships and ferries chart their way across the bay. Then, I go to Peet’s (across Delica) for an espresso or a cappuccino (hint: ask them for a traditional cappuccino and ask them to put it in a porcelain cup).

Delica rf-1
Ferry Building
San Francisco, CA
+1 415 834 0344
Monday - Friday: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am - 5:00pm
www.delicarf1.com

Click here to see a Google map of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco.

Last night I went to Velo Rouge, a cafe on Arguello Boulevard (corner McAllister) just north of Golden Gate Park, for the weekly (Thursday) four-course prix fixe dinner hosted by Melissa Axelrod, a chef who runs a catering business. I signed up for the dinner because I like the idea of dining on communal tables. It’s a great way to meet people in the city. Indeed, I was not disappointed. I had very interesting and amusing conversations with those who shared our table.

The other reason I came to the dinner is that Melissa creates a menu based on fresh, local organic ingredients. There’s an element of surprise and anticipation. Initiatives like this — a chef who takes over a cafe once a week to cook meals based on fresh local ingredients — are becoming popular around the world. Having a short menu that changes every week (versus the traditional restaurant menu) satisfies our desire to eat fresh, locally sourced food and reduces the amount of food that is thrown away. And, back to the social aspect, it’s fun to dine at communal tables.

The food

- Local albacore tuna confit over fresh cranberry beans and Treviso radicchio salad

- Puree of artichoke soup with lemon chive crème fraiche and thyme croutons (this was very refined, light and savory)

- Herb braised local lamb, fresh corn polenta with a cherry tomato and green olive relish OR hand-made ricotta, melted leek and pecorino ravioli with a spicy broccoli rabe sauce (I opted for the ravioli which was delicious and again, light and fresh)

- Cream puffs (vanilla custard and whipped cream) with warm chocolate and salted caramel sauces

I did not feel stuffed at the end of the dinner because the portion sizes were perfect. I was concerned that a four-course dinner would be too much, but this one was just right. Each dish was well balanced; no one flavor overwhelmed another. The price: $45 (excluding wine), cash only.

The menu changes weekly so don’t expect the same thing next week, although you might want to look out for the apple galettes with cinnamon ice cream, which was “divine” according to Thursday evening regulars.

To reserve:

Thursday nights (6:15 pm and 8:00 pm sittings)
Velo Rouge Cafe
798 Arguello Boulevard
San Francisco, CA
+1 415 752 7799

For more information: http://www.melissaclaire.com/kitchen.html

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See Mapplr’s posts about favorite restaurants in San Francisco and view Mapplr San Francisco map.

Just in time for the fall travel season. As I have mentioned in previous articles, there’s no shortage of good restaurants and cafes in the city. Here are four new restaurants to check out when you visit Tel Aviv, which finally is on Google maps (except, for now, the street names are in Hebrew — should be fun trying to figure that out).

Rokach 73
Rokach 73
Tel Aviv, Israel
+972 3 744 8844

Shrakutri
Rabi Hanina 3
Tel Aviv, Israel
+972 3 682 8843
Italian sausages (charcuterie), opened by Vince from Vince & Tamar

Benedict
Ben Yehuda 171
Tel Aviv, Israel
+972 3 544 0345
24-hour café and breakfast

Frida Kahlo
Lilienblum 43
Tel Aviv, Israel
+972 3 566 0481
Mediterranean, fabulous cocktails

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Here is a Google map of my favorite hotels and restaurants in Tel Aviv.

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Yesterday I posted a list of my favorite restaurants in Zurich. Today it’s all about hotels. As many of you know, I am not a fan of chain hotels because I am looking for a more personal touch. However, I am not prepared to pay exorbitant amounts for a “boutique hotel” experience. A number of luxury boutique hotels get away with charging 500 EUR or more per night. Paying these amounts, I feel, is simply excessive and wasteful, even if you have a lot of money.

So here are my favorite hotels in Zurich, places which, by Swiss standards, are reasonably priced but still provide a unique experience.

Sorell Hotel Zürichberg
Orellistrasse 21
Zurich, Switzerland
+41 44 268 35 35
www.zuerichberg.ch

The Dolder Grand
Kurhausstrasse 65
Zurich, Switzerland
+41 44 456 60 00
www.thedoldergrand.com

Widder Hotel
Widdergasse 6
Zurich, Switzerland
+41 44 224 24 11
www.widderhotel.ch

Greulich
Herman-Greulich-Strasse 56
Zurich, Switzerland
+41-43-243 42 43
www.greulich.ch

Lady’s First Design Hotel
Mainaustrasse 24
Zurich, Switzerland
+41 44 380 80 10
www.ladysfirst.ch

Hotel Seehof
Seehofstrasse 11
Zurich, Switzerland
+41 44 254 57 57
www.seehof.ch

Hotel Rössli
Rössligasse 7
Zurich, Switzerland
+41 44 256 70 50
www.hotelroessli.ch

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Here is a Google map of my favorite hotels and restaurants in Zurich.

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