The last day of the year started off with a bang as I ran around frantically after I overslept to meet Lupe & CNQ. I picked Lupe up…only 20 minutes late. I made her stop at the post office with me and then we headed off for San Francisco to the Mission District and Tartine Bakery!
We tried so many yummy things (both before lunch and later that afternoon with Heido):
croissant – excellent, A+!
lemon curd tart – a little too liquidy with a great crust, B+
gougere – huge and good even cold
oatmeal chocolate chip cookie – this was very thin & crisp, not to my taste since I prefer chewy cookies but we all marveled at the hugeness of it. This was as big as my face. And I have a BIG HEAD. B+
shortbread – so so so buttery, B
lemon meringue cake – multitude of thin layers enrobed with lemon curd and entirely covered with whirls of meringue that were torched lightly to a gorgeous golden brown – A

After some of the sweet things, we turned the corner and had lunch at Pizzeria Delfina. We got three seats at the counter with just a short wait and ate some very delicious pizza.
Amatriciana – guanciale, caramelized onions, red peppers, garlic, & tomatoes
Prosciutto – prosciutto, bufalo mozzarella, & lightly dressed fresh arugula

We had to walk off the food so we wandered down to Dolores Park.

Lupe & CNQ decided they had to ride on the swings…I decided I had to take pictures.

Lupe & I made a stop with some of the Tartine deliciousness to see Heido and baby Jimbo again. I looooooove him. He is such a sweet baby. I can’t believe she has a baby! He is getting chubbier and his eyelashes are long and dark when he’s sleeping and he snuggles up to your neck when you hold him and I am just going on and on and on about how wonderful he is…pictures on other memory card, darn it!

Anyway! I took Lupe home so she could finish packing. She left for Portland at 5am this morning. After a quick dinner with my parents I went over to Garrpaccio & Frackaccino’s place for a very low key NYE with our other high school friends. We played games and watched a little HIMYM…and completely missed the countdown. Go us!
Overall Impressions:
Tartine
food: 4 I feel like this bakery is a little pricey, but there’s always a line out the door. Everything we tried was flaky, buttery, and quite delicious. The open faced croque monsieur and pressed sandwiches smelled and looked amazing. They also have a coffee bar.
ambiance: 4 There are a few tables inside the bakery. The space is saved from stuffiness by high ceilings and huge windows. There are also several outside tables, that enhance a faux Parisian environment.
why I’d go back: I didn’t try any of the amazing looking/smelling sandwiches! Also, I hear the morning buns are fabulous.

Pizzeria Delfina:
food: 4 The pizzas are always perfectly scorched with a thin chewy crust that isn’t too cracker thin. The toppings are great and I always like trying one of the changing special pies.
ambiance: 3+ It’s a small space. That’s one thing I hate about most restaurants in the city – very small and noisy.
why I’d go back: It’s yummy pizza and it’s located on a block where in one direction you can go to the Bi-Rite Creamery for ice cream, and in the other you get delicious baked yumminess. Wonderful combination.