Foreign Cinema Brunch, Mission

I met up with Heather this morning for brunch at Foreign Cinema. I haven't had brunch there in a few years and had forgotten how great their brunch menu is. I don't think there was anything listed that I didn't want to try. It was easy to narrow down the options though since Heather is vegetarian and we were going to share.

We decided on: mixed Fruit Salad with ricotta cheese, mint and pistachios and home made pop tarts! This one was cranberry, and there was also kumquat available today.

The pop tarts are great - really flaky, as was evidenced by all the tiny pieces on my black pants. I really enjoyed the salad too - loved the citrus with the mint and cheese. Pistachios aren't my thing, but easy to avoid.

We also split the lager and chanterelle omelet with truffle oil and cheddar. I think because I got so excited by the ingredients on the menu, I neglected to notice that it was an omelet. I never order omelets, because I usually think that the eggy part tastes dry and has a weird texture.  Usually if I see that on a menu and like the ingredients I ask them to scramble it.  Heather thinks I'm weird because she thinks the reverse is true - that scrambled eggs are dry. Annnyway, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the omelet was really creamy, and have I mentioned how I feel about truffles? Oh and the potatoes were amazing - nice crunchy outside, soft creamy inside.

I'll be back here soon!

Gift Idea: Salt Pig

Love these salt pigs from Nigella Lawson. I'm surprised that so many celebrity chefs have such cool looking products for sale.

Gift idea: Adopt an olive Tree

A couple of years ago I somehow stumbled onto the website for Nudo and immediately thought that would make a great gift. Specifically, I thought it would make a great gift for friends of ours who were getting married in Italy, and love to cook.

The idea is that you can adopt an olive tree from the grove for a year, and then in the fall and spring, they'll send you the produce from your tree (plus some from the neighboring trees).

We've gotten to try the olive oil and were talking about adopting a tree of our own. Our friends stepped in and adopted one for us for Christmas, so now we are waiting for our own olive oil supply to come in.

Also - the packaging is super cute. You can also just go online and buy tins of the oil (as well as other food stuffs).

Jamie Oliver Christmas Crackers

I'm so bummed I didn't see this before Christmas. These crackers are great, so much better than the little paper hats that don't fit on my head! They are on sale now, maybe I should stock up for next year...

How cute is that mini grater and spoon? 

 

Lovejoy's Tea Room, Noe Valley

It was a Noe Valley weekend. We went to Lovejoy's this afternoon for High Tea with the (extended) family. I love that place, it's like you're in your grandmother's living room, if your grandmother was really into collecting tea pots, tea cozies and doilies.

When we first discovered this place, we were super excited, because when K and I first started dating, he'd always tell me how he wishes he could have me try a British cream tea, but alas, they do not have such things in America! Meanwhile, he was unaware that 2 blocks away was Lovejoys Tea Room.

We got a big selection of teas and tea sandwiches today since there were so many of us. The sandwiches are decent, but really what you want are the scones with the Double Devon Cream. The Brit says "it's not like off the farm, but it's pretty good". The American (me) says "more please!"

SF Hot Chocolate: La Boulange, Noe Valley

While running some errands on 24th St, we stopped in the new La Boulange for a hot chocolate. It was.. ok. Tasted like what I would make at home (heat some water, add some hot chocolate mix). I liked that it wasn't overly sweet, but overall, kinda disappointing. K thought "it didn't taste like anything at all".
Looked nice though.

Up next on the list: Christopher Elbow, Town Hall, TCHO, Cocoa Bella, and the lady at the Ferry Building Farmers Market.