Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The True San Francisco Treats
Forget Rice-a-Roni. No one here eats that stuff. (Did they ever?) The real
San Francisco treats could more appropriately be considered to be these
dishes, all of which are said to have had their origins here.
San Francisco sourdough:
That lightly tangy taste of sourdough has
become a city standard, not just because some varieties of yeast, such as
Boudin's recipe, only thrive in the Bay Area microclimate. Hollowing out a
bowl of it is a popular way to serve chowder, although you usually get more
chowder in a standard bowl (and bread is usually served with it anyway).
Irish Coffee:
It wasn't invented here, but it was popularized here by a
travel writer who picked up the recipe at an airport in Ireland. The Buena
Vista (p. 206) is now considered the place to drink one.
Cioppino
(
chop
-peen-no): A variety of fish, crab, and shellfish, all sim-
mered in tomatoes, garlic, and red wine—it was originally something easy
that immigrant fisherman could whip up with whatever fish they caught
that day. Now, it's a city signature that'll make
you
shell out.
The Fortune Cookie:
The first ones, folded-over
sembei
tea crackers, were
given as a kind of party favor in 1914 to people who showed up at Golden
Gate Park's Japanese Tea Garden. They evolved into the platitude-stuffed
sweets we know today. But did they absolutely originate here? Even
Confucius can't say for sure.
Chop Suey:
Pieces of meat stir-fried with celery, onion, sprouts, mush-
rooms, and other veggies, chop suey is said to have originated with
Chinese laborers in town. San Francisco's Chinese population meant that
the city was closely associated with the late 19th-century popularity of
what was then considered an exotic dish.
Mai Tai:
This potent rum-and-syrup cocktail was invented in wartime by
Trader Vic's restaurant (now gone) and exported just as the Pacific Islands
craze set in.
items rise beyond the traditional curry, although you can get that, too; I like the
salmon cubes with red chili paste and garlic ($15), as well as the fresh mango salad
served with shrimp and spicy lemongrass dressing ($10). In general, the sauces are
rich and flavorful and make dining different. Other locations:
Cow Hollow (2033
Union St., at Buchanan;
%
415/567
-
6742); Civic Center (696 Geary St., at
Leavenworth;
%
415/673
-
2368); the Mission (819 Valencia St., at 19th); and
SoMa (
%
415/826
-
7738; 149 2nd St., at Natoma;
%
415/278
-
9991).
