Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
117
Beard Papa's
BAKERY When this J apanese chain of cr eam puffs hit the U.S., it
became an o vernight sensation. What's the secr et to these luscious cr eam puffs? B eard
Papa's claims it could be their special 2-hour process mixing custard cream, real whipped
cream, and M adagascar v anilla beans to pr oduce the filling, a pr ocess that 's r epeated
several times a day. Or maybe it's the ultra fresh crust. Or the interesting way the cream
puffs are just a little less sw eet than y ou'd expect them to be. Well, you'll just hav e to
come find out for y ourselves. You can get the traditional cr eam puffs ser ved plain or
dipped in chocolate on any day, but unusual fillings like strawberry, green tea, or pump-
kin are strictly seasonal.
99 Yerba Buena Lane (at M ission St., bt w. 3rd and 4th sts .).
&
415/978-9972.
Westfield San Francisco
Centre, 865 Market St. (at 5th St.)
&
415/978-9975.
www.beardpapasf.com. Cream puffs $2.25 each or
$22/dozen. AE, MC, V. Mon-Sat 10am-8pm; Sun 10am-6:30pm. Muni: No . 30-Stockton or no. 45-Union-
Stockton bus to Mission St.
Koh Samui & The Monkey
THAI Thai seems to be the ne w Chinese, with spring
rolls and pad Thai having taken the place of broccoli beef and cashew chicken as favored
take-out fare. But if you want a break from the “typical” Thai food you find most places
these days, come to K oh S amui. Combinations sur e to whet y our appetite include
crushed sesame scallops in yellow curry sauce or pumpkin curry chicken. Certainly, you'll
find plenty of familiar menu items, from green papaya salad to green curry chicken. For
the kids, order the wok-tossed noodles with peanut sauce or ev en some of the satays. As
long as y ou steer clear of anything mar ked with an asterisk (for spicy), the kids will be
fine. Be sure to order the fried bananas for dessert. “The Monkey” part of the name refers
to the attractive shop next door, which sells Thai antiques.
415 Brannan St. (at 3rd St.).
&
415/369-0007.
www.kohsamuiandthemonkey.com. Highchairs, boosters.
Reservations accepted. Main courses $8-$22. MC, V. Mon-Sat 11am-3pm; Sun- Thurs 5-10pm; F ri-Sat
5-10:30pm. Muni: No. 30-Stockton or no. 45-Union to Brannan St.
'wichcraft
SAND WICHES New Yorkers kno w Tom Colicchio for his lauded
restaurants Gramercy Tavern and Craft. You may know the award-winning chef for his
role as head judge on the TV show
Top Chef.
Now it's time to get to know him for his . . .
um, sandwiches. Yes, Colicchio's West Coast debut is based on slices of br ead with stuff
inside. The “'wich” in “'wichcraft ” is shor t for sandwich, get it? N o matter. When you
bite into his juicy slow-roasted pork sandwich with red cabbage and jalapenos, you'll get
it. Vegetarians may like the grilled gruyere and caramelized onions on rye, or even a tasty
vegan option with chickpeas and r oasted peppers. For kids, simply turn to the br eakfast
menu, which is served all day (and is cheaper). M y older daughter ate her entir e toasted
ham, avocado, and butter sandwich, and loved it. The younger one had a hard time get-
ting her mouth around an impressive triple-decker peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but
she almost managed to finish it. Although 'wichcraft is located in the ne w Westfield San
Francisco Centre, it's got the best location of any r estaurant there: outside. While the
other dining spots ar e in the thr oes of the mall cr owd, 'wichcraft enjo ys a corner spot
with two 20-foot-high glass walls looking out onto the street. Okay, so the view is just of
a parking structure, but the light and air y space—furnished with many small tables and
a few long, communal tables—is sleek and welcoming. Word has it Colicchio will expand
his offerings and open later into the ev ening. We'll definitely be back for that.
868 Mission St. (btw. 4th and 5th sts.).
&
415/593-3895.
www.wichcraftnyc.com. Highchairs, boosters.
No r eservations. Sandwiches $6-$10. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. M on-Thurs 8am-7pm; F ri 8am-8pm; Sat
10am-8pm; Sun 10am-7pm. Muni: No. 30-Stockton or no. 45-Union-Stockton bus to Mission St.
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