distinctly sf

el tonayense

So you'd been going to your favourite taco truck for goodness knows how long and had successfully achieved "regular" status. The truck guys knew you came for the al pastor and that you wanted it so freaking hot, you'd weep red-faced and yell out expletives in between bites of bean, rice and meat. Sometimes you were even lucky enough to get a buck knocked off the price for this experience. It was a wonderful time. Then you ran off to Istanbul for seven months and upon your return, this established relationship vanished. Different eyes peer at you through the glass. Now there's sour cream in your burrito and your eyes are still dry after the second bite. Then you realise you've got carnitas in your hands and not your beloved al pastor. What happened? Nevertheless, it's a damn fine burrito. The carnitas melts in your mouth, the cilantro makes itself known and the juice cascades all over your hands with each bite. You need every single napkin in the pile you are given. As soon as you devour that juicy folded end piece of tortilla, you know you need to return tomorrow for another, reminding yourself to make sure you do get the al pastor and ask for the sour cream to be held.

El Tonayense Taco Truck is parked on Harrison and 22nd Street. Seriously, some of the tastiest tacos and burritos around.

nob hill / china town

Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill.

When I first moved to San Francisco, I spent loads of time in Chinatown— not touristy Grant Street, but Stockton and its side streets. I bought my produce from the crowded little markets, had to defend my spot in line for coconut rolls at the AA Bakery on Stockton, and picked up drippy reddish ducks hanging in the window of restaurants. I forget the name of the place I used to get the ducks from, but the guy with the cleaver would always say a bunch of stuff to me in Cantonese, and I'd just smile with that "I don't understand" look and he'd laugh. I loved the madness of Chinatown— I learned how to glide through the crowds without colliding into people (which is a feat, let me tell you) and I knew which side of the street had the barrels of dried sea creatures whose smells I wanted to avoid. While most people only explore Grant, I recommend taking a little detour through Stockton if not only to see the extreme contrast between the two. Stockton is grittier and busier, and is worth trekking up to get a coconut roll at AA Bakery, which is between Jackson and Washington. Talking about these rolls is making me think I'll need to stop by tomorrow morning...

saturday morning at the ferry building

A and I got up early to catch the Farmers Market at the Ferry Building before it got too crowded. Some of California's most beautiful and delicious produce, jams, olive oils and cheeses can be found under umbrellas set up in neat rows around the Ferry Building. This is the port where you catch the ferries to Sausalito, Vallejo and Alameda. The actual building is home to numerous gourmet shops, restaurants and stands.



Our first stop was the Blue Bottle Coffee Co. stand, which surprisingly didn't have much of a line yet. I have to say, the best soy lattes and au laits I have ever had have come from Blue Bottle. We then wandered around to ogle the pretty vegetables and glistening free-range rotisserie chickens, slowly turning on their spits. Naturally, we soon got hungry and with all the choices, it was a tough decision. I settled on some chicken and maple bacon sausage in a rosemary potato roll with some relish and a sweet mustard. Sadly I have forgotten the name of the stand, but my goodness, was it good!



You can catch the Farmers Market on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am–2pm and Saturdays from 8am-2pm. Grab a bite to eat and your own cup of heavenly Blue Bottle coffee before you take that ferry ride over to Sausalito.

the park in fog

the de young tower / silhouette / a murder of crows / nasturtium
a path / a face / ghostly conservatory
symmetry / yellow / petals spear upward / dahlia

pacific

yesterday
I walked on the edge
of a continent.