SF Eats : Fisherman's Grotto

 

Walking along Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39, we had a hard time choosing where to eat (we forgot to research) so we just trusted our instincts and decided to go to the seafood restaurant that looked like a cross between The Little Mermaid and Pirates of the Caribbean - the Fisherman's Grotto.

Their Disney-like interiors had a family friendly ambiance, unlike the neighboring restaurants that were hardly inviting to the tourists around. They had great service and the wait staff was very polite and had a sense of humor.

Freshly baked sourdough bread

One of the best clam chowders I've ever had (I think it was better than Boudin's) - it was perfectly creamy. Scraping the inner walls of the sourdough bowl with leftover clam chowder was the best part.

They said the crab sandwich was their best seller - we thought it was just okay. And for those who don't eat as much - it's best to share. After the clam chowder, finishing my sandwich was an ordeal.

So when you get a chance, stop by the Fisherman's Grotto, asked to be seated outside (but watch out for any seagulls wanting a part of your meal!) so you can people watch while eating a generous serving of their clam chowder. When I come back next year, I'd definitely eat here again (minus the crab sandwich). 

Thank you Mae and Kat for the photos.

-oOo-

SF Eats : Miette Patisserie at the Ferry Building

The last time I was in San Francisco was in 1997 and I don't know why, for the life of me, haven't visited this loveable city during my past trips to California over the last decade. 

San Francisco was Disneyland for the food lover in me. Every corner there was something interesting and delicious to eat that took my taste buds on a roller coaster ride of yumminess.

Whether we ate fast food, fine dining or food truck cuisine, they were incredibly, well, I can't find the words to say. In SF, I hardly talked when I ate, which is rarely the case when I eat in Manila, and I think the food in our country is already delicious to begin with.

Miette Patisserie is one of San Francisco's most famous pastry shops. Located at the historic Ferry Building (they have a Farmer's market every Tuesdays and Thursdays here as well).

My friend Mae with her sister Jean choosing which ice cream sandwich to get 

- everything looked so good!

A look at Miette's quaint little shop

 

Various cookies and treats in the store front - I'd like to have one of these on my birthday!

 

My friend Katrina chose Miette's bestseller, the Old Fashioned cupcake. Their boiled marshmallow icing was perfectly executed and the chocolate cupcake was by itself already good.

Katrina's take on her cupcake of choice

Ice cream sandwiches for $5 (around 210 pesos)? Worth it? Absolutely!

Miette's Valrhona Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwich was absolutely heavenly! 

It had just the right amount of sweetness.
The sweetness of the chocolate cookie and the bitterness of the ice cream was a perfect combination.

Mae's first bite and reaction on her ice cream sandwich

Miette, simply put, was the right kind of pastry goodness. It wasn't too sweet, unlike most pastries and baked goods we get in Manila, which makes each bite both satisfying and refreshing - and this was just at the beginning of our trip. I couldn't wait to taste more of these as we explored SF.

Thank you Mae, Kat and KS for the photos.

-oOo-