• 09Oct

    Two weeks ago, I got an email from Sarah Bristow. She said she worked for Breakfast, a television program that airs in New Zealand. I thought i might be a scam, but I sent my phone number, and she called right away. It turned out be ligitimate; so I agreed to be interviewed yesterday at noon, next to the St. Francis Yacht Club, overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.

    randy and peter 300x168 Breakfast in New Zealand   TV

    Paul Henry interviewed me, with a live link back to the show host, Pippa Wetzel, who was in the studio back in New Zealand. The weather was beautiful and the segment went well.

    The show is on as follows:

    * Weekdays between 6:30am-9am.
    * Presented by Paul Henry and Pippa Wetzel. News segments presented by Peter Williams Mondays-Wednesdays, and Alison Mau on Thursdays-Fridays. Mau is also Wetzel’s backup. Tamati Coffey is the weather presenter and roving reporter.

    Breakfast is a two-and-a-half hour long magazine style news and current affairs programme, which looks at the days headlines and events happening around New Zealand. News, sport and weather are updated every half hour, with business news being updated at around 6:40am, 7:10am and 8:10am.

    A lot of people visited the site; so hopefully, many of them will come to San Francisco and have a qurky time.

    I loved hearing the cameraman say, “I’d spend my own money to come back here for a visit.”

  • 17Sep
    How about a 5 Start hotel breakfast?

    How about a 5 Start hotel breakfast?

    The W Hotel (corner of 3rd and Howard, 2 blocks So. of Market and across from Moscone Center) is one of my favorite spots for nice quite breakfast. The music is great, the service is impeccable, the food is inventive, and the space is well designed and always filled with fresh flowers. And, another reason I love this restaurant? Free wireless Internet.

    XYZ is the name of the restaurant and they also serve lunch and dinner. I’ve never had a bad meal there and always look forward to returning. The hotel caters to a younger crowd, which means the people-watching is never boring. I even saw our mayor there once, and a few other celebs - Sandra Bernhardt, Ty Pennington (the home repair guru), Alex Mapa, Patton Oswal (Spence on King of Queens), and even James Gosling (inventor of Java). Never a dull moment here!

    Tasteful Decor and great music

    Tasteful Decor and great music

    Joseph and Whitney

    Joseph and Whitney

    delphine and scott 168x300 Breakfast at XYZ ... at the W Hotel

    Scott and Delphine (BTW, Delphine speaks fluent French!)

    randy at xyz breakfast 300x225 Breakfast at XYZ ... at the W Hotel
    Me … blogging, of course.

  • 03Aug

    Blue Bottle Coffee 2 757686 Blue Bottle Coffee

    Blue Bottle Coffee1 704211 Blue Bottle Coffee

    Blue Bottle Coffee is a relative newcomer to the City’s coffee scene. The new location at 66 Mint Street (at Jessie), between Market and Mission, off 5th. If you’re facing the old mint on 5th, it’s directly behind it.
    Well, I’ve read a few comments like “….this is the best latté ever…”, but I’ve had better … in Italy … and sometimes at Peet’s. Don’t get me wrong, it’s really good espresso, and they also make the beautiful little designs using the foam and crema - a nice touch. Also available is a nice selection of tea and the drip coffee is quite a production (see the video above to observe just a portion of the process). They go to great lengths to expand the process, but it’s all good … really good, but not the best I’ve had, like I said, but really good. On a recent trip to Seattle, I sought out their claim to the best coffee, Vivacci, and found the same thing.  It’s really good espresso, but not as good as you find in Italy (and sometimes Peet’s). Since it’s so close to Market and 5th, I’d make the trip for at least a small espresso!
    Don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely worth visiting. They even serve some food items, which I I plan to try next time I visit.