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Quirky San Francisco

• Breakfast at XYZ … at the W Hotel

  17Sep
  Categories: Breakfast, Cocktails, Coffee, Dinner, Food, Hotel, Lunch, People Watching, Relax, SOMA Click Here to Leave a Comment
  

  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

  

  Joseph and Whitney

  

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

  
  Me … blogging, of course.
  Tags: Hotel W, XYZ Restaurant

• Blue Bottle Coffee

  03Aug
  Categories: Breakfast, Coffee, Event, Food, SOMA, Tea Click Here to Leave a Comment

  

  

  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.
  Tags: Blue Bottle Coffee

• Peet’s Coffee is GREAT!

  24Jun
  Categories: Breakfast, Coffee Comments: 1

  
  

  Peet’s Coffee makes some of the best espresso ever … except everywhere in Italy, but that’s not always an option, right? Starbucks is still an option for me, but Peet’s is consistently better (especially that thick rich foamed milk).
  FYI, originally, Starbucks and Peet’s were one company and specialized in selling only beans. One partner thought it might be good to open coffee shops, the other one said it would never work. They split and the rest is history. Now they both have stores. I have stock in both companies and neither are great investments, but it’s fun to think I’m a part owner in both companies. I think they both do an amazing job of delivering great coffee, in spite of people who hate chains. BUT, when you’re in the mood for a good coffee, and I’m not anxious to take a chance on a mom ‘n pop shop, unless I’m traveling and there’s no other alternatie.
  That said, Peet’s coffee is my favorite. The people often seem to be more serious about what they do, too. One of my favorite locations is on the corner of 3rd and Mission. They have a great team. Ask for Geo or Miguel.   They are quite simply, the best! Tell them Randy said HI!

  Geo, the one on the left told me about the most crooked street in San Francisco, which is *not* Lombard. I went and he’s right; so I posted it here (search on it above, right). Thanks Geo!
  Tags: :|, \, Peet's Coffee