pretty by the bay

I don’t really sleep in, even on weekends. I like to get up early and get a jump start on my day. In San Francisco, early birds have a major advantage at eateries that become ridiculously crowded as the day drags on. Case in point: Tartine. It’s one of my all-time favorites, but the line can be hellishly long if you get there at the wrong time. The perfect time to arrive at Tartine is shortly after 8 a.m., when the pastries are still slightly warm, the line is short and tables are plentiful. And honestly, you need to sit at a table and take your time with beauties like the Morning Bun. Flaky, buttery dough. Caramelized brown sugar. Crunchy sugar subtly enhanced with fresh orange zest. This is pastry perfection.

Corey and I usually balance sweet treats with something savory, and Tartine’s Pain au Jambon is the perfect salty solution. This ham and cheese croissant is not for the faint of heart. Corey offered his head as a point of comparison for how large this treat actually is:

I don’t think you’ll find a better croissant outside of France. It’s golden brown and stuffed with just the right amount of salty ham and nutty gruyere cheese.

Served with a bowl ‘o coffee, this made for a perfect early morning breakfast.

Every time we visit Tartine, I bore Corey with a repetitive discussion of how it marks the start of one of my favorite food corridors in San Francisco. On one block of 18th Street (between Guerrero and Dolores), you’ll find some of the best eats SF has to offer.

We start with Tartine…

…and as we head west, we encounter Delfina – home to excellent Italian food and wood-fired pizza…

…Bi Rite, one of my favorite gourmet grocery stores…

…and Bi Rite Creamery, home to some THE BEST ice cream in the world. Seriously. Their Salted Caramel is the stuff of dreams.

I can’t think of a better way to spend a day than eating my way across 18th Street and collapsing in the grass at Dolores Park.

(The park was a little quiet at 9 a.m., but it soon will be filled with SF’s doggy elite – such as this guy, who enjoyed an afternoon there last weekend.)

After touring the culinary sites, Corey led me to a different part of 18th Street to show me the Women’s Building – a Mission neighborhood landmark known for its elaborate and colorful murals. Since he indulged my inner food geek, I indulged his inner city planner geek and snapped a few photos for the blog. (Normally, his planning-nerd obsessions are a bit boring, but I have to admit this one was pretty cool.)

With a morning as fabulous as this, I can only imagine how wonderful the afternoon might be! It’s a beautiful weekend to be in SF.