This post on the
Ferry Building is ending up a 3 part post. You know me. You could give me a single cookie and I could take 45 pictures and write 3 paragraphs on it.
So the fact that I've compacted this into 3 posts is a miracle. Almost as miraculous as you coming back to read it!
Scharffen Berger Chocolate. I could kick myself for not going back here. There was just too much going on and I got side-tracked. I really wanted to get some cocoa and cocoa nibs!
I really have no idea what to use cocoa nibs for but I feel deeply that I need them. And who can't use some good quality unsweetened cocoa powder? Just think of the fantastic chocolate tortes and souffles we could make.
Acme Bread Company. You absolutely must have sourdough bread in San Francisco. Seriously. Crusty on the outside, soft on the inside with an actual sourness to it as compared to the sourdough you get in some places that tastes just like french bread.
B had a conversation with the girl who worked there...I love that B always asks questions and gets interesting information. Behind the bread you can see the bakers in the kitchen. That is where all the magic happens. They bake for this location (when it's open to the public during normal hours) as well as for some restaurants in the city.
They are only closed 4 hours a year. You read that right. The only time there is noone baking bread is from 8 pm - 12 midnight on Christmas Eve. Being a baker is not for sissies.
These are shots from the
Village Market. It's grocery store that perfectly rounds out your food shopping needs.
Like many grocery stores you can also find things like soaps and cosmetics.
Aren't these peach branches just lovely?
Speaking of branches... oh that bottom wreath. I love it so muchly. If it wasn't $75 I would have it up in my room right now. Made of manzanita branches and absolutely gorgeous.
Their produce looked amazing. The vegetables were rich in color and crisp looking.
In the back of the market is the family owned
Golden Gate Meat Company that also has wild game and the
Hog Island Oyster Company. Fresh and locally grown, I've heard these oysters are delicious.
Boulettes Larder. I was immediately drawn in to this place. Its accessible from the water side or from inside the building. Gorgeous. Unique. Open stoves with copper pots hanging above.
It's so fantastic that they don't allow any photography. They very nicely asked me to delete that picture I just took and hovered while I did. So next time, I'll be sure to snap away and then run :)
We'll eat there in the future but I think you know how it will pain me to eat without being able to share pictures of my meal. It's a sickness really.
Mariposa Baking Company for all of you living gluten free. Their items looked tasty and they sold a nice variety of goods.
The Gardener, it's a mixture of unique items for home and garden. I loved so many things I had a hard time focusing enough to even take pictures.
Like this doormat. It was expensive but I respect the amount of work it would take to put it together. Sooo pretty.
I suffer from ADOS. Attention Deficit Ooooooh Shiny! So places like this throw me into a fit. The thing is... the closer you look the more you fall in love.
Its not like seeing a bunch of stuff on a table...only to find out it's all crap. This is the complete opposite. I mean, how cool are these plates? There were a bunch of different unique designs and so artistic.
I adore this cutting board. It came in both small and large version. The perfect housewarming gift. Completely seamless and smooth. Each piece of wood was different and each cutting board had it's own pattern. I love that they each told their own story.
Oh and these bowls! You know how I like for things not to match too much and this is just gorgeousness.
I'd love to mix these elegant, rustic pieces with some clean-lined vintage milk glass in blues or greens. The wheels are turning....
I Preferiti Di Boriana has specialty foods from Tuscany. I fell in love with the quaint feel.
If I didn't already have jars upon jars of jams I would have bought some of their wild fruit specialties.
They were putting out their baked goods as we passed by. On the top are bomboloni (Italian donuts) with raspberry, nutella, chocolate and custard fillings.
On the bottom are the
sfogliatella. This is the first time I've seen these and I had to google to get some information. They are made by layering those pieces around fillings like orange ricotta or almond.
Are they not striking?
They have way more than sweets. You can come in and have lunch and cooking classes are sometimes offered.
The owner spent many summers in Tuscany and has kept her family contacts. She buys from others in the nearby towns and most of them are family operated. For instance, the copper pans they carry have been handmade by the Cesare family for over a century.
This fresh tomato and pasta sauce was so fragrant. I mean it's cold sauce and I could smell it when I stood to take these pictures.
You really can't have too many chocolateries. But I have to say that
Recchiuti Confections is definitely in it's own niche.
I love that they display their chocolate in jewelry cases. It makes perfect sense to me because chocolate and jewels are about equal in my mind.
I was sold the moment I saw the flavors offered. Fleur de Sel because I love sweet and salty. Oh but look at the Burnt Caramel, Tarragon Grapefruit & Sesame Nougat.
Notice that their truffles in the middle look like actual truffles...which is what they are supposed to look like...hence the name truffle. But really most truffles are perfectly rounded instead.
They have fun pairing chocolates specifically for red wine and for whiskey. They even have a varietal box. Varietal? This is for the connosseurs or for those in training. Just like wine, growing regions and weather temperatures produce cocoa with different flavor profiles. The varietal box features chocolate from Colombia, Ecuador, Madagascar and Venezuela.
I'll leave you with that for the day. I'm off to go find some chocolate...
