Sweet Surrender

Sometimes, a girl needs to just get away. You know what I mean? I desperately needed my San Francisco weekend. There is nothing like a couple of nights away from home, away from your troubles, away from the increasing stress and frenetic energy. Not that San Francisco is the center of peace and calm but it’s arching skyscrapers, creative community, unique stores, and delicious eateries kept my mind busy. I sweetly surrendered to the city’s distractions, and I’m so glad I did.

I stayed at the Cova Hotel, located on Ellis Street which is a pretty harsh part of town. It’s not that the Tenderloin is particularly awful; it’s just pretty gritty and grim. But I didn’t let that cloud my judgment of the hotel. The staff was very accommodating and made sure that our safety and comfort were their major priorities. I almost chuckled when the manager strictly said to NOT go walking down Ellis Street, as if I need the reminder after driving in to the hotel. But, in case you didn’t know, don’t go walking down that street. The hotel rooms were decorated in modern colors and shapes, which I loved. It almost had this retro 70’s feel to it. The hotel offers a daily breakfast of croissants, hot waffles, yogurt, and fruit, plus coffee and juice. The best part of the hotel, in my opinion, is it’s observation deck. On the 8^th floor, there is a roof deck that lets you overlook the city’s beautiful landscape. I swear I could see all the way out to the SF airport.

When you come to San Francisco, you must make it your mission to shop and eat. It’s only natural, considering the bay hosts some of the best shops and restaurants. I already had a list of places that I wanted to revisit or try for the first time. Tartine, Philz Coffee, Pizzeria Delfina, Dynamo Donuts, Miette Patissiere are just some of the places I wanted to visit and they were worth every bite!

First of all, Tartine Bakery has got to be my favorite bakery in the world. The staff are warm and friendly, the atmosphere is cozy yet refined, and the food is utterly delicious. I went on Sunday morning and got a little sad when I saw the line out the door but stuck to my guns. Thankfully, the line moved pretty fast and I only had to wait 10 minutes. last time I came, I had a panini and a tart, but this time I wanted to try out their famous Brioche Bread Pudding, and I couldn’t resist getting a Pain Au Chocolat. the bread pudding was even better than I imagined. The fruit topping was cooked perfectly, soft but not mushy and the eggy custard had hints of vanilla and cinnamon in it. The bread soaked up the custard so it wasn’t too eggy, although mine started to get a little unappetizing towards the end. Tip: don’t get it to go; the best part about their bread pudding is eating it out of a big bowl. The Pain Au Chocolat remained untouched since I was so full, but I ate it the next day and it tasted really good. Amazing how good quality pastries can last for a longer time, right?

Other places worth mention are Dynamo Donuts and Colibri Bistro. At Dynamo Donuts, my friend and I split a Chocolate Spice donut and a Caramel de Sel donut. The Caramel donut was disappointing; it didn’t taste like anything. While the donut was soft and not overly sweet, the top glaze was lacking all flavor. But the Chocolate Spice donut totally blew me away. I can’t put in to words what it tasted like, but it was freaking delicious. The chipotle and cinnamon totally drive your tastebuds crazy and you won’t be able to think about anything else. For dinner, we went to Colibri Bistro in downtown San Francisco. Their menu boasts an updated, modern take on Mexican Cuisine and the atmosphere is sleek and sophisticated. A little pricey, but definitely worth going to. The best thing I ate there was the savory bacon cornbread. Yes, I said bacon cornbread. I’m not even a big bacon afficinado but holy crap, this bread was good.

While in the  mission, why not try Philz Coffee on 24th street? It offers all kinds of coffee, dark to light, and you will see some very interesting people here. Very interesting. Honestly, I find hipsters and all those people mlidly amusing and I start cracking up whenever I’m around them,  so going to this place was like heaven for me. As an avid people watcher, I loved all the different people at this place. But if too tight jeans, unkempt hair, and body odor bother you, I would avise against this place. But, if you can stomach it, please try it out. The coffee is superb and the staff is so friendly. I was unsure about what to order and the smiling girl informed me that the Ether, a dark roast, would be perfect and she was right! They also have an impressive array of pastries and cute cupcakes.

When we weren’t eating up a storm, my friend and I traveled through every San Francisco neighborhood, snapping as many pictures as possible. It’s fun to get out of town and just explore every nook and cranny, especially with someone who shares your passion for photography. We had a great time exploring San Francisco and left with a newfound appreciation for this eclectic city. We managed to check out the Richard Avedon exhibit at the SF MOMA which was absolutely stellar. Seeing the work of someone that you admire greatly is such a wonderful thing and motivates you to work harder and improve.  Not only was his work breaktaking, the gallery itself is remarkable. I wish I had brought my camera to show you how beautiful the gallery is.  The observation deck on the top of the museum has a great view of the city, exposing every layer the city offers. But I managed to sneak up on to the roof of the Cova Hotel that we stayed at, and snapped some soaring sunset photos.

I can’t say how much I loved working with Rachael from Six Apart Media, who made my trip painless and ensured that all the details were sorted out for me. She even gave me a handy little gift bag upon my arrival, stuffed with Ghirardelli chocolate, traveling information, and promotional materials. I wish I could have met up with her but our schedules weren’t compatible.

Many thanks to the San Francisco Visitors Bureau for sponsoring this trip. I’m so glad that they chose me to participate in their “Shop SF” campaign. It was a wonderful experience and I hope to work with them again in the future.