A Spooky Night on Alcatraz

The island of Alcatraz. Formerly a prison (until 1963,) this abandoned edifice now hosts hundreds of visitors a day, seeking to relive the horror and isolation that the prisoners experienced. (I can't help but think of The Prisoner of Azkaban - major Harry Potter fan!)

The Ferry to Alcatraz

The best way to see Alcatraz is through the night tour. It is about five times more scary and cold than the day tour(!) but well worth it for the eery ambiance. 

As you watch the ferry abandon you, feeling isolated on the dreary island, you feel as though you will never again connect to the world away from Alcatraz. It is no surprise so many prisoners are famed for their desperate escape attempts. 

Bleak, abandoned buildings + fog

As you walk through the cell blocks, hearing, through the audio tour, about the insane inmates and of the isolation they endured, you become connected with the island, and it feels as though you, too, are its prisoner.

Lighthouse 

There are two ferries that take you back to San Francisco. One that leaves at 8:40 and one that leaves at 9:30. Words of wisdom from the tour guide: if you want to make the 8:40 ferry, don't be late. 

This can be problematic if you have dinner reservations at 9 for the most anticipated restaurant experience of your trip, at The Slanted Door, which, in our case, we had. We had also worked up quite a large appetite, wandering the mystic island.  

This can also be problematic when your dad and sister decide to abandon you and your mom among the dark premises of the island just moments before the 8:40 ferry departs. 

So we were waiting and waiting and waiting, as 8:40 was quickly approaching, and we called and called and called, and no one answered. Finally its 8:35 and we can't wait any longer, so we make a run for the ferry landing. Calling my dad's cell and hearing the ferry blow its horn to signify its final boarding call, we run down the dank hills to make it on time. As my mom and I arrive, flustered and out of breath, we find the two culprits comfortably settled into warm chairs. Really?... Really?  

Finally leaving isolation

A great dinner is exactly what we need to get over this cold, spooky experience on Alcatraz. We head to the Ferry Building to make it to our reservation on time. Let me just say, looking back, there could not have been a better end to the night.

Vegetarian Spring Rolls

First: the tea. The wonderful green peony tea, beautifully presented in wine glasses, each adorned with a pom-pom-shaped bundle of tea leaves. 

Second: the food. My choice, the Crab Cellophane Noodles, were a hit. Great balance of flavor and not too heavy. Another favorite was the Caramelized Wild Gulf Shrimp, which was slightly sweet, but balanced with a spicy kick. 

Cellophane Noodles, Broccoli with Tofu, and Brown Rice

Third: the dessert. Oh the dessert. I absolutely could not leave this restaurant without getting their famous cotton candy. The flavor - Bergamot Orange. The verdict - life-changing cotton candy. This is not your typical county fair sugary treat. In fact, it hardly tasted like sugar at all. While devouring gracefully eating this treat, occasionally, a burst of orange bergamot would grace my tongue, making for a very well balanced dessert, that was definitely not too sweet, but incredibly satisfying. 

Bergamot Orange Cotton Candy. Pure Bliss. 

Foreign Cinema: San Francisco

Trips to San Francisco are cold and wonderful. On our most recent trip, last week, we found relief from the hustle and bustle of the city in a serene day trip to Napa Valley. 

The vineyards, redolent of ripe grapes and rose petals, provided the most magnificent walkways to stroll down. While my parents tasted a few different wines, they let me and my sister steal a few sips. The red wine was very good, in my opinion.  

After touring a couple of vineyards, we were ready to get back to the faster-paced energy of San Francisco, and after purchasing a bottle of wine, olive oil, and salt spoons, we headed back to Fog City. 

Our next destination, courtesy of me (and opentable.com,)was the wonderful, little restaurant, Foreign Cinema. I found this gem last year while blog-surfing, and insisted that we must go on our trip to California last summer. Since then, it has become an esencial on every trip we make to the bay area. 

The ambiance is truly what makes the restaurant so compelling. Strings of lights billow across the high ceiling, as a weekly-changing foreign film is projected onto the brick wall throughout the duration of your dining experience. The reason why we keep coming back time after time, however, is for the restaurant's  exceptional food. 

We started with Lavender Baked Goat Cheese (the name alone makes me hungry,) Beet and Spinnach House Salad, Fried Chicken with White Snap Peas, and a couple of really amazing desserts: the Blueberry Crisp, and Chocolate Pot de Creme. Everything was phenomenal. I wish the Lavender Goat Cheese never have ended, the Chicken was cooked to absolute perfection - fully cooked, while still succulent, with an outer crisp that didn't seem heavy at all. I liked the blueberry crisp, but I LOVED the Chocolate Pot de Creme. It was rich, silky, and topped with unsweetened whipped cream for balance. Pure chocolate heaven. 

Very pretty vineyard in Napa Valley

Rosebushes mark the end of each row of grape vines 

The Napa Valley house from the Parent Trap, holla 

Foreign Cinema 

Lavender Baked Goat Cheese + Vintage Silverwear