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 

LA to San Francisco in Food: Part 2

Chef Chu's: 

Upon entering the San Francisco area, we stopped for lunch at Chef Chu's in Mountain View. All I can say is this restaurant is wonderful from the moment you enter to the moment you leave. Right when you enter, a larger-than-life-size poster of Justin Bieber greets you - among the various other autographed pictures of celebs who have ventured into this historic chinese eatery. After sitting at  a booth near the entrance, the waiter/ manager took our drink orders and - after overhearing us gushing about the Justin Bieber poster - whipped out his iphone and showed us the dozens of pictures of Justin on his most recent visit to Chef Chu's: pictures of Justin, Justin with Jayden Smith, Justin holding the manager's newborn baby... 

This restaurant is famous for being the first fast food Chinese restaurant in America. It was a lot of fun and the manager is awesome! 

Mr. Green Bubble:

Favorite bubble tea in California! Mr. Green Bubble by far has the best ambiance and bb tea flavors of all the bubble teas in San Francisco. This cute shop offers a variety of flavors and they even have soft serve ice cream with a bunch of unique flavors and toppings! My favorite part was the huge size (only one to choose from) of the bubble tea: about the size of two normal teas :) I recommend the Rose Green flavor. 

Ici Ice Cream: 

Rum Raisin ice cream at Ici... This is hands down the best ice cream I've ever had in my life. The fresh made cones are filled with dark chocolate at the bottom to keep your ice cream safe from dripping out the bottom. While in the 30 minute-wait line, employees will bring you samples of any flavor(s) you want to try. I sampled the peach habeñero flavor and was extremely surprised to find that the sweet/ spicy flavors worked perfectly together without being overwhelming. I ended up going with the Rum Raisin flavor -  I have never tasted anything so luxurious in a scoop ice cream before... So pleased with this icy find.  

                              

Osha Thai in San Fransisco: 

 First full meal in San Francisco and not a disappointment! The pad thai was delicious and beautiful, topped with a fresh orchid! Classy! 

Foreign Cinema: 

My favorite restaurant of the trip - possibly of all time. Foreign Cinema is a chic restaurant with an innovative concept. Here you can enjoy a quality meal while sitting outdoors watching a featured movie (in my case Breakfast at Tiffany's - perfect!) projected on the side of the building. It is pretty much the perfect place for a relaxing night, and I hear their brunch is unbeatable. 

Frog Hollow Farms: 

Mmmm I've never had such a wonderful bowl of oatmeal as the one at Frog Hollow Farms in the Ferry Building. This became our morning ritual during our stay in the city and was the perfect start to every day. A warm bowl of steel cut oats, fresh fresh fresh berries and peaches, pecans, a bit of brown sugar and to top it all off a dollop of Frog Hollow peach conserves. The peach conserves were so delicious that we ordered a case of 12 once we got home!  

Miette: 

The cutest, most delicious, picture perfect bakery inside the Ferry Building in San Francisco's bay area. Apart from all of the unique candies and sweets throughout the shop, the truly fantastic attraction at miette is the shop's signature macarons. From rose-geranium to chocolate to pistachio, miette has covered all of the classic flavors and more. These macarons are more natural in quality: using skin-on almonds, no artificial colors, and the freshest ingredients possible. Truly a delightful find. 

These adorable cupcakes came from........ 

the airport!? 

Yeppp I never knew airport food could be this good! They tasted fresh and moist and delicious! All of the food in this airport was surreal... it was like an airport if an airport was a melting pot for asian, vegetarian, californian, and cupcake cuisine! For these fresh flavors and more, Terminal E is the place to be!