San Francisco! I was in the city all day today which was perfect because the weather was amazing. Sunny and nice temperatures, without a sign of fog anywhere to be found! It made for the perfect day.
I ate greek yogurt with berry granola and fresh raspberries for breakfast before we headed out to the city.
When we got there I watched Susan’s solo performance workshop then left after her turn to explore while her class finished. I ended up walking from around Union Square to the ferry building to explore the farmer’s market there.
Let me just say, the market was overwhelming.
It was busy and crowded and people were everywhere searching the various food stands and little makeshift shops. There were so many amazing foods and fresh produce everywhere I turned. I ended up trying something new that one of the stands was handing out as a sample – adriatic figs.
I’ve had fig newtons before but I’ve never had a fig all by it’s lonesome without some chemicals attached. It’s got a pretty high sugar content so of course I enjoyed it. It was almost like eating soft candy.
While I was at the market I watched a bit of a cooking demonstration for sausage. I don’t really eat much regular sausage so I didn’t stay long, but I found it interesting. Now I want to go to see a taping of a show on the food network!
All that walking around (seriously like five miles) made me hungry and thirsty so I ate some of the green grapes we brought for snacks.
After the market I met up with Susan and we went to Chinatown for lunch. Going to Chinatown in San Francisco has always been something I’ve wanted to do. And now I’ve done it!
We found a Chinese place with dim sum and ordered a ton of yummy things we split between us for lunch. A couple were awesome because I’ve never seen them done that way before.
In the order that they came to us/we ate them… Pot stickers:
Shrimp dumplings:
Shrimp dumplings shaped like rabbits:
Yes. Seriously. The shrimp filled dumplings are shaped to look like rabbits.
They actually were somewhat cute yet quite scary looking rabbits, but the dumplings were yummy so they were all eaten quickly.
Pork buns:
Okay, I’ve never had pork buns before because I never knew to order them. It’s the softest, fluffliest, doughiest yummy bread which is filled on the inside with pork bbq. It was fluffy bread heaven.
Pork and shrimp something.
And crunchy shrimp balls:
We ordered these because we saw someone else get them and they just looked amazing. Another thing I’ve seen before, but not quite in that way. It was a crunchy fried noodle explosion!
After lunch we went to the Golden Gate Bridge, another SF must for me. It was such a wonderful day to go! Beautiful!
We walked halfway across the bridge and back, added a little more exercise to my day. It’s good that I walked so much because I felt completely justified in our decision to stop by Ghirardelli where we got cupcakes and chocolate! My cupcake is the organic strawberry cream with the red star on top. ;)
The next stop was Indian food takeout. Yes, Indian food! It was my first time eating any of it and I have to say – I’m in love. It was all so delicious.
Some of the things on my plate: samosa, tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala (really good on the rice), naan (bread, yummy), palak paneer (spinach and cheese). They were even sweet and ordered medium for me because I like spicy food (they normally get mild).
I didn’t actually buy any chocolate at Ghirardelli’s because the sillies were giving out samples of chocolate in just the size I wanted! I ended up eating my little square and a Weight Watchers cookies and cream ice cream bar after dinner.
I’ve got to say that I think the ice cream bar was the least exciting part of the day for me. It’s just the reason why I usually no longer eat any kind of diet food – it sucks to expect the real thing and get a less than thrilling substitute. It was still good, but not quite the same as real cookie n cream ice cream.
Today was a great day for food and fun. A lot of the things I ate today were first for me and I always love that. Trying new things excites me so much. It’s really fun when you try new things and find out that all of it is amazing. My food world has been rapidly expanding the last few days with all the new things I’m getting to try. It’s so exciting! I can’t wait to see what comes next. ;)
What’s the weirdest shaped food you’ve ever eaten? Mine is definitely the rabbit shaped dumplings.
Do you like Indian food?
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I love Dim Sum, it’s my FAVORITE meal EVER. I could eat steamed dumplings ALLLLLLL day long, no kidding. I can’t believe you’ve never had a steamed BBQ pork bun, seriously delicious.
I like indian food but I’d much rather make it at home because I can control how it’s made, some indian restaurants use some pretty shocking ingredients!
You know what this post pointed out to me. I realized I’ve been to San Fran twice & I’ve never taken the tourist photo near the bridge. Looks like another reason to return, YAY!
Dim sum is amazing. Yummmmm. I know, I’m sad I didn’t realize how awesome bbq pork bun was before now.
I’m going to try making indian food myself eventually.
Haha, definitely come back to SF!
Dim Sum is amazing, and SF is a great place for it. Mmm.
I freaking love indian food. Love, love love looooove it. It’s huge here in England as well, there are indian restaurants and takeaways (takeout places) in every village, no matter how small.
Cooking your own indian food at home too is very satisfying. Its also really easy to swap out some of the ingredients for healthier ones, as I’ve done in the past.
Also, I’m so jealous you got to to SF!!! I can’t wait to go there. I’m moving to Vancouver in 2 months, and once living there I plan to take a big road trip down the west coast :).
I am soooo stoked that you and Kepa will soon be reunited! Just a few more days.
xxxxxxx
I am so happy you have got to experience all of this with Susan. It really is amazing there. I love that your favorites are also some of mine. The pork buns and indian food. When I got home I had to find an indian restaraunt to take Lawrence to.
Mary you just rock!
Hey Mary- do you remember the name of the dim sum restaurant by chance? I just moved to SF and I’d really like to try dim sum but sometimes I feel super overwhelmed in chinatown because there’s like a thousand places to eat. No worries if you don’t- it just looked like that was a good place to go.
I don’t know why the bunny dumplings creeped me out! LOL If you get to Hawaii and want a pork bun, they’re called Manapua there.
The bunny dumplings creeped me out too. I thought they would be cute but they were more on the creepy side.
Creepy zombie bunny dumplings!! They want to eat you instead! The little shrimp pork things are called shu mai and are supper yummy. You can get the chance to make indian food yourself really soon!
You were in sf for the best day ever. Except for the Sunday before that, we NEVER have days like that. (altho it did get COLD at the end of the day). I love figs. They sell them at wholefoods. And the markets. Ive never been to the morning market at ferry bldg cuz I sleep late. But I work maybe five min from there so ive been on the daytime. (now u can picture where I am when im making all these comments LoL). Which place did you go to for dim sum? There is a yummy place there but I stopped going because I used to go with a friend who spoke the language and he’s not my friend anymore, and I tried going without a translator but they didn’t speak enough english to understand that we couldn’t eat nuts and 2 of us ended up getting sick :( so I don’t go to dim sum anymore unless they speak english (hard to find around here) :( boo because its yummy. I liked dim sum in boston better than here in sf actually tho. Ooh but there is a snack place next to work that makes great bbq pork buns and sometimes ill have that with mango bubble milk drink as a treat for lunch. Ghiardelli sq has a chocolate festival every fall. Ive been a couple times..thinking about going this yr again. Its great how they give those samples. Because of that ive never bought any lol. I love that caramel one you have as well as dark chocolate peppermint, and eggnog. I LOVE indian food it is so good one of my favs that I don’t get to have often enough. I don’t know what the weirdest shaped food ive had was. Oh yes I do. A penis cake. Ive had a couple penis cakes before.
Hi Mary dearest! I’m catching up on your blog… I’ve enjoyed the tidbits I see on twitter but haven’t gotten to actually read and see the full entries with pics and everything. I LOVE Indian food! I actually love any and all curry, Indian & Thai are my faves. I’m so glad you’re enjoying so much food from around the world! Korean food is also yummy. I’ve never had Ethiopian food, but I really want to try it now. My first time eating Indian food was actually in Memphis! There used to be an Indian buffet near U of M, but I hear it shut down :( Oh, and by the way! The pork and shrimp “something” is call siomai or shumai. Super yum! My mom makes some good ones… I’m so hungry now! For some siomai and some curry, hehe. Thanks for all your blogs! Can’t wait to hear how you enjoyed In N Out and some carne asada fries, if you do. But most of all, enjoy your time with Kepa! I know that goes without saying, I’m so excited for this adventure you’re on together! Stay safe and have fun! And God bless :)
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