Adventure San Francisco: Golden Boy Pizza, a Gold Medal Find

Although there's a wealth of food options for San Francisco visitors, it often feels like your bank account should match the wealth. By the end of a vacation, eating in San Fran can make a real dent in your pocket book. Although we always bookend our visits with a couple of nice dining experiences, it's important to incorporate some relaxed culinary adventures into any family vacation. The answer when visiting the Golden City? Golden Boy Pizza in San Francisco’s North Beach.

This pizza joint, established in the 70s, is untouched by time. It remains the perfect place to pull up a stool, drink an ice cold beer, and grab a slice (or two) of the perfect Sicilian pizza, baked warm and fresh right in front of you. The simple, no-nonsense menu offers slices of the classic pepperoni or sausage, a pesto veggie, or a garlic clam, each perfect in its own way.

The first time we visited San Fran, our dear friends tipped us off to this hole-in-the-wall gem that's so incredibly easy to miss. Now it's Mod City Mom's turn to tip you off: Golden Boy is cheap, comfortable, and offers up a little piece of heaven on a plate every time. Don't miss it! Details: www.goldenboypizza.com

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Style: 3 Fish Studios, Falling in Love with Affordable Art

It's not easy to uncover affordable art, but periodically, we'll stumble on a find that's worthy of sharing—in this case, two finds. Husband and wife art team, Eric Rewitzer and Annie Galvin, create so many lovely and whimsical paintings, digital prints, and blockprints (linocuts), it's hard to determine which ones to buy.

I first discovered the dynamic duo after my friends turned me on to San Francisco's Zinc Details. Later, at a Los Angeles' Renegade Craft Fair, I had the opportunity to meet Eric and talk about their creations first-hand.

For over three years, their studio has been a home to art classes, a space for community events, and a testament to their creative endeavors. Now, fans of their work can also browse and purchase online! From post cards to limited editions, 3 Fish Studios has an affordable, artistic find (or two) to fall in love with. Details: www.3fishstudios.com, www.zincdetails.com, www.renegadecraft.com

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Adventure San Francisco: Jukebox Breakfast

To stop and behold a classic diner is one of life’s little magical moments—chrome-laced linoleum counter-tops, tile floors, and an antique jukebox in the corner that still works! As rare as these encounters are, it’s even more unusual to find a meal that’s truly worthy to be served in one of these exceptional beauties. One of Berkeley’s crowned culinary jewels, Bette’s Oceanview Diner, offers both an ambiance evocative of the past and home-cooked fare that leaves you dreaming about re-visiting in the future.

Alongside a strong, steamy cup of joe, get your day started with a set of perfectly poached eggs on top of a bed of some of the best corned beef hash I’ve ever had. Perhaps you’re more in the mood for the rarely-seen-anywhere-but-Pennsylvania scrapple or, for the less adventurous, a stack of buttery flapjacks.

Not much of a breakfast person? Belly up to the counter and order a malt or draught beer to accompany your pan-fried fish fillet sandwich or your homemade meatloaf plate. Whatever your preference, put a quarter in that jukebox. As Etta James belts out her seminal classic, I’d Rather Go Blind, sit back, take a deep sip of your drink, and truly appreciate a culinary moment that’s reminiscent of a bygone era. Details: 1807 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA, 510.644.3230, www.worldpantry.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce/ExecMacro/bettes/dinerinfo.d2w/report.

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Obsession: The Tour Diary

Artist Allison Cole and my new San Fran love, The Little Otsu, have collaborated to create this very fun tour diary. If you're like me, before each trip I end-up with a mess of printouts, books, photocopies, and addresses that I cram into my carry-on bag. With The Tour Diary, you're able to organize and combine your trip itinerary and travel information into one, little guide.

The diary includes space for packing lists, tour information, restaurant plans, and important translations for out-of-country travel. Plus, it's just plain ol' cute, making trip preparation almost as fun as the trip itself. Details: shop.littleotsu.com/collections/journals-etc/products/the-tour-diary-by-allison-cole.

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Adventure San Francisco: My Mission, The Mission

Tourists flock to San Francisco and are easily spotted riding the Powell-Hyde cable car line, loitering on every corner of Fisherman’s Wharf, and trudging the thigh-busting streets of Chinatown. Like all tourists, I can be picked out of the crowd, sporting my camera and snapping pictures of just about anything that moves. Unlike the typical San Fran visitor, however, I’m on a relentless hunt for the local haunts—the neighborhoods that boast unique boutiques, exceptional eateries, and distinctive encounters that leave you wanting to move in and truly mix with the locals.

On our latest trip, I stumbled upon my dream hood—The Mission District. Anchored firmly by Valencia Street, The Mission is home to the outrageously funky and the down-right delicious. Here are just a few of my favorites:

Little Otsu (LO): Oh, little LO, my small press shop…my inspiration…my muse. From your gumball machine that churns out artist-made buttons to your soy-based ink and “tree-free” diaries, I can’t seem to get enough. LO collaborates with artists and designers to deliver zines, drawings, crafts, and any other one-of-a-kind oddity that brings out your DIY-spirit, inspires creative gift giving, and makes you wonder why you spend so much time and money on the big box stores. Details: www.littleotsu.com.

Paxton Gate: What’s more fun than a marriage of taxidermy and carnivorous plants? The answer: Paxton Gate. This shop manages to weave the macabre and morose (glass eyes, bone jewelry) with the hauntingly beautiful (resurrection ferns and an extraordinary orchid collection). It’s a museum, a side-show, and a botanic garden rolled into one and perhaps the easiest way to kill an afternoon. Details: www.paxtongate.com.

Dosa: Working up an appetite? Follow your nose to Dosa—The Mission’s award-winning Southern Indian cuisine. Dosa’s warm atmosphere serves as the perfect backdrop for this spicy comfort food. Specialties that keep you wanting for more include roasted rice crepes and pancakes, lovingly stewed lentils and veggies, and freshly, complex chutneys. Details: www.dosasf.com.

Bi-Rite Creamery: A few blocks off Valencia’s main drag, find artisanal ice cream that can transform the dessert-averse into a raging fan. Each dip is made from organic, local ingredients (some from their own farm) and draws from a rich-palate of flavors. Along side some delicious standards, try an orange cardamom, double ginger, honey lavender, or salted caramel cone. Don’t be daunted by the long lines—one lick is worth the wait. Details: www.biritecreamery.com.

Other more-than-honorable mentions include Dave Egger’s 826 Valencia’s pirate shop and writing center (www.826valencia.org); Dema Grim’s “twisted classics” clothing line (www.godemago.com); The Curiosity Shoppe (see Obsession); Ritual Coffee Roasters for the ultimate cup of foam-kissed locally roasted joe (www.ritualroasters.com); and Dog Eared Books for an eclectic selection of music, mags, and reads (www.dogearedbooks.com).

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Adventure San Francisco: Tea-licious

Staying in San Francisco's Nob Hill provided the perfect location for my children to visit (and re-visit) Chinatown. Of course I knew they’d enjoy it, but I wasn’t prepared for their new-found addiction—the over-abundance of toys and knick-knacks that they could easily afford with their own pocket money and all within walking distance of our hotel. After our ump-teenth excursion, I was more than ready to finally treat myself to a little something of my own. The answer was surprisingly right in front of me in three convenient Chinatown locations—Vital Tea Leaf.

The boys and I wandered in, attracted by the in-your-face sign that screamed “free tea tasting.” Since I’m a die-hard coffee drinker, my sons don’t exactly get excited about tea-time, and the place obviously catered to tourists, I was more than skeptical. But, on the other hand, I needed an immediate pick-me-up, so we quickly bellied ourselves up to the counter.

Vital Tea Leaf’s walls were adorned with shelves that house over three hundred types of tea, all sporting really fun names. Once inside, the ambiance actually felt more like a wine bar than a tourist haven. We were greeted by the owner who asked us what we knew about tea ("uuuuh, not much") and what kind of tea we enjoyed ("uuuuh, not sure"). Based on our responses, he selected an assortment of tea to taste, guaranteeing that we would feel better when we left and that my sons would enjoy some of the selections "more than Coca-Cola." After teaching us how to make, taste, and select teas, we sampled six and sat for over an hour soaking in the atmosphere, talking to the owner and some locals, crunching on fortune cookies, and sipping really diverse and complex teas.

Although I’m not sure my sons liked some of the teas more than Coca-Cola, they certainly had an easy time downing their samples. After buying their favorites—Iron Goddess King and Lichee Black, we were able to face just a few more souvenir shops revitalized and refreshed. Details: 1044 Grant Ave., San Francisco, www.vitaltleaf.com.

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Style: Mid-Century Pottery that Pleases 21st Century Sensibilities

I’ll be the first to recognize that my sister and I are serious pottery junkies, a direct inheritance from our mother. We'll stop at nothing to find a new ETSY artisan or search out a piece from one of the great mission masters like Pewabic, Roseville, and Van Briggle. However, in a world where you can buy throw-away serving pieces that fly off an Ikea assembly line for next-to-nothing prices, it’s sometimes hard to discover the modern-day ceramists who still take pride in their work and wares.

On a recent trip to San Francisco, we took advantage of a variety of dining experiences; however, each of these diverse restaurants had something in common—their table tops were adorned with Heath Ceramics’ dinnerware (.Fish, Hog Island Oyster Co., Greens). This was the same pottery that I had deeply fallen in love with when my dear friend gave me a couple of pieces as a housewarming gift and that I now happily showcase in my ever-growing pottery collection. When I found out that Heath’s home and Factory Store was right across the Golden Gate Bridge in minutes-away Sausalito, I had to carve out some time for a visit.

Founded by Edith Heath in 1948, Heath Ceramics is one of the last mid-century pottery-houses still in existence. They continue to offer strong looking pieces, often laced with rich colors like onyx, sage, and French gray. Heath ceramists' design the kind of wares that are pragmatically long-lasting and timeless in design. You can dress it up or dress it down—it can contribute to a sleek modern table or play against a traditionalist setting. In addition, their dishware is oven-proof, dishwasher and microwave safe, and oh-so-kid-friendly. No wonder all the local restaurateurs are in love with Heath—it’s hard to keep your eyes and forks off of these resilient beauties! Details: www.heathceramics.com, 400 Gate Five Rd., Sausalito, 415.332.3732.

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Adventure San Francisco: Blue Ribbon Clam Chowder

While eating at Hog Island Oyster Co., my husband proclaimed that the clam chowder was the best he has ever had—and, growing up on the east coast, he definitely has consumed his fair share of chowder. So, naturally, our table had to order another round of this blue ribbon-style delicacy prior to settling the bill.

Hog Island Oyster Co. is located in the Ferry Building in downtown San Francisco. Squeezed amongst some of our country’s most talented culinary artisans (and only a few steps away from the Alcatraz boat dock), Hog Island manages to hold its own. The menu only offers a handful of items—clams, fresh greens, cheese, a few daily specials, and oysters, where they farm these succulent lovelies at their Hog Island Oyster Farm in Tomales Bay (which, by the way, can be visited for educational tours and picnics).

While my youngest son happily absorbed a melt-in-your-mouth Cow Girl Creamery grilled cheese sandwich, my oldest son, my husband, and I inhaled a plate of raw oysters and feasted on the chowder fused with root vegetables, bacon, and a heaping pile of Manila clams still in their shells. Like most San Francisco restaurants, Hog Island offers a varied wine list but, more importantly, beers on tap to accompany those rustic and glorious gifts from the sea.

To echo my husband’s bold declaration of chowder-love, my oldest son thoughtfully added after his meal, “We should definitely think about moving to San Francisco.” Details: www.hogislandoysters.com, One Ferry Building 11A, San Francisco, CA, 415.391.7117, www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com.

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