Strollin' on a Sunday

I always like to start my entries with a little background information. This entry is no different. Jon loves San Francisco. Loves it loves it loves it. Me? I'm really not a fan. How can anyone not like San Francisco? Easy. Have them spend every trip to San Fransisco with my in-laws. Jon's parents live about thirty minutes from the city. However, on every trip we take to visit, we end up spending the entire time sitting on the couch staring at each other because Jon's parents don't believe in television, nor do they feel any compunction to entertain their guests. So for me, "going to San Fransisco" means wanting to gouge my eyes out.

We have tried to rectify this situation. I tell Jon all the time how much I hate San Francisco, mostly because we never go to the city. Jon's solution? He told his parents I'd like to go into the city on trips. Well according to the in-laws, the only thing to see in the city is the Museum Of Modern Art. So now anytime they hear the word "city" a trip to the MOMA is planned. Now don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of art in general, but I prefer the classics - preraphaelite, impressionism, etc. I have been to the San Fransisco MOMA more times than I have been to any other museum in the entire world - and that's saying quite a bit since I used to go to the Smithsonian museums on a yearly basis. When we go to the city, "we" meaning his parents, Jon, and I, we go straight to the MOMA, walk around until his dad complains he's been there too long and there's too much sex, violence, and excrement in the art work, and then we get in the car and come home. "Going to San Fransisco" means going to a place I don 't like and listening to people complain.

I have never been to Chinatown, Alcatraz, or Union Square, I went to Ghiradelli Square once years ago with my mother on a college scouting trip. Fisherman's Wharf I visited once while I was giving a college tour. I travel to the Bay Area between 3 and 5 times a year, but ask me to recommend a restaurant or activity and I'm completely unhelpful. You mean San Fransisco has restaurants? Other museums?

I'm really working hard at getting Jon to take me places I might enjoy. Unfortunately most of the time his parents join us, making it less pleasant. Take for example our plan last year to walk the Golden Gate Bridge. Here's the picture I tried to take of me and Jon......notice any "extra" personalities who had to jump in the picture? Notice how happy I am?

This trip M&B had mentioned the Sunday farmer's market at the Ferry Building. I had actually heard about how fun and neat this was and was surprised when Jon mentioned he knew about it. "You mean you knew there was something fun in the city I'd enjoy and in the past 7 years haven't thought of taking me there? I assumed you'd never heard of it." Of course that means a trip was in order, so Sunday morning we headed into the city. I was so thankful it was just the two of us, and we had so much fun!


The building itself is beautiful, sitting on the bay with the Bay Bridge behind it. And yes, I had to ask what bridge that was because really? well? The market is not a farmer's market in the true sense of the word. Rather it is a conglomerate of small shops selling fresh artisan cheeses, breads, chocolates, and every form of olive oil you could ever want to purchase. Jon was first attracted to the mushroom shop - and I will leave it to your imagination to determine why. As he perused posters displaying poisonous mushrooms, I tasted truffle salt, truffle oil, and came across a "grow at home mushroom farm." I don't even want to begin to wonder what that white mound is made of, but sure enough, there are mushrooms growing out of it. I am sure it would be a fantastic conversation piece in any home.



We also made a quick stop at the seafood store where they were selling fresh oysters on the half shell for $1.50 each. Jon had to have one, and spent the rest of the day saying how it was the best oyster he'd ever had. I'll take his word for it. For me, the highlight of the trip was M's recommendation of Miette - french for "crumb." M had recommended the macaroons, but as soon as I saw the cupcakes I knew I had to take one of those also.



So we loaded up on macaroons and a gingerbread cupcake with cream cheese frosting. The cupcake was really the perfect size, small enough for a couple bites. The cake was sweet and a little sticky, which meant there wasn't a miette to be found - ironic, non? The frosting was perfect because it wasn't too sweet. Jon thought it tasted more like cheesecake than frosting.
And of course we had to get some macaroons - Macaroons are, after all, the new cupcake. This was Jon's first taste of french macaroons and he was very confused at first glance. On first bite however, he was quickly won over. We got a chocolate, coffee, hazelnut, vanilla, and pistachio and it's hard to pick a favorite. The "cookie" part is chewing and moist, while the cream center is rich and sweet.



We sat on a bench overlooking the bay while we snacked and drank coffee. It was the ideal Sunday morning and a nice change of pace from our usual in-law routine. Unfortunately it passed far too quickly, and it wasn't long before we had to head back for more "good times" with Jon's parents.