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San Francisco is a great city, especially for foodies…they embrace food from every culture, kick it up a notch by inventive combinations and presentations and they’re all so dedicated to local farm-to-table products and the sustainability of our food sources. Very commendable that. And, then, there’s wine country in their backyard.

But, I think I may have to issue a ‘smackdown’ with the city because, despite what they say, they don’t have “great” pizza. Don’t get me wrong, it’s very good (really good) but SF doesn’t have a horse in the race with New York and Chicago. And, they definitely need a lesson (from a New Yorker, perhaps a Staten Islander) on how to make a clam pizza.

That said…I gained 5 lbs. in 3-1/2 days!

I spotted this fried fish and slaw sandwich in a window on Fisherman’s Wharf. I didn’t eat it (swear!).Alcatraz from the pier – as close as I wanted to get.A great way to kill some time after shopping the Ferry Building
with a plate of padrón peppers and a carafe of Rosé.A peek inside the ferry building. Are they not luscious?
I’d like to pop one in mouth right now.

• RESTAURANT REVIEWS •

La Mar Cebicheria, Embarcadero (Peruvian). I’d give this a whole bunch of stars from menu to execution to service to decor to location!

A fun ‘bread’ basket with 3 different pepper sauces for dunking.

Ceviche Mixto (Mahi Mahi, calamari, octopus and habanero pepper in ají amarillo, leche de tigre with cilantro, red onion, Peruvian corn and yam)

Causas (traditional Peruvian whipped potato with ají amarillo and seafood
or vegetarian toppings)

Anticucho de pulpo (Grilled octopus skewers, herbed mashed potato with chimichurri sauce and ají panca); and empanadas.

Picarones (Traditional warm pumpkin and sweet potato fritters with spiced Chancaca honey)

Beretta, Valencia Street (Mission)
This was one of the times when you happen upon a jewel of a restaurant…without a recommendation, without a review…just a ‘it-looks-good, stumble-in’ kind of experience. Warm and cozy and packed at 4:00pm on a Sunday afternoon, we knew immediately we were in for a treat.

We love tasting so after ordering a bottle of Montepulciano, we took a look at the menu and ordered a little of this and a little of that. It was our last night in San Francisco, after all.

Normally I would not include a photo of this quality but this dish was so delicious, I just had to share it. They call it ‘eggplant caponatina” (I call it caponata). Whatever…topped with burrata cheese and a drizzle of olive oil, it had a mix of soft eggplant, fresh tomatoes, slightly wilted celery, olives, pignolis and great flavor. I would highly recommend this dish, especially if you get some of their pizza bread to accompany it.Meatballs in spicy sauceCauliflower w/pan gratatto, capers and sagePizza: clams, tomato, provolone, garlic + sofritto

And just because the description was so enticing…Panna gelato with olive oil and sea salt.

[FOODalogue will now go back to regular scheduled posting and challenges. In a period of 10 weeks, I made trips to NY, South America and San Francisco. I'm finally totally unpacked, the luggage is back in storage and I'm happily looking forward to the holidays at home. ]