California Archives - Page 2 of 4

In Cafe

Mazarine Coffee: Lattes and Toast in San Francisco

August 27, 2018

Mazarine Coffee is a cafe on Market Street serving up delicious coffee and toast. This is my second trip to San Francisco and I had to revisit as I love a good latte and avocado toast.

It has a great location right by the Union Square area.

Interior

The cafe was busy around 11am but got busier as it got closer to noon. There are seats on the right side of the cafe as well as some patio seating.

Latte

I started off with a latte and it was delicious and strong. A good ratio of espresso and milk.

Avocado Toast

This beautiful toast is my favourite and it is made up of avocado, chèvre cheese, watermelon radish, chives, sea salt, and cracked pepper on toasted pain de mie. Absolutely stunning and delicious. I like how they layered all the avocado and radish so it looks so nice. The cheese was a good addition too.

Eggs & Avocado Toast

This has two sous vide eggs, avocado, chives, sea salt, and cracked pepper on toasted pain de mie. The sous vide egg was delicious and super gooey that it covers the whole toast. We wished there was a little bit more avocado with this one as it didn’t look as luscious.

Fig Jam and Ricotta Toast

This has a generous amount of ricotta cheese, fig jam, honey, sea salt, and cracked pepper on toasted pain de mie. A different toast than the other 2, but good if you have a morning sweet toooth.

Final Thoughts

Overall, having a coffee and toast at Mazarine Coffee was great. A good treat in the morning before heading off for the rest of the day. If you’re ever in San Francisco, definitely go here for a visit.

Address:
720 Market St, San Francisco

Website:
https://mazarinecoffee.com/

In Four Beakers

Burma Superstar: Burmese Cuisine in San Francisco

January 15, 2017

Burma Superstar is the go to place when visiting San Francisco. I live in Vancouver and I found that in the past year a majority of them have closed down. When doing a quick search on Burmese cuisine, a lot of people recommended Burma Superstar.

Taking a look at the menu, a lot of the items looked pretty authentic, so I had to come here. There were some other restaurants that I was looking at, but it was a bit further away from the city.

We came here for a late lunch and this place was still busy, but there was just one table available, so we didn’t have to wait.

Tea Leaf Salad

Tea Leaf Salad has romaine lettuce, fried yellow beans, fried garlic, sesame seeds, fresh tomatoes, jalapenos, and dried shrimp. It tasted so good. I’m used to these without romaine, but most restaurants serve it like this.

Moh Hinga

Moh Hinga is a Catfish Chowder Noodle Soup. It has fish chowder with rice noodles, ground catfish, onions, cilantro, lemon, & topped with chili. So delicious!

Oh Noh Kauswer

Oh Noh Kauswer is Coconut Chicken Noodle Soup. It has Burmese style coconut noodle soup with chicken, onions, eggs, cilantro, lemon, & topped with chili. I love the crispy bits that add a nice texture to the noodles.

Of both noodles, I loved both of them. So delicious and I wanted more. My friend preferred the Oh Noh Kauswer a little bit more. Of all the meals I had on my trip to San Francisco, this was my favourite place. The price is good and you’ll leave satisfied.

We Rate Burma Superstar:

Address:
309 Clement St.
San Francisco

Website:
http://www.burmasuperstar.com/

In San Francisco

(M) Ike’s Place at Sweet Inspiration in San Francisco

January 13, 2017

Sweet Inspiration is serving (M) Ikes’s Place Sandwiches and I was very confused about this location and why it was called Mike’s Place. When I was in town, I spent quite a lot of time searching online if I was going to the right location. Long story short, Ike’s lost their lease to their original location and collaborated with Sweet Inspiration to serve his sandwiches, but they couldn’t name it Ike’s Place due to some city violation, so they changed it to Mike’s Place.

As we got here, we were still very confused if we would be getting authentic Ike’s Sandwiches.

There was plenty of sandwiches to choose from. We got them to-go and decided to eat it before our flight back to Vancouver.

Wonzo Sandwich

Wonzo Sandwich has Halal chicken, Ranch, Bacon, and Cheddar. It is also served with lettuce and tomatoes. You can have your sandwich with your choice of bread – Dutch Crunch, SF Sourdough, French Roll, Whole Wheat, or Gluten-Free. We went with dutch crunch.

Montana Sandwich

Montana Sandwich has Halal chicken, Asian Sesame Dressing, Bacon, Avocado, and Jack cheese. I went with the SF Sourdough.

Both sandwiches were very heavy and filling, but taste wise, it was a bit mediocre. It was a bit heavy on the dressing.

We Rate Mike’s Place:

Address:
2239 Market Street, San Francisco

Website:
http://www.sweetinspirationbakery.com/

In Brunch

Jane on Larkin: Cafe in San Francisco

January 12, 2017

Jane on Larkin in San Francisco is a local cafe that serves coffee, toast, breakfast, pastries and other items. I was on the hunt for a breakfast spot that also sold avocado toast.

Coffee

Coffee is definitely a staple in any cafe. I went with a Cappuccino

Avocado Mash

Avocado Mash has avocado, cracked black pepper, poached egg, pickled shallot and jalapeño. It was beautiful and very delicious, but I felt the pickled jalapeño was a bit too much especially in the morning. It sure cleared up my sinuses.

Breakfast Sandwich

Egg White Sandwich with spinach and avocado with provolone and a dash of sriracha served on your choice of house-baked sourdough, multigrain bread or baguette. Super healthy sandwich.

Overall, Jane on Larkin was good. We were able to get a table early in the morning. Food looks pretty and tasted good.

We Rate Jane on Larkin:

Address:
925 Larkin Street, San Francisco

Website:
http://www.itsjane.com/

In Brunch

Mama’s: Breakfast in San Francisco

January 7, 2017

Mama’s on Washington Square was where we had breakfast on the last day we were in San Francisco. Apparently it was a local favourite, but now it is mostly tourist. We came a few minutes before opening and the line was down the block. Everyone wanted a taste of what Mama’s was offering.

Once you get through the line, you’re line up again to order before getting seated.

The staff are very friendly, so have patience with them because it so busy.

I started off with a coffee as I need some caffeine before the day begins. A cappuccino for me and freshly squeezed orange juice for my friend.

Farmers M’Omelette has smoked bacon, baby spinach, grilled leeks and Sonoma goat cheese.

M’Omelette’s are served with Mama’s Grilled Potatoes and your choice of toast. You can choose from white, whole grain, rye, english muffin or sourdough baguette. I went with the sourdough.

The dish was very good and filling for brunch.

Florentine Benedict has baby spinach and sautéed mushrooms. There are also two poached Petaluma Farms eggs served on a toasted English muffin with hollandaise sauce and Mama’s Grilled Potatoes. My friend enjoyed the dish.

Monte Cristo has roasted turkey breast, honey baked ham, cheddar and Gruyère cheese battered in egg and grilled, served with homemade jam. This is one of their signature items and we had to split this between the two of us. Highly recommended. I loved the balance between the savoury and sweet.

Overall, it was an experience to eat here. The food was great, but that line up was very long. We tried our best to get here earlier, but everyone else had the same idea too.

We Rate Mama’s:

Address:
1701 Stockton St, San Francisco

Website:
http://www.mamas-sf.com/

In lunch

Frog Hollow Farms: Avocado Toast in San Francisco

January 6, 2017

When I was travelling in San Francisco, I had a crazy addition of Avocado Toast. When I was at the Ferry Terminal, I took a visit to Frog Hollow Farm to get a taste of their toast.

The Shop

They serve pastries, sweet and savoury treats, and other items.

Even fresh fruit.

The Menu

They have a pretty small menu, but good items that people can easily grab and go at the Ferry Terminal.

Avocado Toast has garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper on Acme green onion bread. I got the full size for $10.99, which is pretty expensive, but it looks so beautiful.

After eating this all, I was super satisfied and really full.

We rate Frog Hollow Farm:

Address:
Ferry Building, Level 1, 1 Ferry Plaza, Suite 46, San Francisco

Website:
http://www.froghollow.com/

In San Francisco

Alcatraz: Night Tour

January 4, 2017

We wanted to explore Alcatraz by night to get a spooky atmosphere as we walked through the corridors. The tour by Alcatraz Cruises is the only official place to do tours as it is a National Park.

The tours need to be purchased well in advance or else you will be out of luck. I got mine a few months ahead of time and they sold out quickly.

Most people know that Alcatraz was once a world-famous federal penitentiary, but the island’s history before and after the penitentiary era is less well-known. This was the site of the first American lighthouse on the West Coast and that the island served as a huge harbour defence fort during the Civil War. After the fort became obsolete, the U.S. Army turned the island into a grim military prison.

The night tour is 2.5 hours and you can see the sun setting as you get to Alcatraz Island.

This tour includes:

narrated boat tour around the island
guided tours from the dock to the main prison building
Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour
special programs and presentations are offered only at night

We got our tickets at will call and then waited for the boat to pick us up. The ride was beautiful. As we got closer to Alcatraz, the weather got a lot colder and the clouds rolled in. It definitely added to the atmosphere.

As we spun around Alcatraz, it was narrated to give us a glimpse of what went down here.

Arrival

As we got off the boat, we were split up into groups for guided tours from the dock to the main prison building.

It’s a bit of a steep walk, but they are accommodating to those who need a lift.

Following the closing of the penitentiary, Alcatraz became the site of a American Indian protest movement that would change modern American history. You can see words written around Alcatraz.

Main Prison

We head to the Main Prison to collect our equipment for the self-guided audio tour – “Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour”.

We followed the audio tour to all the different parts of the prison and it’s quite immersive as you feel like you were there.

The atmosphere was a bit eerie as you can see the remnants of the prison.

The tour was fully booked and it was funny to see everyone listening attentively to the audio tour and the whole jail cell is in complete silence.

Gift Shop

At the end of the tour, there is a gift shop to purchase any souvenirs.

If you have time, you can attend any of the special programs and presentations. We attended one to hear more about Al Capone.

Heading Back

We didn’t want to waste too much time as it was getting really cold, so we hopped on the next boat ride back.

Overall, the tour was a joy and I learned a lot. If you’re in San Francisco, try to book your tickets in advance and bring a jacket for the night tour of Alcatraz.

Website:
https://www.alcatrazcruises.com/

In San Francisco

AT&T Park Tour in San Francisco: Review

January 3, 2017

AT&T Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants is open for public tours everyday at 10:30pm and 12:30 pm on certain dates and last for 1.5 hours.

The behind-the-scenes ballpark tour of AT&T Park you will get to go places only the players and staff go including:

The Field Warning Track
A Major League Dugout
Visitors’ Indoor Batting Cage
The Visitors’ Clubhouse
The Press Box
A Luxury Suite

There is a $22 fee for adults, but if you’re a big fan of Baseball and you want to get the behind the scenes look of the park, it’s worth it.

Dugout Store at AT&T Park / Entrance

To find your way to the start of the tour, make your way to the Dugout Store at AT&T Park and you’ll find the area to purchase tickets or pick up tickets if purchased online.

Will call is located on the second floor of the Dugout Store which is located on Third Street. You should arrive 10 minutes before your tour time.

The tour ends at the same place as well.

Tour Guide

Our tour guide was very knowledgable and was able to take all of us around the whole park efficiently as all of us wanted to snap pictures of everything.

Views from the Stands

One of the best views of the entire park is from the stands. We were in awe of how huge the park really was.

You can really see how home runs can be “splash hits” and view the breathtaking Bay view behind the field.

A Luxury Suite

We got to see the Tony Bennet suite. Amazing space and a very great view of the field. Too bad you’ll need a lot of money to

Memorabilia

All around the park, there are lots of memorabilia to see and touch.

There are also cool bobble heads as well as the championship trophy made by Tiffany & Co.

The Visitors’ Clubhouse

We got to see the clubhouse for the visiting teams. A quick glimpse of where they get ready before the game.

Visitors’ Indoor Batting Cage

They even have seperate batting cages for the players to warm up before the game.

Major League Dugout

The best part was being on the ground right by the dugout to be right by the field.

We saw where the players would be waiting during the game.

Overall, it was super fun to get a behind the scenes look. We wanted to come here for a game too, but while we were in San Francisco, they were all away games.

Website:
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/ballpark/information/index.jsp?content=tours

Address:
24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco

In San Francisco

San Francisco Food Tours: Mission District

December 29, 2016

When I was in San Francisco, I did a Mission District Food Tour from Avital Tours. Since I was in town for a short time, I wanted to try as many tried and true places as possible, so I thought a food tour was the best option.

This tour includes 4-course progressive prix-fixe dining experience visits 4 restaurants:

two appetizers
one entree
one dessert

The tour begins at The Women’s Building between Valencia and Guerrero at 5pm. I ended up being 10 minutes late since I didn’t know how to take the BART, so we ended up taking an Uber. We missed a bit of the introduction, but they were telling everyone about the neighbourhoods culinary history and the beautiful art around a few of the buildings.

Mission Cheese

We made our first stop at Mission Cheese, a New York Times acclaimed chic cheese cafe featuring only American artisan cheeses. We got a few samples of cheese and their choice of beer. For those who don’t drink alcohol, they provided them with non-alcoholic drink.

Hog & Rocks

Hog & Rocks is San Francisco’s first and only ham and oyster bar considered one of the Bay Area’s Top 100 Restaurants by the SF Chronicle. They serve comfort fare and classic cocktails.

We tried some of their delicious tastes of their restaurant and a cocktail. This was one of my favourite places of the night.

Taqueria La Cumbre

Taqueria La Cumbre the the birthplace of the Mission-style grilled chicken Burrito at authentic taqueria inventor of the Mission-style burrito.

The owner told us in great detail about this history of La Cumbre and the Mission-style burrito. We all loved the electrifying personality of the owner as he had so much enthusiasm for his product.

The burrito first became popular during the 1960s in the Mission District distinguished from other burritos by its large size and inclusion of extra rice and other ingredients. Of course, there are a lot larger burritos out there in the world, but it started here first.

West of Pecos

West of Pecos was the last stop of the night and we were treated to churros with a chocolate and Cajeta sauce. I love churros especially with the two sauces, it was super enjoyable.

The 3 hours passed by quickly and most of us decided to stay a bit longer and have an extra drink. We noticed there were some local and tourists on this tour.

Besides the food, we go to stroll through the historic Latin neighborhood learning about its culinary history and incredibly colourful murals, while hearing the stories of chefs, restaurant owners and industry experts.

I wouldn’t have gotten any of that if I just walked on my own. Avital Tours also has a North Beach food tour and a Union Square cocktail tour.

Website:
http://avitaltours.com/san-francisco/tour/mission-district-food-tour/

In Cafe

Chocolate Chair: Dragons Breath in San Francisco

December 25, 2016

Chocolate Chair at the Japan Centre draws huge line ups for their Dragon’s Breath, a cereal-like fruity pebbles soaked in liquid nitrogen. Once you comp down on the cereal, a bunch of smoke comes out of your nose and mouth.

It’s been catching wildfire on social media and I wasn’t intending on coming here, but since we saw the huge line up, we decided to give it a try too.

They make it to order and its run to watch them put it together as ton and tons of smoke come out of their mixers.

The cup with the Dragons Breath is super cold and becomes frosted over. The smoke it coming out of the cup.

Grab a few and pop it into your mouth to see the steam coming out of your mouth or nose. It just tasted like dry stale cereal. Most like fruity pebbles. It was a fun experience to try it but it doesn’t warrant a revisit anytime soon.

We Rate Chocolate Chair:

Address:
Japan Center, Level 2
1737 Post Street, San Francisco

Website:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chocolate-Chair/845948145417911

In Late Night

Starlight Room at Sir Francis Drake: Rooftop Bar in San Francisco

December 15, 2016

On the 21st floor of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel at Union Square in San Francisco is the Starlight Room, a rooftop Bar over looking the views of Union Square. When I was on here during vacation, we came up here at night for a drink after dinner.

I love the feeling of exclusivity of this place. Once you get out of the elevator, the huge red curtains reveal the Starlight Room.

We came early on in the evening, so it wasn’t packed yet. We did notice most tables had reservations for them, so if you intend to spend some time here, try to get reservations ahead of time especially weekends.

The decor is really nice and brings me back to the 1920’s. With an opulent interior marked by red-velvet curtains and high-backed booths, the Starlight Room gives you a reason to put on that party dress.

You will see 360-degree city views, along with a cocktail menu that pays homage to the past but is nonetheless distinctly mode.

Then menu has some awesome sounding drinks and they can make any special requests if they have the ingredients. On their menu, they also have smaller bites on the menu if you want food.

My friend got a surprise virgin drink and I went with the Fog’s Rolling In, which has plantation pineapple rum, spiced pear, and grapefruit.

Overall, we had a great time viewing the city from the top floor and sipping on some cocktails. A good way to end the night.

We Rate the Starlight Room:

Address:
450 Powell Street, San Francisco

Website:
http://www.starlightroomsf.com/

In American

Gotts’s Roadside: Burgers at the Ferry Building in San Francisco

December 13, 2016

It was a beautiful day in San Francisco and we ended up at the Ferry Building to grab some lunch. The ferry terminal has so much to eat, but we were on a mission to find Gott’s Roadside since we were told by several friends they have some awesome burgers.

We ordered our items at either the left or the right side of the restaurant. They have 2 counters to take orders.

Once you have your order and get your drink, you get this electronic buzzer and it will let you know when your order is ready.

Flashing lights. Time to get the food!

Bacon Cheeseburger is a beast with American cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles & secret sauce on a toasted egg bun. Really nice toasted bun with a good amount of ingredients inside the burger. It really hit the spot.

Onion Rings were huge and I love the crunch when you bite into the onion rings.

Don’t forget to grab some ketchup and mustard. They use Sir Kensington and they make amazing condiments. My favourite brand.

Cheeseburger has American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and their secret sauce on a toasted egg bun.

My friend also got Sweet Potato Fries on the side with a chili spice-dusted and a side of house-made ranch sauce.

Overall, it was a great lunch and we really enjoyed Gott’s. I would come back again. They even have outdoor seating if you want to enjoy the sun. We avoided eating outside since we didn’t want to get too tan.

We rate Gott’s:

Address:
Ferry Building, Level 1, 1 Ferry Plaza, Suite 6, San Francisco, CA

Website:
https://gotts.com/

In European

Cow Girl Creamery’s Sidekick Cafe: Weekend Raclette in San Francisco

November 28, 2016

I came to the San Francisco Ferry Terminal on a weekend and Cowgirl Creamery’s Sidekick Cafe sells Raclettes on the weekends on Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 3pm. I’ve been dying to have a good raclette, so when I saw it, I just had to have it.

Rachlette is a Swiss dish of melted cheese. Typically it can be on top of potatoes or bread.

The smell at the ferry terminal was intoxicating and it drew a large crowd. Its such a nice feeling watching them scrape the melted cheese onto the plate. I waited about 20 minutes for my order to be ready.

All the gooey cheese on some pickled veggies and 2 slice of fresh bread. This Rachelette was delicious. Simple, but there is no denying melted gooey cheese.

We Rate Sidekick Cafe:

Address:
Ferry Building, Level 1, 1 Ferry Plaza, San Francisco, CA

Website:
https://www.cowgirlcreamery.com/sidekick-cafe-milk-bar

In Anaheim

Exploring Anaheim: Food, Drinks, Shows and Disney

November 24, 2016

Photo Credit: Visit Anaheim

From revitalized neighbourhoods and cultural hubs to a burgeoning brewery and culinary scene, there is more to discover in Anaheim than what meets the eye. A lot of people visit Anaheim to experience the best place on earth – Disneyland and California Adventure Park. I went to Anaheim a few years ago for my Bachelorette party we had a really great time.

Below are a few fun places to go to explore the city and indulge a little.

Anaheim Brewery

Photo Credit: Visit Anaheim

However, as the saying goes “It takes a lot of good beer to make great wine,” Anaheim was once home to a number of historic breweries now the boom is back and is quickly evolving into a world-class brewery destination; with a dozen open now and more to come.

Leading the city’s craft beer movement are Anaheim Brewery, Bottle Logic Brewing, Noble Ale Works, Phantom Ales, Hoparazzi Brewing Co., and Golden Road Brewing.

Since Disney Land doesn’t have a drop of alcohol, drop the kids off somewhere and enjoy a nice cold brew.

Website: http://www.anaheimbrew.com/

Anaheim Packing House

Photo Credit: Anaheim Packing House

Anaheim has revitalized historic buildings for modern uses such as the famous and historic Anaheim Packing House, a stunning contemporary food hall that used to serve as a citrus packing plant for Sunkist.

The two level Packing House features a large central atrium with communal dining surrounded by cafes and kiosks of varying sizes as well as outdoor picnic gardens and a building-length dining porch looking out to the outdoor marketplace, Farmers’ Park.

Some popular merchants inside include:

The Kroft
Pop Bar
Cafecito Organico

Website: http://anaheimpackingdistrict.com/

Anaheim GardenWalk

Photo Credit: Visit California

Anaheim GardenWalk is an outdoor dining, entertainment and shopping destination situated in the heart of the Anaheim Resort District just steps from the Disneyland Resort and Anaheim Convention Center. I came here a few time to eat dinner at some of the more popular American chain restaurants. As a Canadian, we don’t have those chain restaurants available to us unless we go to the states.

Some restaurants:

The Cheesecake Factory
California Pizza Kitchen
P.F. Chang’s
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
McCormick & Schmick’s

Website: http://www.anaheimgardenwalk.com/

Center Street Promenade

Photo Credit: Visit Anaheim

The outdoor cafes, trendy boutiques and Good Food Hall in this hipster hangout in downtown Anaheim will surprise you. Savor Pour Vida Latin Flavor’s chef-driven concept. Dine at the Gypsy Den vegan-friendly eatery. Go literary with the Ink & Bean coffee saloon and workshop. Even the barbershop, Barbeer, serves beer.

Website: http://centerstreetanaheim.com/

Honda Centre

Photo Credit: NHL.com

Honda Center is the premier sports and entertainment venue in Southern California. It is home to the NHL Anaheim Ducks and hosts a variety of family shows, top-billed concerts, popular sports and entertainment events throughout the year.

Check ahead of time if there are going to be any games or concerts playing when you’re in Anaheim.

Website: http://www.hondacenter.com/

Angel Stadium of Anaheim

Photo Credit: Visit Anaheim

Angel Stadium is baseball’s fourth-oldest active Major League Baseball stadium, behind Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and Dodger Stadium. It has been the home of the Angels since their move from Los Angeles following the 1965 season. The stadium is often referred to by its unofficial nickname The Big A and has hosted the 1967, 1989, and 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Games.

They are open for tours for 75 minutes that include:

A trip down to the field at Angel Stadium
A visit into the Angels Dugout
Walk through the Visitors’ Clubhouse
A close up look at the Mike Scioscia interview room
An exclusive look at the Gene Autry Suite, Broadcasting booth, the Press Conference room, as well as a Dugout Suite

A fun tour for baseball fans no matter which team you cheer for.

Website: http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/

Disneyland

For young and old, big and small – it’s the happiest place on earth. Its fun building memories with your family that last a lifetime as you discover the wonder of this magical, fantastical world. When you enter one of the Lands that comprise Disneyland Park, stories come to life around you, immersing you in tales from some of your favourite Disney films.

My favourite rides:

Indiana Jones Adventure
Jungle Cruise
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain

Website: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/destinations/disneyland/

California Adventure Park

Discover the Disney stories and characters you love in ways you’ve never imagined. Supercharge your Disney experience in this engaging park where new adventures with familiar faces are constantly unfolding before you. Of the two Disney Parks, this one is my favourite because the rides are more thrilling.

My favourite rides:

California Screamin’
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Mickey’s Fun Wheel

I remember us going back and forth between California Screamin’ and Tower of Terror. Also, make sure you don’t leave without a churro, corn dog and turkey leg.

Website: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/destinations/disney-california-adventure/

There’s definitely lots to see and do in Anaheim, so check out all these cool places when you book your trip.

For more inspiration, check out Visit Anaheim.

In Airplane Meals

Air Canada: YVR to SFO Review (AC 562)

November 18, 2016

The flight I booked through United Airlines going from Vancouver to San Francisco was operated by Air Canada on flight AC 562. Perhaps they have code sharing or some sort of agreement. I was using Google Flights to get the lowest flight heading down for around $350 round trip. The flight lasts for about 2 hours and 30 mins.

We boarded quite promptly and was ready to take off soon after. It was very orderly and loaded very fast that we almost missed boarding.

We sat pretty close up to the front of economy. I am pretty short at 5″3, so the economy seats are good enough for me.

There is a USB plug, an outlet for other devices like laptops, and a touch screen entertainment system. I didn’t use the screen very much, but they usually have pretty good movies and shows to watch free of charge. I spend most of my time on my laptop.

We got one complimentary beverage and I got tomato juice as it tastes a lot better in the air. True story according to CBC.

We arrived 30 minutes early but no gate was available, so we sat until our gate was available. It was great we arrived early but too bad we couldn’t get off the plane. SFO is such a busy airport, so we just have to wait our turn.

Website: http://www.aircanada.com/

In Cafe

Red Door: Hidden Cafe in San Francisco

November 17, 2016

Every day was an early morning for us when we were in San Francisco and I needed coffee and toast to start off my day. After doing a quick search, I found a nice cafe a few blocks away from our hotel.

Red Door Cafe is located in an alley or on the main street depending on how Google Maps tells you to walk. It told me to walk down an alley till I found a red door.

You know you’re there when you find the bright red door.

Half of the space is a coffee shop where people line up for their delicious coffee in the mornings.

The other half is seating and art from the gallery.

Cappuccino was nice and strong made of Four Barrel coffee beans. They made a lovely heart to start the day right.

Avocado Toast has avocado, salt, pepper, and cholula on top of your choice of bread. Very delicious but it was pricey. I got mine on sourdough.

Overall, a good start to the day.

We Rate Red Door Cafe:

Address:
111 Minna Street, San Francisco
Website:
http://reddoorcoffeesf.com/

In Cafe

Ghirardelli: Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop in San Francisco

November 4, 2016

Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop is located near Fisherman’s Wharf. Ghirardelli is one of the oldest chocolate company in the US. They are also a division of Swiss confectioner Lindt & Sprüngli.

Since I was in town, I wanted to stop to try a few of their chocolates and grab a beverage.

Once you head inside, they give you a small piece of chocolate to sample. A nice little touch.

The shop isn’t very large, so you can buy a few gifts and get a snack or beverage here.

Sea Salt Caramel Hot Cocoa is topped with whipped cream and served with a a piece of milk chocolate. After taking the first few sips, it was delicious, It wasn’t overly sweet, but just the right amount. The texture was smooth and that sea seal caramel worked so well together.

Overall, it was fun to stop here for a drink before carrying on with out day. There’s not much to do there besides shop for chocolate and have a drink.

We Rate Ghirardelli:

Address:
900 North Point Street, San Francisco, CA

Website:
https://www.ghirardelli.com/

In Fast Food

In-N-Out Burger in San Francisco: Hidden Menu

November 3, 2016

In-N-Out is a popular place to go to in San Francisco near Fisherman’s Wharf. We try to go to In-N-Out when we are in the states just to get their animal fries and a few burgers. Since this location was so convenient, how could we not go?

It was super packed by locals and tourist who wanted a taste of their burgers. We waited a little while to get our order and it was so hard to get a table inside, so we ended up eating at other tables outside.

The menu prices seem a bit higher than the location that I went to in LA. Even with the higher prices, we weren’t discouraged.

Protein-style Burger

You can get any burger ‘protein-style’, where your favourite burger wrapped in hand-leafed lettuce instead of a bun. I ordered the double double wrapped in lettuce. It was so good. Because I was already eating so much on this trip, I had to resist carbs. The lettuce held together really well and had a bit of a crunch to it.

Animal-style Fries

To add some excitement to normal fries, you can ask for them animal-style. This means your fries will come topped with melty cheese, grilled onions, and Thousand Island dressing. It tastes as awesome as it sounds.

When you’re in San Francisco, don’t miss the In-N-Out at the Wharf.

We Rate In-N-Out:

Address:
333 Jefferson Street, San Francisco

Website:
http://www.in-n-out.com/