No rain on this parade!!!
What started out as a torrential downpour of blah ended up being the most fun day! MamaPea, Emily, Heather, Allie and Ashley and I had a blast playing around SF.
After an attempt to walk in the rain, we settled into Starbucks to get MamaPea a coffee.
Especially when we borrowed 5 red umbrellas from the Drake Hotel
Other than drink Amazing Grass sludge, what do food bloggers do in Starbucks on a rainy afternoon?
The Saltine challenge!!
MamaPea has been doing Wacky Wednesday Challenge’s and she was unable to complete the “6 saltines in 60 seconds” challenge. I challenged her to a duel! VIDEO IS COMING!!!
You will have to wait until the video to see which ones of us were able to master the saltine challenge!
After our interlude, we gathered our red umbrellas and marched through Chinatown towards Pier 39
Wheeeeee!
There was lots of sightseeing inbetween
It was a miracle when just a few blocks into our walk the clouds broke and the sun came out!
YAY US!
Guess what our destination was?
I wasn’t in a Latte mood when we arrived at 2PM, but I sure had to try a cookie right then and there
Oohhhhh yeaaaah
I really wasn’t that hungry all day, but soup + bread sounded GOOD on this blustery day, so we dove into bread bowls.
Allie and I shared one – which was absolutely divine!! The bread especially.
I finished the meal with my Frog Hollow pear
We ventured outside to find gorgeous sites of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate
We took the long way home by Ghirardelli and Lombard Street
And then….Matt arrived!!
We said our goodbyes to our friends and headed out of town towards wine country
Shortly after arriving to our hotel, we ventured back out to explore the Russian River Brewing Co., Matt’s heaven on earth.
We had one of their samplers to taste them all
Pliny The Elder lived up to expectations 
Loved the Belgium Dark – so sweet and thick!
And the music rocked!!
After the RRBC visit, we met up with AnneP, Tina, Jenna and Adam for a little restaurant action. They took us to Syrah Bistro in Santa Rosa
We were treated to some mighty fancy and approachable Kendall-Jackson wines. The Cab of the Jackson Hills brand was IN-credible!
All I want in a wine is complexity, and this one totally had it.
ENxt up, bread and cheese
Three local cheese varietals that were stinky as can be!
With the cheeses we had a brand new brand of Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay, which may have been the best Chard I’ve ever had!! It was perfect in every way: butter. oak. acidity. balance.
Amuse me. Skate, apple, celery, flavor.
I think I got the hit of the table for dinner! The Cod with Black Barley, Cauliflower Puree and Mushrooms in a Pinot Reduction. AMAZING!
Matt had the Duck, which was awesome. So glad he could join me out for this gourmet meal. I’ve never seen him beam so!
Desserts just kind of happened!!
The Fig Tart with Latte Ice Cream
And this Chocolate Puddle (yes, puddle!) of brownie batter goodness!! Like Arch’s Fro Yo minus the yo. A pot of brownie batter. Loved!!
Matt crashed an hour ago – I’m ready to join him! Can’t wait to get my wine taste on tomorrow!
{ 79 comments… read them below or add one }
Ah, Russian River Brewing Company! That’s where my friends and I wound up for dinner when we went to Sonoma for wine tasting April. It was pretty awesome!
You guys also ate lunch across the street from my job. I love Boudin’s chili….but what they used to have right when they remodeled the Wharf location was broccoli cheese soup on Thursdays. That was KILLER!
Fact: They also used to serve oatmeal in the morning!
I’ve really been enjoying everybody’s FoodBuzz updates…so meta. Last time I was in SF, I wanted to go to Russian River Brewing Co, but we ran out of time. Next visit! The Belgian Dark looks like the perfect beer to me! Yum.
Love the red umbrellas street pic!
(Don’t forget that our beloved Coco is back tomorrow nite!!)
What an awesome afternoon!! Such cute umbrellas. And OMG I want your dinner. all of it. Have fun tomorrow!
Heidi xo
p.s. i’ve never heard of the saltine challenge. I’m intrigued and inspired
Hahahaha is that bread shaped like a bear and a turtle or do I need new glasses hahaha.
Wow, what an action packed day. I love the shot with the red umbrellas.
Enjoy wine country!
Wow! This trip has been particularly lovely to view, can’t wait for more!
I miss San Fran! And can’t wait for the video. My money’s on MamaPea or you
How wonderful that Matt was able to come and get a taste of all the fun. Enjoy the rest of the time!
That first picture is SO cute!
It’s been so fun to follow along on your trip, thanks for sharing all the awesomeness!!
what a fantastic day! Glad you guys are having so much fun!
looks like an amazing day, makes me really want to go back to san fran soon!
wow, what a fun day!!!
I love the picture of the girls in the street with their umbrellas – too cute!
LOL I love that picture of Matt!! I also love the umbrella pics – so cool, very Beatles-like.
Looks like a lovely day! As long as it isn’t pouring I actually enjoy being outside in the rain, with an umbrella of course
Oh my! I can’t wait to see the Saltine Challenge video!
I’m anxiously awaiting the video to see who completed the challenge- I kind of want to give it another go now! It was great seeing you this weekend, I hope you have a wonderful time with Matt this week!
What a great adventure! Looks like you were lucky to have a great and beautiful day! The food…the cites…the company…everything looks amazing!
Is it at all possible to do the 6 saltines in 60 seconds challenge? I’ve failed miserably at this challenge and convinced myself that nobody could do it.
I simply adore the red umbrella photo! It might even be frame-worthy!
I love your travelogs!
That shot of your guys with the umbrellas reminds me of the Beatles on Abbey Road.
Looks like a fantastic day. Great photos, especially the ones with the red umbrellas. Too cute! Enjoy the rest of your vacation!
I love the red umbrellas and I can’t wait for the saltine challenge. My friends and I have tried that before and it makes your mouth so dry and sawdusty. Brownie batter in a cup sounds great!
Love the red umbrellas photo! Thanks for sharing the fun with us.
I’m crazy jealous you got to try Pliny the Elder! Some day I hope to have a pint. If you’re in SF still, 21st Ammendment is great!
This post is just full of great food, great people, amazing photos, and great drinks! love it!
Oh oh oh! You’re in my favorite city! I LOVED San Francisco when I visited last year. So fun to experience it vicariously through you. I’m glad you had fun!
Wow your fun adventures just keep continuing in.
I love the umbrella picture! Looks like a fun walk around town. So fun to meet you and hang out this weekend. I have a picture of us on my blog too. Have fun in Sonoma!
excellent restaurant choice! that figgie tart looked to die for!
I love the picture of the you guys holding the red umbrella’s. So cute!
And that picture of Matt cracked me up! He made me think of Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice!!
Kath these photos are gorgeous! The one with the red umbrellas is my favourite. Dinner looks delicious!
LOVE, love the red umbrellas picture!! I know I am like the 20th person to say that
I spy the Boudin!!!! this was our first meal after landing in SF on our honeymoon 5 years ago! Your post brought back good memories!
love,
cathy b. @ brightbakes
Hahaha! I love the red umbrella picks
Too cute! It’s awesome seeing y’all having such a great time!
Ummm…yeah…that should be pics not picks…
I absolutely love the red umbrella street picture! Looks like ya’ll had an awesome time!!
That picture with the umbrellas is adorable! I would totally frame that if it were my friends and me!
That looks like a fun time. Love that first picture with the red umbrellas!
AND I can’t believe someone actually mastered the saltine challenge!
I really need to consume some brownie batter soon… seeing it on your posts always makes me want some!
You posts are making me miss Northern Cali so much! The wines up there are just phenomenal and the food is equally as amazing. It is basically a foodie’s dream
Love all the photos!
I love the bread shaped like turtles and bears! So cute.
OH I soooo want to go to the Russian River Brewery!!! I Love Pliny!!
I want all the cheeeeeese in these photos!
I definitely thought of you when I was in SF last summer and saw they had opened a Biscoff store!
Also, that red umbrella shot is freaking adorable!
Hmm..I looove Biscoff cookies.
Enjoy the wine country!!
Everything about SanFran seems so fabulous! It looks like you had a wonderful time. Delicious food and gorgeous scenery..! I told my husband that the one place that I wanted to visit before we move back to Sweden is SanFran
All of your photos just confirmed my decision even more so. Hope you have a great time on the rest of your trip.
The pics with the umbrellas are just too cute! Thanks for sharing your adventures!
so cute! love the red umbrellas. Latte ice cream – sign me up!
Kaneil, theritts.wordpress.com
What fun!! Looks like you are all having such a great time
I remember Lombard Street!! How crazy would it be to live on that?
I’ve tried the saltine challenge before, definitely not an easy thing to do!! Have you ever heard of the “spoonful of cinnamon” one? That it’s impossible to eat a spoonful of cinnamon at once. I believe it
The red umbrella pic is too cute!!
Mmm…. bread bowls… my heaven!
I <3 saltine crackers
When my delayed plane finally arrived, I saw the sun coming out. I wish I could have stayed longer in San Fran to relax more.
The red umbrella pictures reminds me of musical.
Hope you’ll have nice weather in wine country. The leaves have started to change in the winery and the panoramic view is amazing.
That picture of Matt made me lol.
Have fun today in wine country!
Love how delicious the Cod and Desserts look
Kath it was so great to finally meet you!I love all the red umbrellas too cute
I hope to one day be able to visit Charlotte and really get to chat with you and Matt. I feel like there was no time to really stop and chat with everyone. Hope you have fun with the Hub’s today! Oh and I can’t wait to see this video, I told my Husband about it and now he wants to try this challenge!
how sad am i that i missed meeting matt?!?!
love the red umbrella pix, and you at the biscoff store –
Have a blast, the food looks amazing!
I’m pretty certain this means I’m not all that classy, but despite the many pictures of gourmet foods, desserts, and wine, all that I can think about after reading this post is that you went to a Biscoff store. How did I honeymoon in Frisco and not know about the Biscoff store? I literally look forward to flying just to get those cookies. HOLY COW.
I love the umbrella pictures…so fun!
Oh my Jesus that brownie batter..
My friends & I love the RR. You’re in my backyard and would have loved to have met you! Are you staying in Santa Rosa or Sonoma?
The red umbrella pics are cute!
The red umbrella photos are fantastic! I LOVE it. You sure can put a lot in one day! Good thing you are a runner because you MOVE – a lot! Thanks for sharing the SF adventures.
My mouth was watering looking at all that delicious food! I loved that red umbrella picture as well! So cute!
The photo of you in front of the water is a wonderful picture of you!
Can’t wait to see the Saltine challenge video. AWESOME! I love Mama Pea’s Wacky Wednesdays.
Looks like you are having a blast. I’m so jealous of the wine tasting!
I’ve completed the Saltine challenge! It hurt but pain is temporary, foodie pride is forever
! Maybe at the next HLS we’ll have a Saltines competition!
My friend’s father and uncle switched their ‘daily beer’ to Pliny the Elder last year. Both have put on upwards of 30 lbs- that is a seriously calorific brew.
Can’t wait to see the Saltine cracker video!! The umbrella pics are just too cute btw!
did i spy some humboldt fog blue cheese? mmmmm
How fun! I love the red umbrella shots!
It’s so neat to see SF through your eyes–I work across the street from Fisherman’s Wharf and go to Biscoff coffee a few times a week and your photos make it look like a quaint little cookie and coffee shop, and not just the coffee joint I run across the street and dodge the cars to get my caffeine fix at…I love it!
Glad you had a great time!
-Lisa
Ok, so you did go to Russian River Brewery! Awesome! I thought you’d like it. I’m also so happy you went to Syrah! It’s one of my favorite restaurants in Santa Rosa. Jackson’s right down the street is also owned by them but a lot less fancy, cheaper, and more “hip”.
SF is one of my favorite cities. It’s so walkable and just plain scenic!
Love the umbrellas. Very cute!
yay Kath-I am glad you ventured to the Biscoff shop!!