NORCAL
This past weekend I loaded my i-Pod with new music, bought the box set of David Sedaris books on tape and jumped in my car (which I love like a husband) and drove up to San Francisco to see my friend Sophie, who has been working up north for three months. Our goal was to eat a ton of food, go to the Alameda Flea market, laugh, talk about art and gear up for some holiday shopping. We accomplished every one of our goals including one of those laughs that makes your face distort and tears run down your face and several days or months later you will think of it and laugh like it just happened! All I will have to say is “Vancouver” and I know Sophie will laugh her head off for the rest of our lives.
I love the drive from LA to SF there is something dangerous and old time-y about cruising through the Grapevine and sharing that stretch of road with 18 wheelers. The miles and miles of yellow hills against the blue sky never gets old to me. When the landscape changes and the California oaks start mingling with the evergreens you know it is only a matter of time before you get here:
Our first night we went to a delicious dinner at Delphina’s.They have three restaurants in SF. We went to the pizzeria the following night.
Try the meatballs, the brussels sprouts and the prosciutto and arugula pizza…you will be happy you did. We both throughly enjoyed the pomegranate Bellini as well.
Sunday we got up early-ish and headed to the Alemeda Flea Market. It is gigantic and has some great things. The prices are good too. One outstanding feature are the food trucks on either end and you can get great food anytime you are there. I had a fantastic sticky bun and Sophie had a cheese and sausage bread stick. Perfect fuel for flea marketing.
I got this vintage hat that is perfectly messed up and the ribbon is frayed like a critter gnawed on it while I was sleeping on my saddle under the stars. It was twenty American dollars…score! I always feel a little silly in hats…like I have a siren on my head… but LOVE them on other people…I am making a move to be a hat wearer.
The rug was a great find as well. Navaho most likely 20’s or 30’s with a beautiful design and in great condition. It is my first Navaho rug and I have loved them for years. Why have I waited so long?
After the market we zipped over to Napa to have lunch at the Oxbow Public Market which has several merchants with delicious food, coffee and sweets. We had tacos at C Casa and an insane salted milk chocolate caramels from Annette’s Chocolates.
There is an antique shop in the market called Heritage and they have gorgeous things. Not quite the bargains of the flea market but I love what I got.
I am toying with the idea of cooking more and entertaining as well so I grabbed the Lollipop cutting board to serve cheese and crackers to my future imaginary guests. The bottle opener I couldn’t leave behind because it also has an ice pick on it!
My family is coming for Christmas and pop overs are a big thing in my family so I was thrilled to find a vintage popover pan so they will pop perfectly. Below is my grandmother’s recipe that we have been using for years.
Before I hit the freeway I stopped in to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and saw the Richard Serra show and the Francesca Woodman show. The perfect end to a wonderful weekend and then I drove really fast all the way home.
