SF Chefs 2010

One of the best things I love about living in the Bay Area, is that San Francisco is considered such a foodie city - and because of that, we get lots of cool events!

I just recently subscribed to Sunset Magazine (think Southern Living for the West Coast), and I was browsing through on my Staycation, I saw the advertisement for SF Chefs! (Photo credit: Sunset Events)

It's a weekend full of events that celebrate food and cooking! It looks at the best of Northern California, and all we have to offer in way of food, wine, chefs, and amazing restaurants. There are a lot of awesome celebrity chefs coming, including Tyler Florence - I wish I could meet him! :)

They are offering cooking classes, food tasting/wine tasting, a restaurant tour of several San Francisco restaurants, and one thing I would love to attend - a Sugar Party - put on by several local pastry chefs, and they all have to use local artisan ice cream!! I wonder if they'll use Bi-Rite Creamery? Yum!

Also (and no, I'm definitely not promoting this! :) ), it's hosted by Visa Signature - I've heard things on the radio advertising all the perks of having a Visa Signature card (like better tickets to concerts, chocolate tasting events, etc), but we didn't have one. But you can get insider perks even at SF Chefs, just by having a Visa Signature card.

Wouldn't you know, my husband and I JUST got one - like last week - just got one. We did it, not knowing it was a signature card, in order to rack up sky miles to help pay for plane tickets when we go visit family back East.

If you're on the West Coast, you can find out all about the SF Chefs 2010 event and lineup of events here: SF Chefs 2010.

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A Visit to the City

Yesterday, Archie and I went to San Francisco to spend the last day of our staycation having a little fun.

We had lunch at a quaint little restaurant with Ben and Mary Keel, the worship pastor at Epic Church, a church plant in San Francisco, and Southbay's first church we are supporting. It was a great time to be together with someone who is in the very beginning stages of what we've been through! What an encouragement it was.

After lunch, we headed over to Bi-Rite Market. I talked about this place once before when we had the AMAZING salted caramel ice cream. But, when we went, it was at night, and the market wasn't open. I just HAD to go back because it looked adorable. The quaintest little neighborhood market. We splurged and had a little ice cream too of course!

This was how we were welcomed to the shop! Beautiful, gorgeous, amazing bouquet's of flowers, they were breathtaking.

Fun little olive bar with some great choices

Look at all of these spices!

Better yet, look at all these cheeses!!!

We bought some from one of the samples. It was called valskaas, and it was super yummy!

I thought these old, vintage looking milk bottles were so fun

I thought all the wine bottles looked so pretty.

and of course... the ice cream!

We have really enjoyed doing nothing for the week. It was so very much needed, and I think we both feel refreshed! So does Capo.

I don't know about "ready to head back to work", but by Monday we will! ;)

I also drove the Mustang this week! For the second time... in a year and a half. For those of you who don't know, my husband drives a 67' mustang. It's a boat! And a manual! And it was made in 1967! All of these combined makes it for a quite an interesting ride. I named her "Sally" this weekend. I don't think Archie's convinced. I was just thankful to have made it home the 2.1 miles I drove in it! He had to park it. Ha. I do like riding in it though. I'll leave the driving to him.

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I'm Dreaming of San Francisco

I had a foodie's dream weekend! :) Of course I will be paying for it in workouts all this week, but you know, sometimes you have to live it up!

Friday night, we were up in the city (San Francisco) for one of our great friend's graduation, and on the way home, a few of us decided to go to Bi-Rite creamery. My friend Carissa came to visit family out here last summer, and we got to see her and her family. She mentioned this amazing place to me while she was here, and I knew it was a must on the list of places to try! We tried to go when my mom was in town and we were in the city, but the line was down the block and around the corner for quite a ways!!! It was a definite try on another day. :) Well, let's just say that the wait was worth it! Amazing!

Let's just talk about the flavors of this ice cream for just a second. Salted Caramel, Brown Butter Pecan, Balsamic Strawberry, Honey Lavendar, Earl Grey Tea... the list goes on! I tried a sample of the honey lavender, and next time - that's my choice... soo good. But I had to try the Salted Caramel and Brown Butter Pecan. Together, they paired well, but the salted caramel was definitely the show stopper.

This is me happy because it was so good!!!

Saturday we headed to a big fancy gala for my work up in the city as well. It was at a Hilton. Every year Safeway holds a fundraiser for Easter Seals, charges a WHOLE lotta money for everyone to go, and then the employees get to go for free as a thank you, get to meet all the people, etc. It's AMAZING. Definitely the fanciest parties I've ever been to. We got to go last year too, and it is really fun. They have a full evening of events including a silent auction, families sharing stories about how Easter Seals has helped them, a show with several previous American Idol contestants performing, and then the evening end with a live band and dancing. The best part is that it's a formal event, so you get to get all dressed up and fancy!

Me and the hubs all dressed up and fancy

My lovely friend Aimee let me borrow the whole outfit! Didn't have to spend a dime. Thanks Aimee - you're a life saver!!

At the event they gave us a fabulous meal, but the dessert was really killer! I got some sort of banana caramel cake mousse thing with white chocolate on top.

and Archie got a raspberry vanilla custard with chocolate.

Each of the desserts had a chocolate stamp of the Easter Seals logo - yep! That's chocolate!!! Seriously. Amazing.

This is me being really excited to eat dessert.. especially dessert with a cool chocolate stamp!

What did you do this weekend? What yummy food can you tell me about?!

If you go to San Francisco - you must try Bi-Rite Creamery! THANKS Carissa!!!

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