Oh, this city and I. We have been through our ups and downs. Our long walks, and our traffic stops. Our stormy ocean, and sunny park days. But this weekend, oh great 7x7 mile chunk of concrete, you really got me. La Cocina, a new like minded supportive group of entrepeanuers in the local food world, brought their great minds together and created SF Street Food Festival which was held on Saturday. It was truly incredible.
Held from 11am to 7pm, and considering the slacking late morning behavior of sf missionites, we figured showing up around noon would put us in the perfect spot. The vendors would be set-up, but we wouldn't have to wait in long lines. Yeah, we couldn't have been more wrong. We turned the corner from 24th onto Folsom street and damn, it was packed! Two solid blocks of people, end to end, house to house. Packed. Despite this fact, knowing there was no way in hell we were going to get something to eat without waiting at the minimum another 45 minutes, it was an awesome event.
They had a great entrance, friendly volunteers, lot's of clean portapotties, a hand washing station, and samples you didn't have to wait so long for. Or maybe its the fact that I just saw caramel and chocolate together, disregarded the line behind me and dived in. Hmm.
Considering we planned our entire day around eating at the street fair, and we never actually got to eat, in any other circumstance this would have bugged the hell out of me, not this time thought! I was so proud for them that it worked! I was proud of the turn out they got, which, considering the space and amount of booths, I think was probably triple of what they thought they would get. I found the food and drink items reasonably priced especially with the type of food (really nice) and portions (lots) they were plating. Around $3 for an app, $8 for a meal, $4 for a drink.
After taking a long walk through the crowds we decided to walk behind the booths with a "behind the scenes" look at the festival. It was a unique view. To see the chefs and volunteers cooking, then the mob of heads bopping around. All very hungry and excited. That was the cool thing, and what really made me smile about experience was that everyone was happy, in a good mood, sharing this experience with their neighbor and the city. I loved that a group of people got together, had an idea, and did it. It didn't have to work, but they tried. It's all they had to do was try.
Here are a list of the vendors. Yum!
Oh wait, my hate relationship with this city.... Ill keep it short. We went to get Irish Coffee's at the famous Irish Coffee place. Its near Fisherman's Warf, so of course we expect tourists, and just annoyingness. It was Sunday morning, and I had to work at 4pm so really our day had to end at 3pm, so anything we want to do that day we kind of have to get up early and do it. Anyway, Irish Coffee's... We drive over there, and at 8:30am the drive was really nothing. No one was on the road. We find a great spot, the only spot left, but nevertheless right in front. It's Sunday. Sunday means free parking at meter's, RIGHT?! Oh no, apparently not near tourist money hogging SF! Come on city, can you give us just one day. Just one day a week for a break. Fine collect meter's on Sunday but at least make them cheaper. $3/hr come on! Anwyay, we suck it up, put in the only change we had which added up to 20 measly minutes. The place is called Buena Vista Cafe and before we even open the door we both know we aren't going to like it. First and foremost it was packed, at 9am on a Sunday. That doesn't happen until 1 in san fran. Second, it was, uhm how should I say, a lot of people dressed in raincoats (it wasn't raining), with floppy hats to protect them from the scary sun, and lot's of camera's flung around necks - ok they were tourists. But, we opened the door anyway to a very worn looking woman serving the nearest table saying there is no hostess and to seat ourselves. We took a seat at the bar, where the man behind the counter was wearing one of those old bartender outfits with the band thing around the arm. It wasn't even a whole 15 seconds from when we walked in to when we both looked at one another and decided to turn around and leave.
So damn you city and your stupid meters on Sunday - but I love you because it's things like that that keep me sticking around my own neighborhood - or venture over the bridge for beach days and hiking adventures.