Monday, April 19, 2010

Frog Hollow Farm, San Francisco: A Before And After Review

In September of 2009, Jay and I spent a couple days in San Francisco.  Jay was at a conference during the day, so I went exploring by myself.  A traveler I am most certainly not.  Big cities give me great cautionary pause.  But I didn't want my silly fears to hinder my time, so I was determined I'd ride the F-Line to the Ferry Building.  Here's an excerpt from my travel journal: "Jeff off to conference.  Went to hotel and got ibuprofen and sunglasses (all-important).  To Powell & Market-bought one-day pass for $11.  Then walked!  Too scared!  Then got brave and hopped on streetcar at 1st St to Ferry Building.  Yay me!"

It was at the Ferry Building that I found Frog Hollow Farm.
My journal reads "sandwiches, pastries, sweet & savory..."


"...but the fresh, organic fruit is the star."

At that time, they had pears.  Miles and miles of pears.  Knowing I was about to meet Jay for lunch at Sellers Markets, I knew I couldn't go all crazy, so I decided to try a Taylor Gold, sliced up, and arranged quite regally on a pleasantly square plate by the fantastic staff.

I remember it being delectable, and my journal entry confimrs that, describing it as "creamy, juicy, not like a regular grainy supermarket pear". 

Before leaving, I checked out the organic chutneys and conserves. 




















The 'before' all sounds pretty terrific doesn't it?  Let's see...fantastic food, check.  Fresh organic fruit, check.  Beautiful conserves, check.  What could make this place better?

Oh, yeah, that's right!  A little Bug!
The second week in April '10 we spent some time in San Francisco again.  Jeff was at another conference, and this time, Bug got to come with us!  What a difference a child makes!  It was such fun showing her all the things I had discovered and watching her face as she took it all in.

After exploring the Ferry Building for a while, Jay met up with us for some lunch, and where else would we go but Frog Hollow?

Bug loved lunch at Frog Hollow Farm.  And while there were no pears this time, we devoured lots of other deliciousness. 
Jeff had a chicory salad with grapefruit and avocado in a citrus vinaigrette.  It was out of this world! 

I had the avocado toast.  Chewy, thick slices of crusty onion bread, toasted and rubbed with garlic, then topped with perfectly fresh avocado slices and freshly ground black pepper.  OH!  My mouth is watering over this memory!
Bug had a fruit salad and then finished off my avocado toast.  The only way she pried it out of my still-living fingers was by being so cute and offspring-like.
We shared some empanadas--one carnitas and one ham and cheese. Mmmm. Chewy. Flaky. Meaty.  Cheesy.
Using the same tactics as mentioned above, Bug managed to get the last bite of the ham and cheese empanada.
We drank from cups made from plants.  I love this city.

So the verdict?  'Before' visit: wonderful, fun, interesting.  'After' visit?  Take the 'before' visit and multiply it by 10.  Everything tastes better with a little Bug. 

21 comments:

~from my front porch in the mountains~ said...

Yummmmmm. Being the avocado addict that I am, I now have to HAVE THAT!

Could I catch a ride with you and Bug next time? Puleeze?!
I love part 2. When is part 3?

xo, misha

Christina said...

So sweet! It helps to have the focus off of the things that tend to freeze us...I love looking at things through their eyes (sometimes...other times I am just screaming on the inside,"Hurry up, please!")...everything is so wonderful when they are seeing it especially for the first time.

Lois Christensen said...

That avocado sandwich looks DELICIOUS!!!!

Enjoyed the pictures from the previous post. Your children are just beautiful!

Catherine Anne said...

What a yummy post

CottageGirl said...

That Bug is such a smart, responsive girl, I'm sure she just soaked everything in! What fun!
Recently we had to cancel our plans for a trip to Northern California, so I appreciate your post!

Unknown said...

I love that name, Frog Hollow Farm, tres cool!

I'm envying that avocado toast..it looks yummy. I really need to try it!!

I adore your partner in crime. Isn't it sooo much fun to share things like this with our adorable off-spring?! Best of all, as time goes by, it only gets better!

Wonderful post!

Hugs ~Andrea~

Andrea said...

That looks like a place I would love to visit! I will definitely have to add it to my list :)

Dandy said...

I just realized I've never had a really good pear. I love them but they are always a bit grainy.

That looks so good, I can't wait to eat there.

And the public transportation- I totally get it... I get scared.

teamkyte said...

yum!!! I loved taking the kids to SF too!!! I want to live there and eat that sandwich every day!~

Dana said...

Oooooooh! I want to go there with a bug and her family, so fun!

curegirl0421 said...

Oh my, that avocado on toast looked goooooood!

Your bug is adorable. :)

Muthering Heights said...

Oh wow...that place looks AMAZING!!!

More Than Words said...

This is the second time I've read about this place!! I need to go!! We're only about an hour away! LOL

golonghorns said...

Wow that looks like a fantastic place! All your food choices, yummmm!!!!!

Susan said...

Oh. My. Goodness!!! My mouth is watering so much that I'm drooling into my coffee cup! Beautiful fresh organic food...I'm so jealous!

Buckeroomama said...

You had me at avocado!

"...being cute and offspring-like..." I liked that! :)

Flat Creek Farm said...

Not only do I love the name of the place, the food looks Mmmmm! But, you're right, it just wouldn't be so fab without Bug :) Too cute! -Tammy

McVal said...

I just had lunch an hour ago and now I"m hungry again from just looking at the pics!
YUM!

erica said...

Just found your site through Tasty Kitchen; what a sweet family you have and what a lovely blog! :)

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Just wanted to pop in and wish you a happy and blessed Mother's Day! :)
~ingrid

Christina said...

Hope all is well, and that you have a Happy Mother's Day!!