Scenes from my front yard. Quick! Guess what my favorite color is.
Last week was another somewhat frantic one in our house. I worked two events at Book Larder, taught a Seasonal Feast class at home, and got ready to go to San Francisco. The trip was a packed one. We saw and did a lot. We also got to eat at Greens – a vegetarian paradise on the water in Fort Mason. I have been there many times over the years but never for dinner. It was a real treat.
Our hotel was beautiful and literally across the street from the Ferry Building.
Saturday morning, we were able to hit the incredible farmers’ market before heading out for the day. I, of course, wanted to pack my suitcase full of the beautiful produce but I settle for these non-perishable things.
The trip was mainly to fish out whether or not we felt like the Bay area is somewhere we could live. So we looked in a lot of neighborhoods and at a lot of houses. I loved this one, which was in Oakland. Imagine the parties!
We also looked, and ate lunch, in Berkeley.
My hair looks better in a less wet climate.
I could not get enough of that view.
We ate dinner at Nopa with some good friends. It was a truly terrific meal. I fell hard for this salad. Thick herbed Greek yogurt, perfect avocados, pickled cucumbers and onions, radishes, English peas, and a few croutons. Re-creation will happen soon here!
After returning home, we had a family dinner at my parent’s house to celebrate my brother Alex’s birthday. My parents have an amazing art collection. This has long been my favorite painting of theirs. When they bought it, I was reading The Color Purple, so the two will always be intertwined for me.
I’ve spoken often about my brothers but have never posted a picture. Michael is on the left. He is the youngest. He is an English teacher in a high school. Alex is on the right. He is the middle (I am the oldest). He owns a personal training gym. They are 6’1″ and 6’4″ respectively. I feel like a shrimp around them.
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Look forward to the re=creation of that beautiful salad!
at 4ft 11.5 in I know just what you mean by feeling like a shrimp ;-)
You and your younger brother have a lot in common, same eyes, same “look”
Comment by SallyBR — May 29, 2012 @ 4:24 pm
And what did you think about life in the Bay Area?! I live in the Bay Area, well, Santa Cruz, but I’m up in Oakland and SF often. I love to read your blog because it helps me stay connected to Seattle, where I grew up and still love to visit. I’m actually heading up this Friday and will even be taking the ferries to Friday Harbor where my grandparents live.
How interesting, to me, your reader, that you are considering a move to the Bay while I am considering a move back to Seattle.
Comment by Amanda — May 29, 2012 @ 5:26 pm
I love Greens so much. An upside for me if you move to SF is that I will look forward to you re-creating their menu recipe by recipe on your blog for us far-away home cooks! :)
Comment by emmycooks — May 29, 2012 @ 6:03 pm
Please move to the Bay Area! Then I can visit you and Denise at the same time :)
Comment by Maris — May 29, 2012 @ 7:38 pm
As a native of Washington (Bellingham to be precise), I feel like the Bay Area is an easy transition. I lived there for six years and loved it. Plus San Francisco weather isn’t much better than Seattle’s, so you’ll be right at home :) Love love love Greens!
Comment by Jessie — May 29, 2012 @ 8:09 pm
I am anxiously awaiting to see how this period of your life unfolds. If you have to move, San Francisco is a great spot to land. My fingers are crossed Seattle wins out in the end.
Alex is looking a lot like your dad in that picture!
Comment by Kelly — May 29, 2012 @ 8:57 pm
the salad looks amazing. No kidding, before I read the caption, just saw the photo, I thought “she will recreate that salad on here”… :)
Comment by sara — May 29, 2012 @ 10:29 pm
Sounds like you had a great time and covered a lot of ground in one weekend! The salad looked very yummy! I have to say the pictures of you with the bay in the background are wonderful! Looked like you were really enjoying yourself! Can’t wait to hear what is in store for you!
Comment by Deborah — May 30, 2012 @ 12:04 am
Can’t wait to see what happens – Sf or Seattle? Eeek!!! I do love SF but I’d love to be able to get a chance visit with you before you move!!
Comment by kickpleat — May 30, 2012 @ 12:29 am
Oh SF…how I miss it all day every day so much. Especially that farmer’s market!
Also…how are you so gorgeous all the time?
Comment by Joanne — May 30, 2012 @ 1:17 am
I have been a big fan of your blog (and recipes) for some time. Looks like your family is about to embark on quite the adventure :-). You mentioned previously that changing your son’s schooling was a concern. If it’s any help, I live in SF, and the Piedmont school district in Alameda county was spoken very highly of for their strong special education program. Here is a link with more info, hope it’s helpful
http://www.piedmont.k12.ca.us/curriculum/special-education
Good luck!
Comment by Kelly — May 30, 2012 @ 1:29 am
Oh man, those are just about my two favorite restaurants in SF – please, re-create away! I’ve been lurking for a long time – I love all your recipies and your life posts too, keep it up!
Comment by aleah — May 30, 2012 @ 8:18 am
sounds like a fun trip! that outdoor kitchen does look pretty incredible
Comment by brandi — May 30, 2012 @ 12:38 pm
Yes please move to the Bay Area! I am a huge fan of yours, been reading your blog for a little over a year. It helps me feel connected to my friends in Seattle. But if you were here, like most have noted, you would be recreating all the gorgeous food made in the fabulous restaurants here and then I could come to your cooking classes, something I have longed to do! Also I live in Piedmont, and love it. Have only wonderful things to say about it and would be more then happy to answer any questions you might have. Best of luck to you and your family.
Comment by Dianna — May 31, 2012 @ 5:56 am
Looks like a great trip — and wow, that balcony/porch is pretty fantastic. Nopa is one of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco. Went there with my mom for my 30th birthday and we both drank too much :)
Comment by Megan Gordon — May 31, 2012 @ 7:30 am