Final notes on our trip...

In Nashville, your options for coffee are limited.  There are a few good places to go, Portland Brew and Bongo Java come to mind.  For me, either one means a trip in the car and these days, I just do without.  While wandering around San Francisco, we were quickly spoiled by the close proximity of good coffee wherever you are.  While some may think we mean the ever-present Starbucks on every corner, they would be mistaken.  In some parts of San Francisco, you would have to search for one and in others; they just won't let them in.  The North Beach Merchants Association has done a great job of keeping them out.  We were more than happy to get our coffee at Peet's while we were in the city.  They roast all of their beans and we loved the bold, dark roasts.  In plain English, that is a strong dark cup of coffee that only a splash of half and half can compliment.  We brought home a pound of the Guatamala San Sebastian and savored every cup we brewed.

Another coffee hghlight was in Sausalito; we visited Caffe Trieste, which is located near a marina.  After purchasing two more wonderfully dark and rich cups of coffee, we walked over to the boardwalk that runs along the waterfront and sat on a bench looking out at the boats moored in the marina and the view of the bay.  The weather was on the warm side for June, no jacket was required.  Unfortunately, the view was shrouded in smoke from all of the fires that were burning in the area.  Nevertheless, we thoroughly relished the opportunity to sip great coffee alongside so many beautiful boats.

In order to visit all of the places we wanted to see, we turned our trip into a series of day trips, each with a specific destination in mind.  One of those trips was to Berkeley, 4th Street specifically.  The area has been refurbished and is quite trendy now.  Linda accompanied us this day and we started off with a cup of coffee at Peet's and the proceeded to wander through the shops.  We tasted olive oils and vinegar in one shop and Linda purchased a lime olive oil that was very nice.  In another, I found seeds for next springs vegetable garden.

When it came time to eat lunch, Linda surprised us with reservations at Chez Panisse Cafe.  If you haven't been there, the cafe is upstairs from the famed restaurant.  We were seated directly in front of the open kitchen so that we could watch the coming and going of pizzas in the brick oven.  While some may not have enjoyed this location, we did.  It was refreshing to watch a confident and relaxed crew work.  They clearly enjoyed what the were doing and the food on our plates reflected that.  The three of us shared a pizzetta; a small pizza covered in porcini mushrooms and melted cheese.  The crust was thin and blistered the way it should be,  I could have easily eaten the whole thing myself.  In between courses, we snacked on an array of olives and wonderful bread from Acme Bakery.  For our entrees, Darry chose the leg of lamb, I chose a grilled vegetable dish and Linda opted for the rocket (arugula) salad.  At first glance, the plates seemed a bit sparse, as if lunch was little more than a snack.  However, after we began to eat, it occurred to me that this is what reasonably sized portions look like; your plate should not be heaped with food as is the custom in the South.  We were all able to clean our plates and consider dessert afterwards.  Whenever I am willing to indulge in dessert, it is usually chocolate and this menu offered a bittersweet pave with cherries and cream; it was a small, dense and rich cake that is brick shaped, hence the name pave.  Once again, I cleaned my plate. Darry satisfied his sweet tooth and his caffeine fix in one with the espresso served over vanilla ice cream while Linda chose the strawberry sherbet with strawberries and rose petals.  This was a dining experience to remember.  The ever present wait staff was attentive but did not hover, our water glasses were bottomless and we were well taken care of.  It was food from local sources that was well prepared and every bite was savored and will be remembered.  It is no mystery how the place remains a top destination for the seriously food minded.  Alice Waters was a pioneer when she opened Chez Panisse and today her involvement with locally grown products makes her an example to follow.  While so many big names come and go, she has proven that it is possible to stay at the top of your field, helping to form new trends and not become a commercialized cartoon of your former self.  

Note:  the menu at Chez Panisse Cafe, pictured above,  respectfully asks that you not use cell phones or computers at the tables; obviously, I did not break out my camera to photograph our meal.