On a recent Sunday, my companions and I -- because apparently I rarely go to things without a posse LOL --  ended our afternoon at the stylish SF restaurant Rambler. Located just off Union Square, @rambler_sf is a mix of casual dining and fine dining flair. Passing Rambler’s petite Zinc Bar, you’ll walk downstairs into the main dining space, feeling as if you’re walking into a cool speakeasy. Here you will feel just as comfortable sporting a pair of jeans or something a bit more dressed up. On our visit, the front of house manager, Daniel was absolutely on point. His professional demeanor was smooth, welcoming, and effortless. Chef Banks White’s new American comfort driven menu is wonderfully diverse. Dish after dish is both thoughtful and delicious. Start with the Roasted Brassicas (Herbed Freekeh & Kamut, House Cashew Cheese, Honey Harissa Dressing or The Prince Edward Isle Mussels (Cambodian Green Curry, Kaffir Lime Leaves, Fresno Chile). For the meat eaters in the house, the Grilled Pork Chop (White Beans, Fennel Sausage, Broccolini, Marsala Demi Glaze) is a dish not to miss. If you find yourself in Union Square during the holidays -- or really at any time -- make Rambler a part of your visit. #SWSEats #EatLocalish #Ramblersf #SanFrancisco #WestBay #FieldTrip #ThatDemiGlazeTho  (at Rambler) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6eW1kqBcDA/?igshid=3jr1rxt60n39

A recent #fieldtrip to the West Bay brought me to @stonemillmatcha and I was happy to be there. Walking off of bustling Valencia street into the calm environment of Stonemill Matcha is like a trip to another space and time. When you enter, you see the blue coated workers calmly and deftly preparing orders. Nothing seems too fast or too slow, but at just the right tempEach if the items was prepared with care. Take, for instance, the yuzu dressing on the salads. EVERYONE at the table commented on how good this was! It seemed like there was white soy matched with the yuzu? It was nice and light with a hint of citrus. The Sparkling Matcha was amazing as was the Yuzu Tart with matcha crust. Tantalizing citrus curd with a buttery matcha short crust. A crowd favorite was The Hazelnut Swirl Cake. This beauty had a nice light crumb and the hazelnut cream was smooth and delicious. #PROTIP **Be prepared to buy extra pastries to take home. Just don't fight it. It will happen! #SWSEats #EatLocalish #Stonemillmatcha (at Stonemill Matcha) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6AHLX7BJpN/?igshid=htf44g6wrgdb

Getting to spend time and hang out with folks you enjoy is such a gift. Taking advantage of a beak in the rain, a group of us headed to Playt in Hayward for dinner and the pleasure of each other’s company. @tinatamale and I have been trying to get to @PlaytHayward since they opened, over a year ago. As schedules cleared, we were finally able to make it. We started with cocktails and a few small plates -- Fried Green Tomatoes, Crispy Catfish FIngers, and Mussels Meuniere. Discovery is one of those magical things that happen at unexpected times. It can be as simple as a new way to prepare something, or a flavor combination you didn’t expect. At Playt, that dish was the Mussels Meuniere. It absolutely stole the show. One of the things that makes a good mussel dish is the broth. But here it wasn’t the broth, it was the *sauce*! A creamy white sauce infused with applewood smoked bacon and a hint of dijon. It is not an exaggeration that we got extra bread, just to sop up the luscious sauce. And once we went through the bread, I picked up a spoon and finished off what was left. #noshame. For mains, we shared the Low Country Shrimp and Grits, the Pan Roasted Pork Chop, and the Blue Crab and Delta Shrimp Ravioli. One after the other was delicious. Thanks @PlaytHayward for making it easy to be part of the Clean Plate Club that! #SWSEats #EatLocalish #HaywardEats #Hayward #Playt #PlaytonB #NextTimeBrunch (at PLāYT) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5q8ACYhoeG/?igshid=1rdgianidkwk9