Loving Cup The Dude Abides Frozen Yogurt: Loving Cup is a small frozen yogurt shop in Russian Hill serving blended-to-order non-fat vanilla or chocolate yogurt with your standard set of mix-ins, including gummy bears, Oreos, and junior mints. Unlike the tart and lighter fro-yo you might get at Pinkberry or Red Mango, Loving Cup's yogurt is thick and creamy, making it much more akin to regular ice cream. I ordered a mixture of almond butter (Costco organic) with english toffee, substituting vanilla yogurt for chocolate, in what the... (read more) 4.0/5.0
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Craftsman and Wolves Strawberry Cake: On Valencia in the heart of the Mission is the original location of the Craftsman and Wolves, a pastry shop where each item is backdropped by a matte black countertop, with slide-out trays for individually plated cakes and specialty items. The presentation of the pastries is impeccable, with a commendable level of consistency and care put into every piece. Of course, as with any San Francisco establishment, you pay a premium for quality - the strawberry cake, about 4 inches long, was $8. ... (read more) 4.0/5.0
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Garden Creamery Black sesame and oolong ice cream: By now, I've become wary of long lines in San Francisco, and there is nowhere else where this sense of trepidation is stronger than in the Mission, the tech-saturated, ultra-entitled west coast version of Williamsburg. Regrettably, I do find myself here once in a while, often to see a show at the neighboring Chapel, which is exactly what brought me to Garden Creamery, an ice cream shop squarely at the halfway point between the 16th and 24th street Mission BART stops. I had some extra time ... (read more) 4.0/5.0
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Mr. Holmes Bakehouse Peach Cardamon Danish: An entire think piece could be dedicated to Mr. Holmes Bakehouse, a pastry shop in the heart of San Francisco's Tenderloin district. The Dominique Ansel Bakery of SF, it has an equally iconic dessert: the Cruffin. A cross between a muffin and croissant, the Cruffin is filled with a seasonal cream and is made in limited quantities, requiring those willing to wait to get in line early (the bakery opens at 7am on weekdays). But unlike DA Bakery, Mr. Holmes is not based in the SOHO of SF. To... (read more) 4.0/5.0
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Vive la Tarte Zatar and Orange Blossom Croissant: I really wish I had taken a better photograph, but you'll just have to believe this was a supremely good croissant even if the photo doesn't do it justice. The orange blossom paste filling was fragrantly floral and just sweet enough, while the zatar and sesame seasoning on the exterior gave it a uniquely savory-sweet combination. The texture of the croissant was the flakiest I've had, while the interior was very soft and just a tad stretchy, without being overly buttery or rich. It was a ... (read more) 4.0/5.0
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Tartine Manufactory Pepperoni Biscuit: Buttery and savory, this crumbly biscuit has small dices of pepperoni throughout that add just enough seasoning. Required braving the notorious lines at this out-of-the-way warehouse that is the home to the newest Tartine establishment. Nonetheless, given the quality of this biscuit, I would come back again to sample more. 3.5/5.0
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