Issue #1 January: Celebrating my birthday month 🥳

A quick welcome, lobster pasta, and a cottagecore-chic getaway

Welcome and thanks so much for reading the very first issue of Crumbs in My Handbag. This newsletter idea came from people in my everyday life asking my opinions, usually about food, but also just general things, like “where is your water bottle from?” (Lund), “what’s the easiest way to put on false lashes?” (tweezers), and “where can I buy my mom a summer hat for vacation?” (Cuyana). I love being the person whose taste people trust. Hopefully through these monthly roundups, I’ll help you discover something delightful too. 😊

Eat 😋

Spruce (Laurel Heights, SF)

Spruce reminds me what a nice restaurant experience should be: welcoming, comfortable, delicious, and just fancy enough to feel special, but not awkward. The menu celebrates California with almost all the produce coming from a farm in Woodside. They offer a seasonal tasting menu with options for each course as well as an extensive wine and cocktail list. It was my birthday so I went for their special entree that night: a whole lobster 🦞 pasta! It was so decadent, I shouldn’t have been allowed to eat it in public. They also serve a tasty burger 🍔 at the bar. 

Lady M Luxury Cake Truck (Embarcadero, SF)

There’s bougie and then there’s cake truck with Baccarat chandeliers bougie and I’m here for it. I’ve loved Lady M’s 20-layer cakes ever since I first tried them in NYC. The only Bay Area boutique location is in San Jose, which to me feels just as far as NYC. 😆 My favorite flavor is the green tea–the bitterness of the matcha on top perfectly balances out the rich creaminess of the crepe layers. The truck is only there until the end of February so visit soon!  

Shop 🛍️

MAC: Modern Appealing Clothing (Hayes Valley, SF)

Those who think SF isn’t fashionable have never been to MAC. I’m honestly embarrassed I didn’t know about this store sooner, despite the many years I’ve spent shopping in Hayes Valley. It’s the perfect boutique: excellent curation (mostly Japanese and Belgian designers), friendly and knowledgeable staff (owners are siblings who founded the store with their mom in 1980), and a cute doodle (he’ll bark at first until you offer pets). The pieces are pricey, but they do have amazing sales like up to 50% off post-holidays. Note: the clientele skews a bit older so if you wanna look like the cool kids, check out DeStore around the corner. 

Rosie Sugden Cashmere Bed Socks (also available at Saks)

My winter WFH uniform is a full cashmere suit down to my feet. This is actually more affordable than turning on the heat (#girlmath 🙃). Cashmere socks can be tricky because I have very aggressive toes and often end up with holes in my socks after a few wears. The cool thing about these socks is they’re reinforced with nylon in the toes and heels to make them more durable, while still remaining soft thanks to the fluffy Scottish goats 🐐 who supply the yarn. I’ve worn them everyday since early January and even after several washes, they’re still in great condition.

Watch 📺

Past Lives (A24)

OMG, this movie absolutely wrecked me. I was full-on snotty ugly crying as if someone hurt my dog (not to worry, Penrose was sleeping soundly in my lap). The movie stars Greta Lee and Teo Yoo who are childhood best friends in Korea. Lee’s character immigrates to Canada and then to New York to become a writer, while Yoo’s character remains in Korea. The two try to keep in touch, but life and feelings and getting older make it challenging. They finally reunite in NYC decades later. What follows are heart wrenching scenes of them discussing love, friendship, identity, loss, destiny. The film conjured up feelings I didn’t know existed inside me. 🥹

Visit 🚗

Farmhouse Inn (Forestville, CA)

About 60 miles north of San Francisco lies Farmhouse Inn, a charming resort in Sonoma County situated near Russian River, Guerneville, and Sebastopol. We stayed in one of their cottages complete with complimentary handmade soaps, baked goods from their in-house pastry chef, local snacks, and a bottle of Sonoma wine. It’s owned by a 5th-generation Sonoma family and they pride themselves in making their guests feel like family too. The tasting menu at their fine dining restaurant reminded me of a chiller SingleThread. Note: the property doesn’t allow pets, but there’s a cute cat that naps in front of the fireplace in the lobby. Some fun things to do in the area: Florence Ave’s Trash Art, The Barlow, Armstrong Redwoods, The Guerneville Taco Truck. 

(P.S. Farmhouse Inn is part of the Amex FHR program at the time of writing this.)

FAQ❓

Q: What’s a low-key date night spot in SF that won’t break the bank?

A: Luckily for all of us, Prik Hom has reopened their reservations for this year. After receiving accolades from The New York Times and SF Chronicle, this unassuming neighborhood spot completely blew up and booked out their tables for the rest of 2023. (I watched them turn away many disappointed diners when I was there in October.) The food is absolutely stunning and somehow manages to be both delicate and bold at the same time. You may think you’ve had enough Richmond district Thai food, but I promise this is special. 

What to order: scallops and lemongrass, larb (if you can handle spice), beef cheek curry, spicy shrimp, eggplant with basil, purple rice, coconut ice cream