Issue #14 February: The Donuts I’ve Been Eating for Over 30 Years 🍩

Plus the best wontons in Chinatown, where to shop for fancy eyewear, and the last week of a sublime portrait exhibit 

From the longest month to the shortest, February felt like a breeze compared to January. The most exciting thing to happen was getting tickets to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour 🤠. I’m eagerly counting down the days until I’m in the Queen’s presence. In the meantime, here’s everything else I was up to this month.

Eat 😋 

Bob’s Donuts (Polk St, SF)

I grew up eating donuts from Bob’s 🍩 and at the time, it was mainly out of convenience because my parents’ video store was just a few doors down. This was the 90s and the cost of a chocolate old-fashioned (still my favorite to this day) was around 50 cents and my earnings from rewinding VHS tapes could buy at least a few. Bob’s has been the city’s go-to for delicious donuts anytime of the day or night since the 1960s. Locals would often sit at the tiny tables with their pastry and coffee chatting up the family working behind the counter. So when news hit that they were about to move across the street, the entire community, including the Mayor, came out to celebrate. The new space is much larger with tons of seating and donut-themed wall art. They have their classics like the apple fritter, old-fashioned, eclair, glazed, as well as trendier donuts like the cronut, masalada, and s’mores.

Hon’s Wun-Tun House (Chinatown, SF)

This Chinatown staple has been around since the 1970s, making fresh shrimp and pork wontons served with springy egg noodle soup (probably the closest to Mak’s in Hong Kong that you can get here). They recently opened a much larger second outpost in the previous Washington Bakery location. The restaurant is packed with locals and tourists almost every day of the week. In addition to wontons, they also serve a wide variety of Hong Kong cafe fare like pan-fried dumplings, congee, noodle dishes, rice plates, and milk teas. My mom dines here at least once a week and leaves with a tray of frozen wontons to enjoy later.

Outta Sight Pizza II (Chinatown, SF)

After frequenting the original Outta Sight Pizza on Larkin St, I was excited to hear they opened another location near Chinatown bordering FiDi. This one is a bit smaller with no tables and chairs, just a counter to enjoy your pizza standing up. As much as I love NYC slice shops, I’m still a Cali girl at heart so pizza flavors like peking duck and loco moco mushroom and even broccoli thrills me. They also have classics like pepperoni and sausage that are just as good. 🍕

Shop 🛍️

AHLEM (Hayes Valley, SF)

Getting my first pair of prescription sunglasses has changed my life. Gone are the days of having to choose between being able to read street signs and being blinded by the sun. Ahlem is a luxury eyewear brand founded in LA by a Parisian designer. All frames are intricately handmade in France or Japan from eco-friendly materials, giving the frames their lightweight feel and geometric style. The metal frames are even dipped in 22K gold to prevent oxidation. Their Hayes Valley store is elegant and welcoming with super helpful staff. I got the Jasmin frames in grey gold with smoke gradient lenses. All lenses are customizable to the color and gradient of your preference as well as any prescription requirements if needed. 😎

See 🖼️

Amy Sherald: American Sublime at SFMOMA (SOMA, SF)

I actually went to the opening of this exhibit back in November, but never got a chance to write about it. The exhibit lasts until March 9th so there’s still time if you want to go. Best known for her portraits of Michelle Obama and Breonna Taylor, Sherald’s exhibit features over 50 stunning paintings, including some that have never been seen. There’s also a room with a behind-the-scenes video of her method, which includes a very intensive photoshoot and editing process before she even picks up a brush. As I took in the vast portrait of our former first lady, I felt as if I could physically feel her presence in the room.

Watch 📺

Slow Horses (Apple TV)

I’m a bit late to this show, but the benefit is that there are currently four full seasons to catch up on. I just finished the second season and really enjoy it so far. It’s a British spy thriller about a group of misfit MI5 agents who instead of being fired are outcast to “Slough House” to work for Jackson Lamb played by Gary Oldman. Lamb is the annoying, smelly boss they all want to hate, but is actually the only one that truly cares and looks out for them in the dangerous, cutthroat spy world. I love the dry dark humor, exciting storylines, and interesting characters. I just wish Lamb would wash his filthy coat.

Read 📖

All Fours (Miranda July)

Probably the most controversial book of 2024, people either loved or hated it with a fiery passion. Whenever I asked friends what they thought of it, they seemed to suggest I needed to read it for myself and decide. The story is about a perimenopausal woman who is a semi-famous artist. Though she claims she loves her husband and child, she’s also bored with her life and feels she’s wasting her best years. After a large payout for her work, she decides to treat herself to a cross-country road trip, ending in a week-long stay at the Carlyle in NYC (side-note: staying at the Carlyle has always been a dream of mine). However, she barely makes it out of LA before deciding to abandon her plans, moves into a shabby motel room which she redecorates, and becomes obsessed with a younger man who works at a rental car shop. It gets more absurd from there with very graphic sex scenes (some that made me cover my eyes even though I was reading a book 😆). I found the no-name protagonist fascinating and July’s writing laugh-out-loud hilarious. The best way I can describe this book is a really f-ed up and arty Eat, Pray, Love. 

FAQ ❓

Q: Where should I go for Dungeness crab? 🦀

A: It’s crab season ya’ll and the best place to eat crab is actually your own home where you can get as messy as you want without shame. But if you don’t want to go through all the hassle, plenty of SF restaurants will serve you a tasty crab. I really like the deep fried salt & pepper crab from R&G Lounge. Another great option is PPQ Dungeness Island. They do several crab preparations including garlic & butter, chili, and salted yolk. Enjoy with a side of garlic noodles and green beans. If you want to go fancy (and messy), Copra offers a seasonal curry crab which is the most flavorful crab I’ve ever had, but I was covered in curry and shells afterwards. 🙃