Issue #15 March: Ali Wong’s Favorite SF Restaurant is Back 🐢

Plus the fanciest sushi bento delivery, where to shop one of Vogue’s best fashion boutiques, and a design lesson from Ray and Charles Eames’ granddaughter

Happy Spring 🌸 Despite losing an hour of sleep this month, I’ve been enjoying the spring weather, both the pockets of sunshine and the sudden rainstorms. It's been an eventful month of new restaurants, a bit of shopping for the transition season, and tons of good reads. Check out what I’ve been up to!

Eat 😋 

Turtle Tower (FiDi, SF)

Covid was tough on restaurants everywhere, but when Turtle Tower closed its last location in 2023, the entire city mourned the loss. The family-owned Northern Vietnamese noodle shop had been a staple in the Tenderloin as well as locations in SOMA and the Outer Richmond. The pho ga (chicken noodle soup) 🍜 was the only highlight during my 4-month stint serving on the federal grand jury at the courthouse a few blocks away. The clear flavorful broth with strips of tender chicken and thick rice noodles filled up my stomach and my soul. Luckily for pho fans everywhere, Turtle Tower is now back in a beautiful new space with a bar area, ceiling decor, moody lighting, and pop music blasting throughout the energetic dining room. While the vibe is definitely more hip and modern, the food is just as delicious and comforting. It’s also Ali Wong approved. 

Piccino (Presidio, SF)

The popular Dogpatch restaurant recently opened another location in the Presidio. Just steps away from the Yoda Fountain, tourists and locals alike can enjoy fresh Cali-Italian fare inside or on their covered patio overlooking the park. Everything from the focaccia to the pizzas to the pastas are made in-house with ingredients sourced from their own farm in Healdsburg. Standouts from their spring menu include the English pea arancinis 🫛 and asparagus salad 🥗. We also enjoyed the lasagne, meatballs, and pork chop. Bonus: they validate parking.

Juniper (Polk, SF)

Between Bob’s new location and Juniper from the team behind Saint Frank Coffee, Polk Street has really come up in the pastry scene. 🥐 The line is almost as long as Swan Oyster Depot on the weekends. I went later in the day so most of the goodies were sold out, but I did manage to grab a few adorable choux pastries, a plain croissant, and the very last black sesame croissant loaf. Everything was fluffy and flaky in all the right ways. And of course, there’s plenty of coffee drink options, but I opted for their seasonal yuzu sparkler which was crisp and refreshing. 

Shop 🛍️

McMullen (Pac Heights, SF)

Originally based in Oakland, this luxury boutique closed its former storefront and moved across the bay to one of SF’s most prestigious shopping streets last August. This beautifully designed and expertly curated store by founder, Sherri McMullen, has caught the attention of Vogue and other national fashion publications. It carries well-known designers like Dries Van Norton, Khaite, The Row, as well as emerging Black designers like Tove and Christopher John Rodgers. As I browsed the racks of beautiful clothes and accessories, a pair of Forte Forte satin trousers piqued my interest (I can’t resist an elastic waist). A stylish staff member immediately noticed and suggested I try it on with a Maria McManus short-sleeve sweater, exclaiming “I think you'll like this.” She was right. I walked out happily with my new treasures and crossed the street to Spruce for happy hour. 

See 🖼️

Eames Institute (Richmond, CA)

Even if you’re not into modern design or art history, you’ve most likely come across the Eames chair or at least a dupe. 🪑 I first learned about Ray and Charles Eames when I started a summer job at CB2, a modern furniture store. Though the store itself didn’t sell anything by Eames (you’d have to go to DWR for that), what it did sell took heavy inspiration from the legacy designers. The Eames Institute showcases the massive archive through an informative tour given by Llisa Demetrios, the granddaughter of the late couple. It’s an impressive collection of their work from furniture to paintings to artifacts like Charles’ proposal letter to Ray, and my favorite, sketches of Ray’s packing list (she made her own clothes). The tour concludes with a “chair tasting” and short interview video of Charles Eames. There’s also a fun gift shop filled with delightful surprises to bring home. Tours are limited so definitely plan ahead.

Watch 📺

The White Lotus Season 3 (HBO)

When the newest season began, I actually found the first few episodes a bit slow compared to previous seasons. Yes, the cinematography is breathtaking and the Thai resorts are probably my favorite White Lotus property. The characters, however, seemed too familiar or maybe I was just tired of watching rich people behaving weirdly in beautiful countries. But the last few episodes have hooked me. I got teary eyed in episode 6 during the monastery scene when Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) eagerly asks the monk to meet with her father, Timothy (Jason Isaacs), so that her family would allow her to join the monastery after college. During their conversation, Timothy, who is battling his own demons, asks the monk what happens after death. The monk’s response is something I haven’t been able to stop thinking about. And of course, who can forget Sam Rockwell's monologue in episode 5. Next week is the season finale and I can’t wait! 🙌

Read 📖

The Wedding People (Alison Espach)

Perhaps the best book I’ve read so far this year, this unexpected rom-com had me in tears, both from laughter and sadness. It’s about an English professor named Phoebe whose husband leaves her after starting an affair with her best friend. When her beloved cat dies, Phoebe decides to book a room at a fancy hotel in Newport to, shall we say, seek closure. Upon arrival with only the dress on her back, she discovers that a week-long wedding celebration is also happening at the hotel. As Phoebe gets to know the bride and the other “wedding people,” unexpected friendships develop as the characters explore questions around love, marriage, loneliness, grief, and the “waste” of weddings. 💒 I hope this gets turned into a movie so that I can experience it again.

FAQ ❓

Q: Where can I get a fancy date night meal without having to leave my house? 

A: On a recent night out, I overheard the couple next to us say “it takes more time and effort to get ready to dine out than to actually eat.” And it’s true! But just because you don't want to put on real pants, doesn’t mean you can’t have a Michelin-quality meal delivered to your doorstep. Enter Table22. The platform offers diners a monthly supper club subscription to local restaurants and handles all the logistics while the restaurants focus on the food. And because it’s a subscription service, it’s a way easier operation for restaurants than regular takeout or delivery. Through Table22, we’ve tried Michelin-starred Nari x Kin Khao and recently switched to Rintaro. The Rintaro bentos were so fancy, I almost couldn't eat them. The box was wrapped in custom-printed washi paper with a pair of wooden chopsticks and a menu listing about 20 items, including uni, scallop, 5 kinds of fish, tamago, pickled veggies, fresh wasabi, all on top of perfectly cooked sushi rice. It also came with a mochi dessert and a sweet rice drink. Our Wednesdays just got a major upgrade. 🍱🍶