Issue #2 February: Welcoming the Year of the Dragon 🐉
Lunar New Year festivities, a viral scarf, and the best FiDi lunch options
Happy Leap Day! 🐸 I’m excited to publish the second issue of this newsletter on such an auspicious day. February was a busy food month. I was in Tokyo for the first week (travel guide coming soon) and got back to SF as Lunar New Year kicked off, which is really just an eating marathon. The Year of the Dragon symbolizes power and good fortune so I wish you all a prosperous 2024! 🧧
Eat 😋
b. Patisserie (Pacific Heights, SF)
There are many Lunar New Year traditions that I look forward to, but the special pastries 🥐 from b. Patisserie is the most exciting. This year, they featured black sesame kouign-amann, white sesame lotus kouign-amann, black sesame berry almond croissant, and peanut butter condensed milk bostock. They also had for the first time a black sesame kumquat panettone that was so light and fluffy, it felt like eating cotton candy. Note: these special pastries are only available for a couple weeks in February every year. Follow their IG to know when pre-orders open up to avoid long wait times.
Turnip Cake from iCafe (Chinatown, SF)
Turnip or radish cake (lo bak go in Cantonese) is considered a lucky food to eat and gift during Lunar New Year. It’s a savory cake made of daikon, rice flour, and cornstarch topped with dried shrimp, Chinese sausage, mushroom, and fried shallots. It can be eaten steamed or pan-fried. Usually, I can take or leave it, often finding it bland and mushy. This all changed when I was gifted a whole turnip cake from iCafe. It is spectacular 🎉! Seriously, the best turnip cake I have ever eaten. The secret I learned is that they use large chunks of organic daikon from their farm in Gilroy, giving the cake so much flavor with none of the mushiness.
Early to Rise (NOPA, SF)
I first tried Early to Rise when it was a brunch pop-up in Nob Hill back in 2019. It felt like a supper club as we were all seated around a large communal table, passing platters of housemade bagels 🥯 and lox to the strangers next to us. Now it’s back in the former Automat location with an expanded brunch menu. Everything is made from scratch down to the crème fraîche on their challah french toast. We went during the soft opening so unfortunately the bagels and lox were sold out. Instead we tried the donuts, pudding, french toast, and eggs benedict, which were all delicious. They just got their smoker in so smoked bacon 🥓 is coming soon!
Shop 🛍️
It’s not everyday that The New York Times Style section writes about an accessory I have in my closet. According to the article, this scarf 🧣 can be spotted everywhere from the humid climates of Singapore to street corners selling knockoffs. I get its popularity. The scarf feels more like a blanket–very long (120cm/8ft) and super warm and comes in a variety of colors. I like to wear mine with a monochrome outfit to add a pop of color to an otherwise boring look. The one downside to the scarf is because of the materials, it sheds like a retriever. As a dog owner, I don’t really mind, but I try to be careful not to spread its fibers when I hug people 😹. Note: it’s pricey, but goes on sale at online retailers like SSENSE or FWRD.
Watch 📺
Expats (Amazon)
I was initially drawn to Expats because it’s directed by Lulu Wang (The Farewell) and stars Nicole Kidman (the best at playing tragic rich women). The show is based on the book by Janice Y.K. Lee and centers around three American women living in Hong Kong. A tragedy befalls Nicole Kidman’s character and her life becomes intertwined with the two other women played by Sarayu Blue and Ji-young Yoo. Over 6 episodes, the show explores themes of family, belonging, privilege, freedom, and grief so consuming, it can fundamentally change who you are 💔. The cinematography is stunning and captures Hong Kong’s landscape and energy so well.
Read 📖
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (Elizabeth Gilbert)
My friend recommended this book to me after I told her about my newsletter idea. Gibert is the author of the international sensation, Eat Pray Love. In Big Magic, she talks about the creative process and how to live a more magical life ✨. Doing anything creative can feel intimidating and scary and often silly (who’s going to care about this anyway?), but her advice is encouraging and inspiring (it only matters that you care!). My favorite part of the book is the story of how she and Ann Patchett had essentially the same book idea several years apart, but Patchett ended up writing the book (State of Wonder) because Gilbert didn’t have time to nurture the idea so it found a new partner. This concept of ideas passing through different people is so liberating because how often do we shout at our screens and go, “Gah, that was my idea!” Gilbert says it’s okay to let an idea go if you’re not able to do anything about it, but just be ready the next time your genius strikes.
FAQ ❓
Q: What can I get for lunch in the FiDi that’s not a $20 salad?
A: Lunch is my favorite part of going into the office. I love the dim sum platter 🥟 from Yank Sing on Spear St. It comes with a variety of dim sum’s greatest hits, including an egg tart that I save for a late afternoon pick-me-up. On Thursdays, I like to walk to the Ferry Building and grab the porchetta sandwich from Roli Roti. Thick slabs of crispy pork with arugula, onion marmalade, and sprinkled with rosemary salt on an Acme bun. At $12, it’s the best lunch deal in the area. If I’m feeling splurgy, I’ll go to Grubbies on 2nd St for their chirashi sets 🍣 with fresh sashimi, miso soup, salad, and rice. But if I am craving a salad 🥗, my go-to is the Impossible taco salad from Mendocino Farms. I‘m always amazed something this delicious can be vegan.
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