Issue #4 April: Spring’s Here and So Is SF’s Best New Restaurant 😋
Plus a new plant-forward food hall, a luxurious and easy-to-wear clothing brand, and my mom’s picks for dining out on Mother’s Day
I saw a meme about SF's weather and apparently, we’re in “fake-Spring” 😆 and while it may be sunny, it’s still windy af and can rain out of nowhere. Since it’s been a long, wet winter, I try to take advantage of any day that is sunny and pretend I’m not still wearing a puffer coat while struggling to eat my fresh mango covered in both chili powder and dirt (thanks wind 🌬️). Hope your days are getting brighter too ☀️!
Eat 😋
Four Kings (Chinatown, SF)
I know it’s only April, but I’m calling it right now. Four Kings is this year’s best new restaurant in SF. Started by two Mister Jiu’s alumni, chefs Fanky Ho and Michael Long wanted to create a fun space that celebrated nostalgic Cantonese cuisine and Hong Kong pop culture. It’s tucked away in an alley in Chinatown and as soon as I walked in, I felt like I was transported to Kowloon. Few SF restaurants are vibey, but Four Kings is a definite vibe. Items like the complimentary roasted peanuts 🥜 and smashed cucumbers 🥒 to snack on as well as the jellyfish salad brought me straight back to the Chinese wedding banquets I’ve been going to as a child. That night, we had the abalone vermicelli special, the xo escargot with milk bread, garlic peashoots, claypot rice, and the star of an already impressive show–the fried quail. When it arrived, we savored each bite of crispy skin and succulent meat in ecstatic silence. For dessert, there was mango pudding in the shape of a koi fish and red bean shaved ice 🍧.
Saluhall (Mid-market, SF)
I’m always excited to see the mid-market area of SF get some love. It’s a tough location that doesn’t bring in much foot traffic and other food halls and restaurants in the past have struggled to gain traction. But now with the opening of IKEA and Saluhall, the city hopes to draw in more crowds to the neighborhood. Saluhall is a beautiful two-story space with mostly plant-based food vendors, two bars, and a cooking school with plenty of seating all around. My favorite is Smörgåsland, the Scandinavian bakery by the former Noma co-founder and pastry chef, Claus Meyer. I also enjoyed the spicy noodles 🍜 from Momo Noodle, the mushroom tacos 🌮 from La Venganza,, and the mofongo cups 🍌 from Casa Borinqueña. Another perk is all dishes are priced between $10-$15 so you can try a bunch of things without breaking the bank.
Shop 🛍️
Attersee Pop-up at Hero Shop (Marin)
I first learned about Attersee in a NYT article where founder / designer Isabel Wilkinson sighs at the term “quiet luxury.” I couldn’t help but laugh because I also think the term is silly (there’s nothing quiet about a $2000 Loro Piana sweater when there’s valley bros flexing it 🙄). I found her story inspiring–a former journalist and T Magazine digital director turned fashion designer because she wanted to make clothes she and her friends wanted to wear. When I heard that Attersee was popping up at Hero Shop last winter (more about the boutique below), I immediately jumped at the chance to experience her clothes in person and it did not disappoint. The clothes are classic, easy-to-wear pieces, with a slight twist to make them special. They’re crafted from luxurious materials that feel cozy like loungewear yet look polished and put-together. They came back to Hero Shop with their spring/summer collection and I’m happy to report I’ve found this season’s uniform:
Now, about Hero Shop. Founded by a former Vogue editor, it first opened in the Lower Nob Hill neighborhood of SF in 2016. I was sad when they closed during the pandemic, but glad to see their Marin location is still going strong. It reminds me of a mini-Barney’s (RIP 💔) with cool-girl brands like The Row, Khaite, Toteme, CDG, and Dries. The staff is also super friendly and helpful.
Yes, I realize I’m late to the party, but I honestly didn’t believe the hype. As a former Sephora employee and current Rouge, I’ve tried a lot of beauty products, including every kind of lip balm that was always too sticky, too goopy, too sheer, too smelly, too drying…until now. Believe the TikTok girlies. This is the perfect lip balm: not sticky or goopy, just the right amount of pigment for a natural your-lips-but-better look, smells like dessert, and is actually hydrating. I have the shades pink sugar and vanilla beige. I wear it everyday and have even gotten compliments on Zoom calls 😊.
Watch 📺
The opening scene in The Taste of Things is shot with barely any dialogue as main characters Eugénie and Dodin played by Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel dance around the kitchen making fish stock, roasting veal, and straining sauces. They’re preparing an epic multi-course dinner party for Dodin and his friends: consommé, vol-au-vent with seafood, veal chops, whole roasted fish, and a Baked Alaska for dessert. Later Eugénie falls ill and Dodin takes care of her the only way he knows how–with food. He proposes with a ring 💍 hidden in a crepe and she finally concedes to marrying him. It’s a beautiful story of love and loss told through the language of food. The wildest scene is when Dodin and his friends eat the now illegal ortolan 🐦, a tiny songbird, under a napkin. I didn’t understand what was happening, but apparently this was a thing!
FAQ ❓
Q: Where should I take my mom (or the woman I want to celebrate) for Mother’s Day?
A: My mom looks forward to Mother’s Day every year. She loves trying fancy new restaurants and letting me do all the ordering and paying 😄. She prefers an early dinner over brunch (“I can make eggs and toast at home” she says) and somewhere not too loud so we can have a conversation. Her favorite restaurants over the years include Aziza for the lamb shank 🐑 and basteeya, The Morris for their smoked duck 🦆, and whatever’s in season at Rich Table though sardine chips and porcini doughnuts are a must. If she’s in the mood for something sweet, then it’s the chocolate mousse 🍫 from Schubert’s.
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