Bubbly conversation
Marinitas, Mas Masa, Costa Rica, Esme, MORE
Did you catch last week’s debut of The FOUND 45, our definitive list of favorite restaurants in San Francisco? Paid subscribers also have access to The FOUND 45s from other FOUND cities. Here’s the full set:
ASK FOUND
Today, recent subscriber answers to the query, What Bay Area store or service do you love to recommend?
Sun Fat Seafood (Mission), “A wonderful fresh seafood market that’s been there for years. They primarily sell to the restaurant industry, but the retail location has some incredible (and affordable) fish options. Freshly flown whole fish covered in crushed ice line most of the counter; oysters and clams live in water tanks, and are infinitely more fresh than those sitting in bags on ice.”
Britex Fabrics (Union Square), “It exudes elegance, mystery and history, much like walking into the Musée d’Orsay or the Prado in Madrid. It is the holy grail for people who sew, and a place you’ll want to visit even if you never threaded a needle. Four floors of silks, wools, lace, buttons, ribbons, and trims make even the non-crafter appreciate craftsmanship. Half the fun is running your hands over fabrics that look like they belong on a red carpet or in a Broadway costume shop.”
Today, two more PROMPTS for which we continue to seek your answers:
What’s your favorite specialty bookstore in the Bay Area?
I need a caterer for a casual summer party. Any ideas?
Hit reply or email found@itsfoundsf.com with more answers or questions. If we publish your answer, we’ll comp you a 90-day paid subscription to FOUND SF.
THE NINES • FOUND Sponsor
Zest, Hidden Gems
Our partners at Zest, a new app that lets you see where your friends actually eat, share their favorite hidden gems across SF. Because Zest is built on real dining history instead of reviews, these are the under-the-radar spots people keep coming back to, not the names with the biggest buzz. Check out the best dishes, get insider tips, and save your favorites in Zest.
Zitouna (Outer Richmond, above), a Tunisian mom-and-pop on Clement from Mehdi and Anna, where North African cooking is the point. Get the brik, the hooriya carrot dip, and pita from their own bakery
Tequila Mockingbird (SoMa), a low-key tequila and mezcal bar where SF’s off-shift bartenders come to unwind. Look for the flashing star in the window, grab the long bar, and order the grapefruit namesake. Cheap for SF.
Chic n’ Time (Mission), Taiwanese-Vietnamese fried chicken and garlic noodles worth the trip. The owner used to run Perilla, which explains the drool-worthy noodles. Get the five-spice chicken and peppercorn wings
Judahlicious (Outer Sunset), a raw-and-vegan beach cafe a few blocks from Ocean Beach, going since 2004. Fuel up on açaí bowls, gluten-free waffles, and a wet burrito drowned in cashew crème
Corks (Inner Richmond), a tiny family-run wine bar on California with handmade pasta and a deep Italian list. Grab a window seat, order the gnocchi and the amatriciana, and let Giuseppe pick the wine
Glen Park Cafe (Glen Park), a cheery corner spot in Glen Park’s little Village doing American breakfast all day. Come for the classic breakfast sandwich, or the sleeper order, Banana Pudding French Toast
El Toreador (West Portal), a West Portal fixture since 1957 where every inch is covered in kitsch: cowboy hats, stuffed parrots, cartoon placemats. Come for the mole and the huge plates. Expect a wait
Hologram (Outer Richmond), a brand-new Filipino-heritage cafe on Clement with immaculate design and a real point of view. Order the Manila Sky ube coffee and the Gold Coast breakfast sandwich stuffed with a hashbrown
Baklavastory (Mission), one tiny Mission kitchen making the best baklava in the city. The owner flies to Turkey to hand-pick his pistachios, and the phyllo is sheer as silk. Sold by the tray
YOUR BRAND HERE: 93% of FOUND subscribers recommend products, services, and/or experiences to friends and family. Hit reply or email sales@itsfound.com, and we’ll get to work on your next great sponsorship campaign.
WORK • Wednesday Routine
Train station
CAROLYN WARSHAM • founder & CEO • Awake at Work & Carolyn Warsham Coaching
Neighborhood you work in: Woodacre
It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I’m in downward dog at Amber Charne‘s Vinyasa class at the San Geronimo Valley Community Center. In the words of my friend Emily, Amber is “her own magic show.” Last week I met an author who travels all the way from the East Bay for Amber’s community class to kick off her Marin County writing days. It’s that sweet.
After yoga, it’s either a client day or a writing day. Client days, I’m focused on the common trap successful people with high-pressure jobs fall into: Work gets everything to the point where personal life is dysfunctional. I help these folks learn how to live more sustainably and enjoyably. We go from the personal to the practical, meaning: we might discuss nervous system regulation and energy management, in the same hour as promotion strategy and internal politics. If it’s a writing day, I’m working on my memoir, or writing for my business accounts on LinkedIn and Substack.
What’s on the agenda for today?
This second? I’m fine-tuning the Awake at Work community experience, set to open in the fall. This is a dream I’ve been sitting on for several years: a community where high-achieving leaders can be seen and heard in the personal challenges that happen behind the corporate smoke and mirrors. It’s going to be that much-needed place where you can talk about your boss, your latest wins, and your deepest fears in a trusted, confidential setting.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I went to Marinitas for tacos and salad today with my friend Alexis Haselberger, a fellow coach who teaches busy tech workers how to manage their time. She’s a cool nerd (like me) and you should definitely check her out. We’ve got a babysitter on Sunday and I’m excited to go to Insalata’s in San Anselmo. It’s an icon.
Some of my other local Fairfax faves are Mas Masa, for Mexican with house-made tortillas; Fradelizio’s, where hokey Italian red sauce warmth meets organic, locally sourced ingredients; and Arti Cafe, a beloved family-run Goan fixture that puts so much care into their food (If you go, don’t miss the pakoras.)
How about a little leisure or culture?
We love meeting up with other families at Rancho Nicasio for live music on the lawn. On Sundays their kitchen serves a great, all-ages country barbecue outdoors. The scene is 70-something hippies in cowboy hats and Teslas meets local Western Marin parents and kids. We dig it. We also love outings to Roy’s Redwoods, which is right down the street from our house. It’s like Muir Woods light: a magical forest glen recently upgraded with paths made from fallen redwoods that wind through creeks, fairy rings, and 500-year-old trees.
Any weekend getaways?
We recently spent a weekend in Occidental. We drove over to Bodega Head to look for seals and then headed over to Fisheterian for super fresh rock cod sandwiches.
What was your last great vacation?
We went to Playa Grande in Costa Rica for Thanksgiving last year. Most of the restaurants aren’t anything to write home about in this area, but we had some good food with a gorgeous beach view at Hemmingway’s on Playa Potrero, and everything we ordered from Pots & Bowls passed my 9-year-old’s discriminating palate. If you’re in the area, check out the farmer’s market in Tamarindo, Tama Market, and find Natalie’s Slow Food truck.
Our Airbnb was impeccably managed by Vie-La Vacation Rentals. Our favorite day was a trip to La Leona, where you can swim through a gorgeous waterfall and then go warm up in hot springs afterwards. Use Offie Tours, their guides are so knowledgeable and kind.
What store or service do you always recommend?
I send a lot of people to Nicole Withrow for acupuncture and energy work. Her expertise spans multiple disciplines. I’ve never met anyone quite like her.
WORK LINKS: Japan PM’s sleep habits prompt global work culture debate • Goop hasn’t given up on work/life balance • Gen Z’s first stop for professional advice? TikTok.
CULTURE & LEISURE • The One
Lil Wayne • Toyota Pavilion (Concord) • Fri @ 8p • floor, $402 per
Air Guitar National Finals • The Independent (NoPa) • Sat @ 9p • GA, $31 per
The Marvelous Miss Gender starring BOSCO • Palace of Fine Arts (Marina) • Sun @ 8p • $64 per
CULTURE & LEISURE LINKS: Kim Gordon sets Castro show • Inside Gray Loft Gallery’s summer exhibit • SoMa music venue Hotel Utah Saloon hits market for $235K.
RESTAURANTS • First Word
Small wonder
The Skinny: French-Californian bistro Esme is the latest from chef-restaurateur Susan Dunn, who co-owns the ever-popular Pearl 6101 and Pizzetta 211 in the Richmond. It opened last month on the ground floor of the Metro Hotel, in the Divisadero space last occupied by Ragazza.