WORK • Wednesday Routine
MAX NABA • owner/chef • Ilna (pop-up at Buddy)
Neighborhood you live in: Laurel Heights/Jordan Park
It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Since the pop-up is on Sunday, I spend Wednesday on a combo of self-care and little work things here and there. Typically this includes a hike and workout up in Marin, which clears my mind, allows me to think about menu changes for the next pop-up and look for ingredients to forage growing in the wild. I’ll fold in a trip up to Bolinas for a surf and to visit my favorite farmstand, Gospel Flats, to pick up lettuces, eggplant, radish, fennel, stone fruits, lemon, cucumbers, squash, brassicas, peppers, and fresh eggs. On the way back, I stop and get drinking water for my house from the Red Rock Spring in Stinson.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I’m meeting a friend who is in town from New York and we’ve planned to do a little wine bar hop. We’ve got some of the hottest spots on our list: Bar Jabroni, KIS, Golden Sardine, and Verjus.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I always fold in a big workout outside up in Marin. This includes rucking with a kettlebell in my backpack for a couple of miles — it’s slightly masochistic, but I love it. I’ll bring my dog along, find a little perch, usually overlooking the ocean, and bust out a workout. I get to bring a gym with me anywhere I want to go.
Any weekend getaways?
Heading up to Sea Ranch, with plans to go spearfishing and sea urchin diving. It’s a trip that I used to make quite often when one was still able to hunt and dive for abalone. It’s been about two years since my last dive. Normally we do a little open fire cooking on the beach with what’s caught.
What was your last great vacation?
Mexico City to celebrate one of my best friends' birthdays. We had reservations at Limantour, Contramar, Pujol, Lardo, and Lalo. I stayed in a suite in the Condesa area at the Condesa DF — which was wonderful. The food and drink scene is unparalleled, so many inspiring flavors, dishes, cocktails.
What store or service do you always recommend?
One of my favorite spa treatments is in West Sonoma at Osmosis Spa in Freestone. They have a cedar enzyme mulch bath that’s incredible. Outside of that: I love sandwiches, and my current favorite is the Muffuletta from Sandy’s. Also, Rose Pizzeria in Berkeley is my favorite pie in the Bay Area currently. I’m really excited that they’re opening a city location across the street from my place in Laurel Heights.
Where are you donating your time or money?
Most recently, I volunteered at Slide Ranch in West Marin to help with gardens and agricultural projects. They have a variety of fruit trees, raised beds and in-ground gardens, growing vegetables, lettuces, cabbages, etc.