Autumn in San Francisco Calls For a Warm Specialty's Cookie

Sometimes we find ourselves walking around San Francisco and are succumbed to the fog and biting wind that autumn brings. We escape the cold to grab a cup of coffee most of the time, but sprinkled throughout the city is Specialty's Café and Bakery. Though they serve soups, salads, and sandwiches, they are famously known for their incredibly fresh selection of heftily dolloped cookies. 

With seven locations in San Francisco, you can run into one easily if you're in the downtown area. They also have stores all over other parts of the Bay Area and southern California. 

With this many locations you can find out which store has the freshest cookies by checking out their website's Cookie Radar. I found this out when I accessed their mobile site on my iPhone. What's additionally amazing is the fact that you can narrow it down to where your favorite cookie is hot off the press.


Speaking of which, it's hard to choose a favorite but the ones that tops my list of favorites would have to be the Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chip and Milk Chocolate Chip. Pictured on the right is the Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chip cookie. Notice how the chips melt all over the paper. Imagine that in your mouth. It's pure magic. Wash it all down with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee, and you're all set to continue your chilly trek in the city. This isn't Mrs. Field's. You'll probably even forget her existence after you've had a bite out of Specialty's.

The Peanut Butter and Snickerdoodle are excellent as well.




San Francisco Locations: 

22 Battery Street
500 Howard Street
101 New Montgomery Street
369 Pine Street
1 Post Street
505 Sansome Street
150 Spear Street 


For other locations, refer to their website.
 

Tartine: Nom Nom Nostalgia

I first heard about Tartine Bakery & Cafe from my lovely editor Anne while I was an intern at California magazine. She raved about their Lemon Cream Tart, and given that she is quite the foodie and I forever have a hankering for French boulangerie/pâtisserie fare, I had to go check it out. 

Tartine is owned by a chef couple, Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson. They both share their culinary experience from France through their rustic goods -- wood fired brick oven breads, French pastries, and savory quiches. This bakery was established in 2002,and their talents earned them James Beard Award nominations in 2006 and 2007, before finally winning the award in 2008. 


Upon arriving at Tartine, there is a line out the door. It's not a big establishment and it's rather cramped inside but it all looks like a good sign for a great find. 


You pay for expertise and quality here, so be prepared. 

For instance, the Lemon Cream Tart is $6.25. Yep, the little beauties pictured on the right. But it's worth every penny. It's wonderfully tart and that tartness is cut really well by the small dollop of whipped cream. An edible flower petal is an adorable added touch that tops off this insanely perfect dessert. 

I wanted to see how their Croissants stack up. And it's pretty much this: Parisian croissants on steroids. At $3.75 each, it's well worth the buttery, flaky goodness that I came to appreciate while living in Paris. Every bite took me back to those days.

The Valrhona chocolate-clad Friand ($2.90) is petite but richly dark and indulgent. You can't help but feel sinister when you take your first bite into it. 









What I look forward to trying next time: 
 

Croque Monsieur ($9.75) 

Quiche ($4.75 per slice) 

Location:

600 Guerrero Street, San Francisco

Monday 8am-7pm/ Tuesday, Wednesday 7:30am-7pm/ Thursday, Friday 7:30am-8pm/ Saturday 8am-8pm/ Sunday 9am-8pm