CARBS, CARBS, CARBS
At least once I month I wish to swim in a bowl of pasta.
No seriously, I have it all planned out. Imagine a hot tub filled to the brim with short-rib stuffed pasta or pesto linguini — better yet, vodka rigatoni.
I wouldn’t sit in the tub of course, but that would be the appropriate bowl size to properly satisfy that craving.
But until those dreams come to fruition, I’ll scour The City (or any city) for the most delicious Italian dishes.
I sat at the bar of Cotogna with a glass of Radici e Filari "Coclicò", a natural orange wine from Piemonte region of Italy to begin my meal.
As recommended by my server, I had the Gnocco Fritto to start, and it was better than I could imagine. They were comparable to savory beignets that you pack with the prosciutto, gorgonzola and pickled onion it was served with. The little puffs were so warm and comforting, and enjoyable enough on their own if you're not a fan of the accompaniments.
Afterwards I got the Focaccini Della Casa — four focaccia rolls, sprinkled with dried oregano and served with a plate for oil + vinegar.
But if I knew then what I know now, I would've ordered four plates to of the Raviolo di Ricotta; that would've been the meal. The many photos of it on Yelp caught my attention, and I'm so glad I didn't let the yolk steer me away. The giant single ravioli was decadent and rich thanks to the mixing of the ricotta cheese and egg yolk, yet somehow still light. Overall a standout menu item.
For my last hurrah I had another pasta, the Agnolotti del Pin. The classic Piemonte ravioli were filled with beef and coated in a brown butter sage sugo (sauce). Honestly, you can't go wrong with this dish regardless of where you order it from.
490 PACIFIC AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133
OPEN: TUESDAY 4:30-9PM & WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY 11:30AM-9PM
Starting off strong I had the Market Crudo at Piccino. I expected salmon but got hamachi instead, even better. The diced kiwi + sunflower seeds provided a crunch to the silky bits of yellowtail. I found the avocado mouse to be sweet and really enjoyed it with the kiwis.
Next, I ordered the Seasonal Greens which ended up being more chicory. Apparently it is a winter green, so keep that in mind when ordering salads during this time of year; they're inescapable at this point. To its defense, chicory is an antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant plant so by all means indulge.
For the pasta entree I went with the Japanese Sweet Potato Tortellini, a must try if it’s still on the menu. The pancetta and caramelized onions added smokey and sweet component to the glaze.
Lastly, I treated myself to the Cavolfiore pizza which was very reminiscent of a BBQ chicken pizza, but like vegetarian. You can add arugula, egg, anchovies and other toppings to any of your pizzas, but I felt like this one was well decorated with the caramelized onion, cauliflower, and habana pepper.
I had more of a Misty January than a dry one, but I didn't order any alcohol that night. If I did, I would’ve paired the entire meal with a Rosé.
Four courses was the perfect amount of food for two people who are hungry, otherwise you'll have leftovers. If you have room for more than that, Larry June's boba shop is right next door.
You can expect more experimental flavor profiles featuring seasonal ingredients here. Prior to going for dinner, I had been tracking the menu and noticed it changed pretty often; my advice is don't plan, just go.
I’d come back in the summer to try their summer greens and summer squash lasagna. Before sitting outside to enjoy the cool weather on a sunny San Francisco day, I'd start with a glass of wine at their bar which is annexed from the main dinning space.
1001 MINNESOTA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107
OPEN: WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY 11AM-2PM & 5-9PM
Even though the focus of this entry is breads, pastas and pizzas, I came to Pearl 6101 for the Chicory Cesar. Unlike other salads, the chicory was surprisingly mild with the addition of arugula as the base. Luckily the greens weren't wilted down by the roasted garlic-anchovy dressing. The crispy prosciutto and croutons added the perfect amount of bite to each mouthful.
Their infamous Handkerchief Pasta is a white sauce bolognese. The grana padano, black pepper, and herbs was as good as cacio e pepe. Folding the fazzoletti to prop the bolognese and cheese onto my fork served as my main form of entertainment for the night.
For my cocktail I went with the Skylark since 100% of proceeds were being donated to community impacted by LA wildfires last month. I've since forgotten what was in it, but it was very earthy to say the least.
While the Guava Gâteau Basque and Sticky Chocolate Torte with miso caramel, whipped creme fraiche, and candied peanuts piqued my interest, I took the Meyer Lemon Pudding Cake to-go. Even with the huckleberries, whipped cream, and candied ginger it was a wee bit too tart for me.
6101 CALIFORNIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121
OPEN: EVERYDAY 5-9:15PM
Pink Onion offers a combination meal for $60. They allow you to choose an appetizer, a pasta, a pizza, and a dessert. The best part is on Wednesdays you get a free bottle of wine. In this economy? In San Francisco? Stop.
My choice was either red or Rosé, so I ended up killing a cute bottle of Spanish red wine. Considering the items I ordered I would've paired the meal with a white wine had that been option.
I had the Steamed Mussels as my appetizer and I must say, these were the best mussels ever! The flavorful, lemon basil broth consumed the huge mussels. Frankly, it was addicting.
Using fresh pasta noodles, the IL Pesto di Pistachio was velvety and smooth. Substituting the normal pine nuts for pistachios added different but not overpowering element to the sauce you'll only fully understand after you try it.
For the pizza course, I went with the Magic Mushroom without truffle oil. The soft pizza crust was then used to soak up the extra mussel sauce.
It's rare that I skip dessert but it'll never be an option if Tiramisu is on the menu. Theirs was perfect, I have no additional comments. I cleaned the container out...at the table.
Pink Onion is one of those places you frequent semi-regularly because it's so cozy. A quaint, casual restaurant perfect for post-work dinner. If it's just you + your boo or work bestie walking in, sit at the bar. Maybe you’ll catch the Dodgers win the World Series like me!
The next time I go, which needs to be sooner than later, I'm definitely ordering the Vodka Rigatoni, Pink Alarm pizza, and Basque Cheesecake.
64 14TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103
OPEN: EVERYDAY 4-10PM
Another Budget friendly option is Fiorella, specifically on last Monday of the month for their "Neighborhood Appreciation of the Month" night at every location. Also, kids eat free there on Tuesdays so don't bother to leave them at home.
If you're looking for a casual spot for lunch the Italian Homemade Company has locations on both sides of the bridge. There you have the option to pair your preferred pasta with different sauces, creating combinations like Pesto Gnocchi or Butter & Sage Tortellini. Don't dip out before grabbing the Tiramisu.
When summer rolls around I'm sliding to Sorella for the Fried Squash Blossoms since Felix Trattorria in LA isn't exactly down the street. I'm pretty sure all "Insecure" fans raced to their nearest squash blossom establishment after watching Season 4 Episode 8.
Comment below where you'd go for your carb loading day, we want to know!