Tucked away in a nondescript corner location in the Mission is Mijoté — a french / californian restaurant serving up an $84/pp 4-course tasting menu that changes daily. I could come here time and time again and not get bored, and well, I have. So here’s when to go and what to eat:

How to snag a res.

Reservations release about a month in advance so I typically set myself a little reminder if I know I’d like to go on a certain day. If you’re looking for a res in the short-term, would check about a week in advance or add yourself to the notify me waitlist on resy! Things tend to pop up.

I love everything about Mijoté. It used to be an omakase spot, and the long wooden sushi counter remains intact—the best place to sit and watch all the action. Let the team know you’d love a seat there when making a res.

What to order.

While you don’t have much choice outside of the prix fixe menu (outside of a few optional add-ons) you do have a choice when it comes to wine. It’s definitely not a must to do the pairing, but they have a lovely rotating wine list and the staff is super knowledge about their natural wine selection.

Each dish comes out on its own vintage plate, and the space feels both elevated and completely relaxed. I’ve tried the add-on entrées a few times and while they’re always great, you definitely don’t need them. The fish course is consistently my favorite. Half the fun is the surprise; you don’t know what flavor combinations you’re getting until you sit down. And if you’re a sauce person, this place is for you: every protein is drenched in incredible sauces and cremas, with a hunk of Josie the Baker bread on the side to soak it all up.

For dessert they seem to always have some variation of this lovely little cream + crust (bad word to describe it but you get the gist) and a seasonal sorbet.

If you’re wanting a post-dinner drink.

My ONLY knock on Mijoté is their lack of coffee service for after your meal. So if you’re jonesin’ for a drink after dessert, head on over to Shotwell’s for a nightcap. This quaint neighborhood pub has quickly become on of our favorites. They only serve beer and wine but the vibes make up for it. Grab a pint of Guinness or a glass of red and slip into a booth. You’ll surely feel like you’ve been transported to the UK.

xoxo! <3

6:00p: Grab a cocktail at Pearl 1601.

On the corner of California st. and 23rd lies Pearl 1601 — a small Californian x Mediterranean restaurant with a cutie little bar, perfect for a cocktail while you wait. Grab the Pearl Martini and a bowl of the marinated olives as the perfect apéritif.

6:45p: Put your name down next door.

You’ll quickly realize, by the sheer in and out traffic and carryover staff that the same owners of Pearl also own the place next door — Pizzetta 211. A cozy little pizzeria with a small but rotating menu and seasonal desserts (which are always to die for). There are only 4 tables inside, a few more outside, and no reservations so the wait can take a sec. Definitely be sure sure to pop over at a respectable hour and get your name on the list. But not to fret, someone on the lovely (but small) team will offer you a wine menu to have a glass under the tree while you wait. While I love the cozy tables inside (can only seat up to 3-4 ppl depending on the table), there’s something about sitting outside under the twinkle lights, with a heat lamp ofc, that just feels right.

7:30p: Dinner at Pizzetta 211.

I love a thin crust pie, but god do I love a rotating menu even more. While there are some staples on the pizza menu that never change, Pizzetta always does a great job of highlighting seasonal produce for their starters, pizzas, and dessert selection. I believe they rotate their menu weekly.

What to eat:

• they have a lovely wine menu! tell the staff what you like and they’ll bring you a couple pours to choose from

• whatever the seasonal vegetable-forward starter is, get ittttt

• spicy san marzano pizza (we always get it with sausage + anchovies added, but to each their own)

• rosemary & pine nut white pizza

• they always have a seasonal galette and/or flourless chocolate cake — get one of those. It comes with a deliciously large dollop of their house made whipped cream

• a cappuccino, duh

Writing this made me hungry, see you at Pizzetta this week! xoxo

When your mom’s a flight attendant, you tend to receive quite a few “I’m popping into town for dinner” texts. For that, I always have to have a drinks and dinner combo at the ready for when you may not have time to book that reservation months, weeks, or even days in advance.

5:00: Snag a bar seat at True Laurel.

Reservations at True Laurel (for a table) can be snatched up fairly quickly, but walking in on the earlier side and sitting at the bar is a pretty surefire way to get a spot. This place makes killer cocktails and does a great small plate. Start with a negroni sbagliato or a pisco sour and grab a small plate to share pre-dinner. This is also a great place to have dinner, just be sure to make a reservation in advance.

Couple of my favs on the menu:

• tuna crudo — the citrus ponzu and brown butter sauce is to die for

• crispy hen of the woods mushrooms

• TL patty melt!

6:30: Put your name down at Bon, Nene.

Walk around the corner to put your name down at Bon, Nene — a no reservations, cozy but casual Japanese restaurant that has a lovely local vibe. They have a small menu with some heavy hitters that are yummy and not too foo foo.

Here’s what to order:

• a Japanese beer (and/or sake)

• chicken karaage — a classic for a reason

• yaki onigiri

• hijiki salad

• gyudon

• mentaiko spaghetti — umami goodness

• japanese cheesecake!! fluffy goodness, perfect not-too-sweet dessert

Thanks for reading, xoxo!!

Friday.

Plug Steep Ravine Campground into Google Maps and add a stop at The Junction Beer Garden where you’ll be stopping for an early dinner. This beer garden + pizza joint sits right next to the arguably more famous, Hookfish, but Junction’s pizza + patio situation is not to be slept on. Grab a seat on their lovely little outdoor patio and order a couple pizzas to share.

What to order:

• The Shroomer

• Yo Vinny!

• A local beer, duh!

Drive the remaining 30 minutes to Steep Ravine campground where you’ll be greeted by the cutiest little cove full of quaint cabins sitting on a bluff overlooking the ocean. There are about 10 cabins and they book out pretty far in advance (6 months to be exact), but if you join the waitlist there’s a high chance of getting lucky to snag a cabin for a night or two (pro tip: check early mornings for cancellations). The cabins themselves are pretty bare bones but homey, sleeping up to 5x and equipped with a wood burning furnace, outdoor grill, and great views. If you’re into the idea of camping but don’t love being fully outdoors, this is for you.

Wine & Sunset

Arrive at your cabin and set up camp! We brought the below items but next time would definitely bring a few more lights to make it feel even more homey:

• bedding (don’t forget a sleeping pad)

• tablecloth

• lots of candles and lights (string lights would be a move)

• wine!!

• a fun dessert

• jetboil to make coffee with in the morning

• playing cards / games

• swimsuit — there’s a hot spring down below the cabins and if you’re lucky enough to be there during low tide

Settle in for the evening and play card games until it’s time to snooze away.

Saturday.

The wakeup here is pretty magical. Nothing quite like looking out your bedroom window and seeing the sunrise over the marin coast. Climb out of your sleeping bag bed and put on a pot of coffee to sip on outside.

After a drawn out morning coffee and watching the sunrise over the cliffs, we started to leisurely pack up to make our Fjord rez in Sausalito! If you have more time, would definitely recommend one of the many Steep Ravine or Dipsea trails for a hike before you head back.

Fjord time!

On the way back to the city, stop in Sausalito for a little sauna + cold plunge session to round out your wellness weekend. You definitely have to book this place months in advance since the spots fill up quickly, but it’s 100% worth it. ~$45/pp for 90 minutes, you can get your money’s worth of both sauna and cold plunge time.

Fjord is a floating sauna and plunge setup directly on the bay with a~nordic vibe~. You can book a private session but the public sessions are pretty intimate as well, only 8ppl total spread out across 2 saunas.

Once your 90 minutes is up, put on your warmest layers and head back to the city!

xoxo until next time!

For drinks & a light bite.

• twenty spot (mission) - love it here! cutie sidewalk tables, vinyl records, and comfy couches inside for when the sun sets

• shotwell’s (mission) - feels like you’re at a London pub, outdoor tables too

• zeitgeist (mission) - big patio vibes

• true laurel (mission) - cocktail over pebbled ice + a patty melt

• billingsgate (noe valley) - they do an oysters and sparkling wine hh every Tues-Thurs!

• woods (cole valley) - burgers + beers on the patio

• fools errand (nopa) - unpretentious wine bar with great sidewalk seating

• radhaus (marina) - beers + brats at long tables outside

• little OJs (marina) - for a spritz + zucchini fry combo

• golden sardine (north beach) - lovely place to soak up the sun w/ some orange wine

For dinner.

• pizetta 211 (richmond) — mostly outdoor seating under a lovely little tree, vibes unmatched, food even better

• palm city (sunset) - for when you want a sandwich to pair with your wine

• prubechu (mission) - large patio, often live music!

• side a (mission) - sit outside and split a bottle…and have a meal because their entire menu is delish (don’t forget the coffee soft serve)

On my list to try!

• ruby’s (sunset) - tacos + margs by the beach

• rampant wine bar (outer richmond) - next time I go to the Laundromat this will be where I sit and wait for my table with a glass of wine in hand

xoxo enjoy the sun! <3

7:00 PM: Dinner at Kitchen Istanbul.

I…love it here. A true wine-lovers paradise as well. They have an extensive selection and sommelier to help you pick the perfect glass (or usually in our case, a bottle). And the food is even better. Small menu of Turkish/Mediterranean goodies and pretty much everything is a hit.

Must gets.

• a bottle of wine the sommelier recommends for you

• muhammara (my personal fav of their dips) & girit ezme (nick’s fav) w/ pita to start

• manti (lamb and beef dumplings)

• charcoal-grilled prawns

• moussaka

• finish with the künefe (pistachio + cheese goodness) & a cappuccino

9:00 PM: Nightcap at High Treason.

If you’re still itching for another glass of wine to end the night, walk on over to High Treason for a cheeky night cap. Enjoy the vinyl record that’s most likely playing.

Until next time! xoxo

Friday.

The drive up.

Hit the road at the lovely hour of 5am to beat the traffic. About 2 hours from the city you’ll hit the cutie little town of Auburn and there lies your reward for the early wake-up: The Pour Choice.

What to order:

• a cappuccino or a seasonal latte (I usually don’t love sweet coffees but their seasonal syrups are yum)

• biscuit breakfast sando

Hop back in the car and drive the remaining ~1hr to Truckee! We usually stay at our season rental in Donner Lake area, but if you’re not crashing at a friend’s place, there are plenty of cute airbnbs or boutique hotels in the area to choose from (I’ve heard great things about Gravity House in Truckee if you go the hotel route).

Lunch.

Drive over to New Moon Natural Foods and grab one of their made to order deli sandos and a fresh juice. I personally love their wolfman’s brother sando and the ginger jolt if I’m feeling extra healthy. Once you’ve secured the goods head back down the road and if it’s an especially nice day, eat your sandwich on the Donner Lake docks and enjoy the scenery.

Dinner.

We often make dinner at the house on Fridays, but when we’re not, we’re hitting the happy hour at Tangerine Bistro in downtown Truckee. From 5-6 they serve a small hh menu, sit at the bar.

What to order.

• bubbles and oysters (if you’re feeling crazy)

• mussles & frites!! fav thing on their hh menu

• little gems salad (for something green)

• pâté de campagne

• the bistro burger: soooo good! The tomato jam + homemade brioche really makes this one.

• finish with an affogato for something sweet

Saturday.

Lot breakky.

Ski day!!! After a restful night of sleep, wake up early and make a cup of coffee because we’re headed to the mountain to make lot breakky before we hit the slopes! Pack all the essentials:

• bloody mary supplies for the obligatory car bar (duh)

• pancake mix with all the necessary fixins (syrup, bananas)

• sausage or bacon

• cooking vessel of choice (we use a small camp stove w/griddle)

Ski day!!

Now that you’re fueled, hit the mountain for some laps!! We usually ski Palisades or Alpine on a Saturday. Alpine is a little more laid back while Palisades is a little more lively which in turn attracts more crowds (each have their pros/cons).

Post-ski (or aprés) meal.

Once the boots are off and you’ve #earned that next meal, you’re going to head back over to downtown Truckee for an early dinner at RMU. Ski shop by day and bar/restaurant by night, it’s the perfect stop before hunkering down for a movie night back at the cabin. Sit out back in the ‘carriage house’.

What to order.

• start with their dry rub wings for the table to share

• the smashburger + duck fat fries combo is the best thing on the menu imo

• a local beer!!

Sunday.

Final activities & hit the road.

One of the perks of staying in Truckee/Donner area is how close you are to Sugarbowl (my fav ski resort in Tahoe). Very low-key family mountain vibes, great snow, and an awesome little chalet on the backside of the mountain with a yummy little café — ski your way over there and grab a cappuccino.

Donner Lake Kitchen.

A Truckee weekend isn’t complete without brunch at Donner Lake Kitchen. Diner vibes in its truest form, don’t skip the pancakes or their bloody mary (if you’re not driving ofc :)).

okay bye!! xoxo

10:00 AM: Arrive at Swan Oyster Depot.

As sacrilegious as seafood in the morning might sound to some, this is the only way to beat the long line Swan Oyster can be infamous for (especially on the weekend). But hey, if you order a red beer to go with everything it’s basically brunch right?

Get there by 10am and you shouldn’t have to wait longer than 10-15minutes at most. Don’t forget to bring cash (but there’s an atm across the street if you do)!

10:15 AM: Sit down and take in the sights.

If you’re a lover of sitting at the bar at restaurants then you’ll love it here because, well, that’s all they have are bar seats. This place is always bustling with patrons, servers who all seem like they come from one big italian-american family, and a massive compilation of boards above the counter that serves as their menu. While it can seem overwhelming, first order of business is to just ask your server if there’s any must gets for the day — they won’t lead you astray. But first and foremost, grab a red beer.

10:30 AM: Order the goods.

Now that you’ve had a moment to take it all in and have a few sips of your beer, here’s what to order:

• oysters!!! I mean when it’s in the name you have to. Ask for an assortment of whatever they have that day and sample em all.

• crab back: hear me out on this one. Might not look the most appetizing at first glance, but dunk a piece of their sourdough bread in there and your mind will be forever changed.

• crab (especially if it’s Dungeness season)

• smoked salmon: I’m from seattle so I have some authority to say that this is some of the best smoked salmon I’ve had.

• sicilian sashimi plate: drizzled in olive oil and topped with caper and onion, this is to die for.

and that’s a Saturday morning well spent, bye bye!

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Friday.

What to do when you get there.

After closing our laptops Friday afternoon we made the 2.5(ish) hour drive from the Mission to Browns Valley, nestled next to the Yuba River at the base of the Sierras. We were greeted by our lovely hosts, Paul & Stephanie, who own Blue Ruby Farm. Paul’s a Chez Panisse alum who prepares incredible farm dinners using local wine and ingredients (often from their own land). His wife Stephanie is a lovely host with some great recs for things to do in the area.

After we were greeted and dropped our bags we took a stroll around the farm grounds and walked around the pond (accompanied by Paul & Stephanie’s dog). Swimmable in the summer but much too cold for the time of year we were visiting.

Knowing we were planing on din at the farm on Saturday we wanted to hit a restaurant in town this evening, so we asked Paul & Stephanie where they recommend we go; to which they pointed us in the direction of Twelve 28 Kitchen in Penn Valley: a local restaurant run by one of their “chef friends”. Don’t be fooled by it’s strip mall exterior, we had a solid meal here.

What to order.

• start with the 2 glasses of red wine from a nearby winery and the local country sourdough w/ whipped maldon salt butter

• roasted butternut squash dip

• pok pok bok bok - delicious little sticky chicken bits (hand wipes necessary)

• split the artichoke agnolotti or duck confit

Saturday.

What to do when you wake up.

We woke up to not only a serene view of the pond, but a text from Stephanie asking if we wanted to accompany her to her favorite local bakery: Artisan Lavinia in Oregon House. Run by a Romanian couple who mills their own grains on-site, this special little bakery churns out the most delicious European style breads and pastries in a wood-fired hearth. Long story short, we quickly drank our cups of coffee on the farm patio and patiently awaited Stephanie to tell us when it was time to head over. A 15 minute drive later and we were there, greeted by chickens and the smell of cherry turnovers being taken out of the oven…

What to order.

• cherry turnovers!! think I had about 4 of these in one sitting they were so good

• pain au chocolat

• grab some of the local ancient grain (Nick’s favorite) or olive oil & rosemary ciabatta to have with dinner later

• don’t forget to grab a bottle of distilled lavender oil Carmina distills herself from the lavender field on the property!

What to do on a rainy day.

After the cherry turnovers were pried out of my hands, we headed to our next stop of the day: wine tasting at Arquils Winery. It’s the antithesis of Napa wine culture in all the best ways. Reservations are made via Instagram DM, free with the promise of buying a few bottles of course. There’s no official Google Maps location, just a pin sent by Arquil himself, which we followed happily on a rainy Saturday.

We pulled up to a nondescript garage and were waved inside to a makeshift tasting room: a tablecloth draped over a barrel, three chairs and wine glasses (two for us and one for, well, Arquil), plus a very cute little charcuterie spread.

We sat there for hours, tasting our way through what felt like every bottle he had hidden in the “cellar” while he told us how he grew up in Cuba, lived in Russia, and somehow found his way to the foothills to make his natural wines. Our favorite pours came from bottles marked only with masking tape still waiting for their official labels. Nothing fancy, just a great tasting we’ll never forget.

What to take home with you.

Anything he’s willing to give you. We especially loved his Syrahs, which we had with dinner back at the farm that night.

Dinner at the farm. A MUST.

We headed back to Blue Ruby to walk off the wine haze and settle in for dinner at the farm, where Paul prepared an $85-per-person, three-ish course meal. We sat in the kitchen with him as he prepped each course, helping him with a few medial tasks and picking his brain on all things food & farm. We were then joined for dinner by the other 2 guests staying on the farm that weekend, who had met Paul & Stephanie the year prior at none other than Artisan Lavinia.

What we ate & drank.

• Arquil’s chilled orange wine

• grilled Artisan Lavinia ancient grain bread w/ water buffalo mozzarella — made that day from Paul’s friend down the road that has water buffalos

• grilled monterrey squid - on the open flame

• homemade cannelloni with goose & rabbit filling + broccoli rabe contorni

• almond & pear olive oil cake with hazelnut whipped cream and some port wine from Paul’s hometown in Portugal

• an espresso to finish (obvi)

Sunday.

Breaky & drive home.

After a fab dinner we were sad to leave. But before we hit the road we enjoyed one final lap around the pond with coffee and dog in tow, failing to spot the beavers that supposedly live in the pond. We came back to a breaky spread consisting of prosciutto & buffalo mozz, french toast made with Lavinia brioche, and pears + persimmons from the farm.

Paul & Stephanie gave us a parting gift of last night’s cake leftovers and a basket of winter squash.

À bientôt, Blue Ruby Farm!!!

I’m always making an itinerary, blame it on my type-A personality.

From weekend trips to where to grab a drink before dinner, and exactly what to order once you sit down. This is a bi-weekly curated guide to places worth planning around.

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