THE PRESIDIO AND BEYOND

The Presidio in San Francisco is a truly special place to visit. Under the ownership of the National Park Service much of the beautiful natural habitats and wildlife of the area have been restored. Along with open spaces of parkland, The Presidio offers an incredible spectrum of residential leasing opportunities. Greg and Lisa Wendt are two very fortunate souls who have the privilege of living on one of the highest hills in The Presidio. Their 180-degree panoramic view of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin Headlands, the Palace of Fine Arts, Alcatraz, and the City skyline is worth the trip to San Francisco alone.

I did a private dinner for the Wendts at their home with the help of Chef Jeff Inahara and his Savoir-Faire staff. Jeff's rollicking sense of humor did little to reveal that he is actually educated as a molecular geneticist. His commitment to accuracy and good food, however, told all. I had a great time with Jeff and his crew (Scott, Calvin & Laura); information on Savoir-Faire can be found here: savoirfairedining.com

The next morning I went to one of San Francisco's finest artisan bakeries, Tartine, which sits on the corner of 18th and Guerrero Street in the Mission District. Lacking any sort of visibly distinct signage, Tartine is an amazing place that literally bakes in "real time". If you are in the City, make a trip to Tartine Bakery - take a pocket full of money, save the diet for another day and order everything your heart desires. You'll recognize this little corner cafe-bakery by the long line spilling out the door. Check it out at tartinebakery.com

After San Francisco, I headed up to the Sacramento area with my dear friend Kiyomi for a book signing at Quarry Pond in Granite Bay. From there we took a quick jaunt to Roxanne O'Brien's beginning culinary class at American River College where I participated in a Q & A session and a cheese tasting. Lots of White House and career path questions ensued. Having the opportunity to guide young cooks is equally inspiring for me. This was a great group to spend time with before driving back to San Francisco and catching the red eye home.