Ladies who Lunch

On the corner of Steiner and Union in Cow Hollow there is the beautiful Rose's Cafe and last week, as promised, I took the girls there for lunch and hot chocolate.

Rose and Isla had been helping me in the house all morning and this was a special treat for just us girls. They were very excited and on their best behaviour. I was expecting a regular Californian coffee shop serving all day breakfast and sandwiches but instead we were greeted by a bustling bistro. Everything on the menu sounded delicious so we ordered buttered pasta for the girls with parmesan 'on the side' and hot chocolate and a clam and fennel linguini for me! It was absolutely divine and I can't wait to go back for some more.

In fact Rose, Isla and I have been making a habit of going out for lunch. We have been trying to have one day a week where we go off into the city to explore new places and this usually ends in lunch and bus ride home in time to collect Owen from school. We have visited a greek cafe in Pacific Heights, a wonderful organic restaurant call The Plant down on Chestnut in the Marina district and another a few blocks away - The Fish Grill. This is where I had a large bowl of brown rice with grilled Mahi Mahi and a teriyaki sauce and the girls ate fish and chips with chop sticks!

We've had salads from italian delis, sushi and noodles in Japan town and pain au chocolat at La Boulangerie where the walnut demi pain is the best I have ever tasted, not to mention out very own roof terrace restaurant at home.

I am hoping that our next culinary adventure will be Dim Sum in china town.....

Love Jo x

Will and Kate

Now I am sure that everyone has seen the pictures and watched the replays and many of you will have even sat in your living rooms with friends watching the Big Day; as Kate revealed 'the dress' for the firs time and everyone found out that Sarah - who apparently has had an awful year - was the chosen designer, and ohhh how she deserved it blah blah blah.....
So how was it for us? Over a nice slice of toast and marmite and coffee we watched highlights on BBC UK News and oh'ed and ah' ed in all the right places. Rose sat transfixed and has spent the day talking about Princess Kate and Owen just wanted the watch the jet plane fly past and then was bored. This afternoon we invited Owen's school friends and parents to the park for an English picnic. Cucumber , ham and egg mayonnaise sandwiches, strawberries and cream, homemade scones with cream and jam ending with red white and blue jelly with whipped cream and blueberries. Red juice in union jack cups, napkins and blue spoons. Perfect..... but totally lost on the children, who just wanted to play with sticks and mud!!!!!

Just a little note on scones, as I have had to research this to get it right. There is a difference between English and American scones and there is a debate as to using milk or yogurt or even sour cream. So eventually I came up with a recipe which seemed to follow the english principles but with american measurements (as we have no scales, only cups). Any thoughts? They went down well but who knows if people tell the truth or not!

Scones - makes 8
Ingredients
2 cups /225g self raising flour
1/2 stick/55g cold butter
1 level tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 pint / 150 ml milk
1 egg beaten with a little milk

Preparation:
Heat the oven to Heat the oven to 400°F/205°C/Gas 6
Grease and flour a baking sheet.
Sieve the flour into a roomy baking bowl then add the butter, baking powder and salt. Quickly rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Make a well in the center and using a dinner knife, stir in enough milk to make a soft, pliable dough.
Turn the mixture on to a floured board and knead very lightly until just smooth then lightly roll out to 2cm / 3/4" thick.
Cut rounds with a 7.5cm/3" cutter or cut into triangles with a sharp knife.
Place on the baking tray and brush with the beaten egg and milk mixture. Bake near the top of the hot oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown and well risen.
Cool on a wire rack before eating.


Love Jo x

Not for me thanks

I bought icecreams today from Ghirardelli's. The most famous chocolate makers in the Bay. Strawberry for Isla, mint choc chip for Owen and chocolate for Rose. They were huge! "Am I in heaven?" says Rose as she takes a big lick and smears it all over her face.

We sat and ate them looking out over Aquatic Park at the Golden Gate Bridge covered in a light mist. In the enclosed harbour (a balmy 53 degrees) there is a scattering of orange swimming hats. Men from the Dolphin swimming club out for their daily exercise.