Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/623506
SAN FRANCISCO SWEETS These unforgettable cafes and shops are the perfect antidote for any sweet tooth. b. patisserie and b. on the go Sweet and savory—and everything in between— in Pacific Heights When Belinda Leong and Michel Suas opened b. patisserie in 2012, they had no idea it would become such a resounding success. In 2014 and 2015, Leong was nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef (2014) and Outstanding Baker (2015), and the bakery is consistently considered to be one of the city's premier patisseries. On most days, it's not uncommon to find a long line of customers waiting to buy one of the shop's classic French pastries, macarons, tarts, and tartines. Three years later, the spot that put kouign-amann (pronounced "queen ah-mahn")—a difficult-to-master, buttery, croissant-like French pastry from Brittany—on the map has expanded across the street to include a cafe, called b. on the go, primarily focused on sandwiches, all made with house-made bread. Think classic Italian porchetta served on fresh-baked ciabatta with salsa verde, and a Roasted Vegetable Banh Mi, composed of roasted caulif lower, spicy mayonnaise, and a house soft roll. Daily seasonal specials and salads round out the menu. While the follow-up to b. patisserie is more savory than sweet in its offerings, a few sweets, including a rich chocolate pot de creme and a lighter panna cotta with seasonal fruit, are also available. And should a craving for sweets take hold, the original b. patisserie is only a short walk away. bpatisserie.com, b-onthego.com Craftsman and Wolves Savory meets sweet in Russian Hill One of the sexiest and hippest patisserie-cafes in San Francisco is finally expanding to the other side of town. The Mission's Craftsman and Wolves' long-awaited sister cafe is, at press time, slated to open in Russian Hill very soon. Craftsman and Wolves is known for its beautifully crafted sweet and savory pastries worthy of a carefully curated museum exhibit. Though a bit smaller than the Valencia Street location, the sleek interior of the Russian Hill location will be much the same and the inimitable offerings of talented pastry chef and owner William Werner will be on full display, as will the talents of Angela Pinkerton. Pinkerton, the 2011 James Beard Award winner for Outstanding Pastry Chef, spent the past six years as the executive pastry chef of New York 's celebrated Eleven Madison Park. The cafe's signature and insanely popular The Rebel Within, a savory sausage-studded muffin with f lecks of green onion, asiago cheese, and a perfectly sous vide soft-cooked egg will also be on offer. A small vial of Tabasco powder accompanies each perfect muffin. A Thai Scone prepared with green curry, candied ginger, and coconut is another savory favorite. Sweets without the savory are also equally popular and this always-busy hot spot elevates seasonal tarts, brownies, and eclairs to new heights. craftsman-wolves.com Dandelion Chocolate Bean-to-bar hot chocolate and more at the Ferry Building For a while now, you could purchase the Mission's Dandelion Chocolate bars at its Ferry Building kiosk, but for hot chocolate and pastries, a trek to Dandelion's factory and cafe on Valencia Street was necessary. Not anymore. By January, owners Todd Masonis and Cameron Ring will have a new permanent space in the Ferry Plaza Marketplace Arcade, located just outside of the building under the clock tower. Dandelion Chocolate will be serving hot chocolate drinks and daily house-made treats including s'mores, dulce de leche bars, and chocolate chip cookies, all prepared by chef Lisa Vega. The team takes its chocolate very seriously and is all about single-origin choco- late, so it's likely we will see much more of it at this more central location. dandelionchocolate.com Marla Bakery A favorite bakery cafe expands to the Ferry Building If all goes to plan, this beloved outer Richmond restaurant and bak- ery will get a permanent spot in the Ferry Plaza Marketplace Arcade by January, joining Dandelion Chocolate. bites by the bay Dandelion Chocolate PHOTO: MOLLY DECOUDREAUX PHOTO: SMITTEN ICE CREAM 98 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE specialtyfood.com