A Day in the City

Summertime in San Francisco is usually cold and windy. On this particular day, the clouds were out of the sky and the sun shined bright. It was a perfect day for a free concert in Golden Gate Park.
Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray toasting to the crowd.

Gavin Rossdale -- my reason for standing in the crowd under the hot sun. I've been wanting to see him live for over 10 years, and I can finally check this off my bucket list.


A concert in SF means the food selection is going to be better than average.
Garlic Crab Fries with Aioli
Well-fried and not overwhelmed with garlic. The crab and aioli was a nice touch. I wish the crab shreds were real shreds of dungeness crab. That would have made this amazing.

Beef Gyro
I've been having gyros lately. The past few were wrapped in lavish bread. I prefer the ones in pita bread with yogurt sauce, exactly like the one here.


After the concert hydration and a chair were needed. On a beautiful day, Union Square seemed like the obvious choice. We went to Emporio Rulli located in the center of Union Square. Refreshing drinks and great people watching.
Peroni and a Grenandine Italian Soda


For dinner we went to Charles' Phan's Out the Door. This dine in/take out restaurant is located in the new food court section of SF's Westfield Mall. What I love about this place is that it makes Slanted Door quality food accessible in a casual setting.
Gruner Veltliner, Austria
I love pairing crisp, dry wines with Vietnamese food. This was especially refreshing after a long day.

Crispy Imperial Rolls
This is also served in Slanted Door. It is perfectly (and not overly) fried. The chunks of noodles, vegetables, and pork are all distinct. This is a must-get.


Gulf Shrimp with Egg Noodles
The egg noodles were perfectly cooked. Chewy and filled with flavor. This dish is definitely repeatable.

Cellophane Noodles with Dungeness Crab
This is one of Slanted Door's classic dishes. It's always delicious. It's a perfect Vietnamese tribute to San Francisco.


There's been a lot of hype about Bi-Rite Creamery. Since it was still open and we were craving for ice cream, we drove to the Mission District. When we got there the line was packed and all the way to the corner of the street. We waited for 20 minutes. Many new people in line were vocally asking if the line was worth it. A few dropped out. Many of the repeat customers kept insisting that it's so worth it and it will enhance your life.
Salted Caramel and Roasted Banana
AMAZING. I almost cried because of the intensity of the flavors and the smooth, creaminess of the ice cream. This is the best ice cream I have ever had. I want to have the Salted Caramel forever in my life.