First place: North Beach. For the first time in years, I had a chance to spend a significant amount of time in Italian Quarters of the City (San Francisco city, of course). As you know, Irina and I are major fans of fancy coffee, simple-but-amazing sandwiches, and french desserts.

Man. Did we come to the right place.

Pictured, from top to bottom, are: hungry me; the best gorgonzola and pear sandwich I’ve had in my life (walnut bread plays a big part here); freshly squeezed orange juice well worth the $3.50.

The place is called La Boulange. Irina claims their Napoleon was just as good, but I was only mildly impressed by the fruit tart. I am quite spoiled, yes.

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Second place: Nordstrom near Union Square. Unlike our Downtown Seattle Nordstrom, this place has a fancy-upscale-dinner establishment. They get the spot for the location, amazing service, and the views. Food was just OK; Irina liked their seafood pasta; my asparagus and shrimp risotto was not bad.

But the views!

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Honorable mention: mushroom soup on Santana Row. Nothing can compare to La Fontana’s mushroom soup. But this one came really, really close. Upside: the bill wasn’t the usual $120 you get for two people at your friendly next door La Fontana .