I Left My Heart In San Francisco: Trattoria Contadina’s Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms

Trattoria Contadina is what every Italian restaurant should aspire to be. Family owned for thirty years, passed down to the grandchildren and a dedication to maintaining a high quality dining experience with locally sourced ingredients.

On my eat feast in SF, I had to check out this delicious spot. The pastas are fresh and delicious and the Veal Saltimbocca melted in my mouth. However, the true stand out for me, was a special that night, the Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms. Zucchini flowers stuffed with a delicious ricotta filling and then lightly battered and fried. They were crunchy on the outside and cheesy on the inside.

Luckily, my mother grows zucchini in her garden and supplies me with a steady supply of blossoms. So, as soon as I got home, I got to work on recreating this simple but delicious dish.

I Left My Heart in San Francisco: Farmer Brown's Chicken & Waffles

I LOVE BRUNCH! Is there anything better than sleeping in on a Sunday, rolling out of bed and heading out for Mimosas or maybe a Bloody Mary with some breakfast and lunch all rolled into one? Before our trip I searched best brunch in SF and Farmer Browns was on every list.

It’s a Soul Food spot in the heart of the city and I figured it would be nice to have a big, decadent meal to hold us over until our late dinner reservation. It also had a great menu that included all the classics; cheesy grits, biscuits with sausage gravy, collards and pecan pie. I had my heart set on some Chicken and Waffles. When we arrived at 10:45, and the line was down the street, I knew I was in for a good meal.

Now, service was super slow and the place was packed but if I’m truly judging, just on the food, it was really, really good. The biscuits were fluffy and salty (we got a extra plate gratis since we waited so long). The cheesy grits were super cheesy and very addictive. And, the Chicken and Waffles were absolute Soul Food perfection. The chicken was crispy, juicy and perfectly cooked. The waffles were yeasted, light, fluffy and the perfect match to the chicken. It was covered in golden maple syrup and I couldn’t have been happier. The best part was I knew already knew the two recipes I would combine to recreate this amazing meal. Paula Deen’s Fried Chicken recipe with Marion Cunningham’s Raised Waffles

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

New York City, for me, is my first love - my ‘high school sweetheart.’ It holds so many memories and when I am there I can’t help but feel energized and happy. Just like when in love for the first time, I never thought any other would compare.

Recently, I have had the pleasure of making a few trips to San Francisco and I am falling in love all over again. Now while it will never replace my first love, SF has great weather, that laid back California vibe and, of course, THE FOOD!

Touring San Francisco through my stomach was so much fun, and very filling. I had some amazing meals and really enjoyed figuring out what made them so good. And, while I am not a restaurant reviewer, I would like to give you my humble opinion of the places I visited. Each week I’ll present a restaurant I ate at, my favorite dish and how I recreated it in my own kitchen. So, invite you to come on this little adventure with me...maybe you will fall in love too.

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