Waiting for you......

Fresh Figs

Earlier today I went with a friend to Pier 39 along Fisherman's Wharf to check out a venue for his birthday. It was a gloriously hot sunny day and I was so happy to be out wearing a sundress. The best part of the day was that amidst the crowds of tourists I found this little fruit stand. It was selling the most luscious looking fruit and little plastic containers of chocolate to dip them in. There were the first figs of the season and strawberries piled high. Grapes spilled out of the crates and I could smell the peaches nectarines nestled in their crates. I wanted that fruit, though lusted after might be a better way to describe how I was feeling. Seeing those figs made me understand how in the world Eve could have taken a bite of that forbidden fruit. It was torture seeing it all there so ripe and waiting.

However, I asked how much the figs were and balked at the $8.95 per pint price tag. Especially when I know that soon figs will be in season and will flood my local farmer's market. I promise that you my beautiful figs that I'll buy you up then. I'll roast my figs up with a little honey and devour you with a dollop of ice-cream on top. I walked away empty handed today, but I'll be waiting for you my sweet little figs.

Simpler is better

The other day I put together this little salad of mine from some of my favorite flavors from summer. A little cucumber, tomato and dill topped with some briny capers to liven things up a bit and verjus from a local winery. It's amazingly simple and I love all the bright flavors mixed together.

Cucumber and Tomato Salad Miss Z's Way
1 large heirloom tomato
1/2 English cucumber
1 tablespoon capers drained or rinsed
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon verjus
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh dill
fresh black pepper to taste

1) Chop the cucumber and tomato. Mince the dill very fine.
2) Toss all the ingredients together.
3) Eat & Enjoy

Flowers Galore

Ah summer in San Francisco means fog and cold chilly nights that call for a cuddly blanket. Lately the city has been so cold that I've been turning on the heat at night. I walk around the house wearing sweatpants, tee shirt, sweater, socks and slippers. Looking outside the fog is so thick that looking at the sky is like looking into a cloud. This weather makes me long for hot nights with a cold beer in hand. So imagine my joy when on Tuesday it was warm! Plus it was a free Tuesday at the The Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. Which meant it was time for me to play tourist in my own city.
The building itself is amazing. I mean really I drive by it and I think to myself how charming and lovely it looks. A building with character and distinction....plus I have a personal fondness for domed buildings. I think it makes them look more elegant and stately like a woman wearing a big hat it's unique. A huge part of that stems from me being from Charlottesville, Va home of Thomas Jefferson who built his home Monticello with a huge dome. However, I digress let's get back to the important part the flowers.
Outside there's formal flower beds arranged in rainbow hues for people to enjoy. I was wandering outside and there was the cutest mother and two daughters. They were doing a little mini photo shoot outside and it reminded me of when I was a child. I got super nostalgic thinking about the times my family and I used to do the exact same thing in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Once my Dad took me to those gardens by myself and bought me a huge ice cream cone which I of course promptly dropped on the ground. There were no such ice cream tragedies on this day as I was too busy playing tourist in my own town snapping pictures.

Pink tropical flower
Orchid on a tree trunk

Soft pretty moss

I love playing tourist in my own town. I get to fall in love with my city all over again and get reminded of all the reasons why I moved here. That's all that takes me to make me happy a warm day and some pretty sights.