Eating in San Francisco’s Mission District, and beyond

I’m not sure if I mentioned this or not, but I’m in San Francisco this week, visiting a good girlfriend.

Of course, much to the chagrin of my now-tight jeans, I’ve been doing some fabulous eating. A few days ago, I took a food photography course with Penny de Los Santos, which gave me an excuse to wander around the hip Mission District and shoot everything that struck my fancy. Here are a few images from that day, and some of the other amazing things I’ve eaten while I’ve been here.

1. Barbecued oysters at Marshall Store. Marshall Store is a small cafe that overlooks Tomales Bay, just north of Point Reyes Station, about an hour north of San Francisco off Highway 1. The oysters are grilled until they’re plump and juicy in their shells, and then topped with garlic butter, parsley, and a dab of the restaurant’s vinegary homemade barbecue sauce.

Then they’re served with a hunk of crusty bread.

The whole thing is stunning. Really. I can’t even think about these anymore, they’re making me feel like a lovesick teenager.

2. Chips, salsa and guac from La Taqueria, a bustling place with a cult following on Mission Avenue near 25th. I ordered a carnitas taco, and it came topped with the same salsa and a few specks of pinto beans. Some expats don’t like eating Mexican food out of Mexico, but you cannot come to San Francisco without trying the taquerias. It’s a sin.

Lengua (right) and cabeza tacos from Taquería San José, on Mission and 24th.

And lastly, a few shots from the 200-or-so I took in my photography class. The first three are from Contigo SF, a Spanish and Catalan restaurant in Noe Valley.