After being back in San Francisco, my home away from home, for the 4th or 5th time in as many months, I have very little trouble finding safe places for me to eat. One of my favorite cities to walk around, I always do the tourist move and walk up the hills – it’s a great way to earn all the food I eat while I’m there!

Catch
http://www.catchsf.com/
I don’t always get to explore too much of a city beyond the areas (or have the energy to do so), but one night, I was able to get to the Castro district in SF, and, oh, am I ever glad I did! I found Catch through Open Table and was a little nervous because they had a good amount of openings for reservations. It turns out that most of their business is walk in customers, not reservations, so I’m glad I didn’t let that stop me.

We were seated in the front room, next to the central fire, with an excellent view. Wide paneled, richly colored wood flooring, tables spread just the right distance apart, and dark blue walls, give the restaurant a intimate and welcoming vibe akin to sitting under the stars by a campfire without feeling rustic.

The staff was excellent – always there at the right moment, they conveyed care for their job as well as an appreciation for the food and welcome for their customers. I could have cozied in next to that fire and been content to just chat with them, but of course, I was in a restaurant for a reason and I was so hungry. WineSmiles was there with me and we decided to split the roasted artichoke, and the beet salad as our appetizers. I’m afraid I embarrassed myself with how much I dug into those artichokes, but they were just so good! They were drizzled with olive oil and roasted plain, or maybe with just a sprinkle of salt. I don’t like when people get all fancy roasting artichokes – the have such a subtle flavor that garlic and seasonings can so easily overpower them. These were perfect.

The best cioppino I have ever eaten outside of my mother’s house. It looked and smelled so good that I didn’t even remember to take a picture until I was full. The broth was thick and rich without over powering the meats of the seafood. And this had ALL the seafoods. Yummmmmay!!! (My joints hurt the next day from eating tomato, but it was still SO worth it!)

Jaspers
http://www.jasperscornertap.com/
Jaspers is right by several hotels in the Union Square area, but its a couple of blocks over from the more touristed area. Just don’t got another two blocks, or it gets a little dodgy. (As a side note, San Francisco has done a remarkable job with their vagrant community over the past few years, but it’s still tough in some areas. Make sure to chat with a concierge at your hotel when you travel to have a better idea of safe areas.) I’ve walked past it several times, and have meant to try it for some time. When I looked at their website, I was so pleasantly surprise by their menu. Gluten-Free items are marked, which I just love! Oh my gluten-free goodness!!! I got the Crispy Piggy and the Short Ribs, subbing the potatoes with their amazing bacon and hazelnut Brussels sprouts… Phenomenal palate experiences!!!

Also, a shout out to our phenomenal waiter – my dinner buddy is a beer drinker (not paleo or gf or anything) and when he ordered a beer, the waiter suggested a taste test between the one my friend selected and another one that was on the menu. He took the time to converse about the different aspects of the menu and beers. When I informed him of my food needs and what I would like to order, he thought about what I had ordered for a moment before assuring me that everything was safe for me, as well as assuring me that he would check with the kitchen and let them know my concerns. The food was excellent and having such a caring waiter really elevated the experience. I will most definitely be back at Jaspers again and again as a result!

Plant Café
http://www.theplantcafe.com/
San Francisco in August is really cold – the bundle-up-and-drink-hot-tea kind of cold. I went for a walk with a friend because I knew I should go for a walk, but I was tired and not feeling 100%, so once I got cold, I needed some tea. All I wanted was mint tea and a beet salad. Walking along the embarcadero, it seemed that I would neither, until we came to The Plant. So much more reasonably priced than its neighbors, AND they had beet salad on the menu? I thought it couldn’t get any better. Then, I saw the drink menu. MINT TEA. You know when you come home after a long trip and you fall into your own bed and it’s the most comfortable place in the world? That’s what this cup of mint tea felt like to my poor, cold tummy. My soul was refreshed in one meal. Oh.. right .. there are more details I should share… The menu is marked for gluten-free options, and almost everything the serve is locally sourced and organic is what they do, so you can feel confident that you’re eating good food.

Freshroll
http://www.eatatfreshroll.com/
What would I do without Freshroll in my San Fran life? Just around the corner from the convention center, they serve one of my favorite pho broths in this country. The pho is only available after 3PM, so don’t plan on that for lunch, but definitely check out their rolls and bowls. All but one of their meat options are gluten-free, so if gluten-free is your concern – have at it!! With the exception of their ice coffee, there is no dairy served, so you’re safe there too. They do serve tofu, so be sure to alert your server if you have soy issues. I have yet to have a reaction to soy from eating here, but I’m not super allergic to it. I’m actually not sure what happens when I have soy, I was just told to steer clear of it. Oh and there’s a big sign that says that their meat is “free of antibiotics and hormones”, so you can feel good about that. ***Update – The meats served are cooked in soy bean oil, so they’re not paleo or soy-free, but still are a great option for dairy and gluten challenged.

Whole Foods
What? Why is Whole Foods here? Everyone knows they can find friendly foods at Whole Foods! Well, this Whole Foods has a Paleo Bar! That’s right – a dedicated paleo bar. Hot food, paleo style, full ingredients list, and I can take it back to my room and eat it in my sweatpants. They also have a great raw section, on the front wall, just past the bananas. I missed it the first three or four times I went there, but now that I’ve found it, I his it up for kale and sprout chips, chocolate, nuts, and whatever other magical treats they have. I do love my snacks! They also have a great selection of kombucha, which I have recently started drinking in an effort to restore good bacteria to my system (I’m chronically that less than delicate experience and will post when I have more information). Oh and Epic bars! I love me some Epic bars! Protein on the go!