Blue Bottle Coffee, Photo Credit: Nat & Cody Gantz
San Francisco is definitely a food lover’s town, and a trip to the city is the perfect time to pick up some local artisan food gifts. Here are the best places to shop.
Boudin Bakery
Known as the original San Francisco sourdough bakery, Boudin has been making its signature loaves since 1849. On the day you plan on leaving, swing by the flagship store at Fisherman’s Wharf and pick up a couple of baguettes or rounds to enjoy when you arrive home.
Ghiraredelli Chocolate
Like Boudin, the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is one of San Francisco’s oldest food producers — it’s been around since 1852. With classic flavors like dark chocolate caramel, milk chocolate and white chocolate, chocolate lovers will devour its assortment of gourmet chocolate squares.
Don’t forget about Ghirardelli’s excellent baking chocolate: the baking bars, chocolate chips and ground cocoa are great gifts for the baker in your life.
Green Apple Books
Many of the city’s best restaurants have published cookbooks sharing the secrets to their memorable cuisine. These cookbooks are a great gift for someone who loves to experiment in the kitchen. Browse the selection at the city’s preferred independent bookstore, Green Apple Books.
Our picks: The SPQR cookbook celebrates the Fillmore Street restaurant‘s regional and traditional Italian cuisine. Recipes include chestnut pasta with broccoli and burnt orange sauce and fluke crudo with sausage-stuffed olives.
Tartine Bread features recipes from the Mission District’s most beloved bakery, Tartine. It also provides the secrets to making the bakery and sandwich shop’s sourdough bread, which has a cult-like following.
The Bi-Rite Creamy always has lines around the block, but you’ll be able to savor its ice cream in the comforts of your home with the cookbook Sweet Cream and Sugar Cones, which has recipes for our favorite flavors: salted caramel and balsamic strawberry.
Acme Bread At The Ferry Building, Photo Credit: Nat & Cody Gantz
The Ferry Building
If you’re feeling creative, head to the Ferry Building and browse the shops to put together your own one-of-a-kind food gift basket.
Select an award-winning cheese at Cowgirl Creamery, then pick up bread from Acme Bread Company and salumi from Boccalone to pair with the cheese. Miette offers amazing desserts like macaroons and gingersnaps, while Blue Bottle Coffee serves up the city’s best beans.
