Super Bowl!

In the fall of 2015 an email at work was sent looking for people to go work at the San Francisco International Airport during the Super Bowl.  I was interested and shortly after Christmas I was sent a message to book my flights and plan to be there for 6 nights around the big game.  I knew that this was a business trip but if it was possible I was going to try to get to some more Triple D places, because let's face it "gotta take advantage of every possible chance". 

I got my assignment a few weeks in advance and asked if I could stay a couple of days more so I could explore the area and was grated a 48 hour extension.  I started by looking at all of the Northern California Triple D places that I had yet to visit.  I plotted out my plans and decided that I would try to get to a few places in the San Francisco area during my work days and then when the assignment ended I would fly up to Eureka, California to try all of the places in the Humboldt County area. 

I flew out on a Wednesday morning for 2 days of orientation meetings that would get us familiar with the airport and get our security badges processed.  With that all done and before my first assignment I decoded to try two places in the downtown area.  I headed out of the airport on the BART subway system out of San Francisco Intentional Airport for the 40 minute ride into San Francisco and the Powell Street Station.  Powell Street is where you can board and ride on the famous San Francisco Cable Cars, this area has a lot of eating and shopping choices, but none of that for me I had some places to try!

I walked a few blocks from the station to a small, eclectic place called "Showdogs".  They feature sandwiches, homemade organic milk shakes, home made sodas and house made sausages.

Showdogs on Market Street in San Francisco

Showdogs Open Kitchen

 After looking over the menu I decided to try on of the sausages that was featured on their Triple D episode.  The Smoked Merguez features a smoky and very spicy sausage topped with house made fig chutney, house Dijon, arugula on a very fresh and tasty seeded bun.  The sausage was really spicy on it's own but add the chutney and Dijon and it had a huge spice bite!  Despite being hot is was very good!  I asked one of the staff to sign my book and he really like it as he wrote a long message in my book and we chatted, he told me he had never left the bay area and was really looking forward to getting out and seeing the world. 

The Smoked Merguez at Showdogs

I headed out for the half mile walk to my second stop.  Down 7th Street and then onto Folsom Street is a small Italian place called "Rocco's Cafe".  The place is very cool, with a lot of neat pictures and Musical album covers on the walls.  It has been run by the same family for many years. 

It looked like it may have been a bar at one time, but the bar has been replaced with an open kitchen seating area.  I took a seat at the open kitchen seating area so I could watch the cooking of my meal and also check out all of the food being prepared.  Even before I ordered I was served bread with rosemary infused oil.  The bread wedge was Sourdough and in my opinion the only place that has he best sourdough is in San Francisco!  It was delicious and the oil dip was awesome.  As I was enjoying that I was able to meet the owner who cooked with Guy and we had a very nice conversation as he signed my book.  He told me that not only did Guy film there but he revisited Rocco's with his family and one night played Maitre'D which must have surprised the diners that night!

Rocco's Open Kitchen area

I ordered the Baked Macaroni and Cheese which was served in a crock with Bacon and Pancetta.  It was delicious with just the right amount of cheese, gooey but not too much  I took advantage of being seated where I was to see all of the great food that the small kitchen was producing.

Rocco's Sourdough Bread with Rosemary infused Olive Oil

Rocco's Café Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Sneaking a look at Linguine with White Clam Sauce

A huge dinner for an adjoining table

It was a fantastic meal, Rocco's is a must on your San Francisco visit.  I had been planning to go to another place, but I was full and I needed to get back to the hotel to get ready for work early the next morning. I was very surprised how efficient the BART transit system is.

I wouldn't be able to get to any more paces during the next 4 days.  I had been scheduled to work from 4 am to 230p and the downtown area was packed with Super Bowl attendees.  They built a place in the Embarcadero area of downtown called Super Bowl City and the place was at full capacity in the early afternoon.  I worked at various areas of the airport, mostly just helping move bags through the transfer bag belts.  Every local employee I met was fantastic, they welcomed us with open arms!

When my last shift ended the day after the big game I headed back downtown to try two more places.  I left on the BART and took it own to the Embarcadero station near the wharf area.

Work Selfie at San Francisco International Airport

BART Subway train, THE way to go into San Francisco

BART system map

I arrived and the area was mostly closed off as the Super Bowl City area was being taken down.  This place was o massive that the tear down would take 3 days to complete.  It was a bit confusing because both roads and sidewalks were closed.  I asked one of the guides how to get around and when I told him where I was headed he told me that he also worked there so he gave me relay good directions and off I went!  The walk would take me along the wharf and the bay piers.  The day was great in the 70s and very pleasant.

Some of the sights of my walk

After about a 15 minute walk I arrived at "Pier 23 Café".  It has the appearance of a small road house but looks in this case are deceiving.  Most of the seating area is outside on the patio overlooking the bay.  I normally am inside kind of guy but I asked to be on the patio.  The server brought over a bottle of water as I looked over the menu.

The view from my table

I chose the seafood salad sandwich.  It came with a small plated salad with a very tasty Italian dressing.  The sandwich was on a thickly cut sourdough bread slices.  The sandwich was a mix of shrimp and Dungeness crab with a mayonnaise base and was delicious. As I was finishing up the owner came over to sign my book.  I would like to visit this place again as the view and the food is pretty unbeatable!

My Pier 23 meal

I headed out and was planning to take the streetcar to get to near my next stop and after riding about 4 blocks the streetcar stopped and due to the tear down area it ended.  I asked how to get on the next train and was told to walk three blocks and get on the next car.  Well, somehow I missed the stop and ended walking and walking and walking.  I asked a policeman and he told me I was a long ways form where I was headed and showed me the best way to get there.  I think I walked about two miles and finally found my destination a small place called "HRD".  It is listed as HRD Coffee Shop but in reality it s a small Asian inspired restaurant.  They do American sandwiches and meals with an Asian tilt.  I ordered the Mongolian Beef Cheesesteak.  I met the chef and owner and we chatted a few minutes before he signed my book.  He also gave me a basket of waffle fries on the house.  Both the sandwich and fries came with a side of Kimchi Aioli.  The sandwich was great with a Rosemary garlic roll.  The meat had a bit of a spice kick to it as did the aioli. 

HRD's Mongolia Beef Cheesesteak with Kimchi Aioli

On the house Waffle Fries!

I left really full and having been to two great places.  I headed back to the BART to head back to my hotel via the airport.  My count was now at 456  and I would not be going home the next day but flying to Eureka California to visit Guy's home town and also meet Joe Filgas, an owner of a lace that was feature on Triple D and a friend of mine via one of the Facebook's Triple D fan pages, but that's another story!