A Few of my SF Faves for February

I recently submitted some "top picks" to an online publication - little hidden gems related to wine, beauty, and food in the Bay Area. While they were not able to use these, I thought my blog would welcome them with open arms. So here in no particular pattern, are some of my (and hopefully soon your) favorite things!

Subversive Dining

Ghetto Gourmet is getting quite the following in the bay area as the must-attend underground dining experience. Think “social experiment” meets “DaVinci code” – you sign up for dinner at an undisclosed location based on some insanely good five or seven course menu from a (usually) unknown local chef. The location is revealed a few days before the event, be it a rented hall or even some stranger’s house where you join 15-30 other complete strangers with the only thread being a love of adventure and creative cooking.

Green Wine

Feed your fine wine habit and save the environment at Yield Wine Bar. This hidden lounge for well-heeled but eco-friendly types in dogpatch serves wines from around the world that are grown organically, sustainably or biodynamically. I don’t know what that means but i’m sure al gore would approve. Sample their tasty nibbles too – made with seasonal ingredients from sustainable farms, naturally. It’s easy being green.

Jane's Addiction

Wax Habit's waxing mistress Carrie Maxwell ditched tony Spa Radiance to start her own vision of what "pain is beauty" should really be like: french music wafting through a small cozy room as you gossip and sip wine. Guys and gals welcome to sample her custom-blended waxes and oils. Relax, sit back, and get addicted to the least painful hair removal experience of your life.

I (heart) These Hearts

With the panic of Valentine’s Day gift buying fast approaching, what better way to shower your beloved than by giving your heart – but that might get a wee bit messy, so opt for a custom-made ceramic heart work of art by Sarah Becker. These 7” x 7” handmade pieces of love each take on a unique shape in a rainbow array of color options. Message scroll can be customized with just the right sentiment. U r so cute and so are these.


We be Jammin’

An unsuspecting batch of strawberries spawned a delicious little jams and jellies business from a mission neighborhood studio. After some good ole fashioned word of mouth marketing, CMB Sweets was born and will join the ferry building’s gourmet goodie roster come february. Creator Carolina Braunschweig slaps whimsical labels on crazy concoctions like apricot habanero jam and fig sesame spread. She also features sweets with the usual headliners as well as jam co-stars apricots, apples, kiwis, boysenberries and ollalieberries.