“Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air around you.” – Langston Hughes

Summer races on with a slew of weddings, Summer festivals, Sonoma day trips, visiting friends, good books and lazy days.

Every month, I share Top Tastes: favorite new dishes, drinks and bites from my culinary explorations. This month, in The Latest, I rate the best in the Tart Frozen Yogurt craze. Explore Los Angeles’ Farmer’s Market with me in Wandering Traveler.

I’d love your feedback on any spots you visited from my site. You can leave comments through the site on the Perfect Spot Blog or email me directly.

Let me guide you to the perfect spot!

Virginia

BREAKFAST

Spongy sweet w/ a hint of savory: Lemon Thyme Donuts at Dynamo Donuts (24th at Hampshire). Beware, as they usually serve only two flavors a day and run out quickly. But on top of gourmet donuts (a, thus far, untapped market in SF), they serve Stumptown Coffee, soon to be our fabulous local Four Barrel. Good morning to you (open 7a-5p daily)!

SAVORY – VEGETARIAN

A dreamy, creamy Cauliflower Risotto with Extra Aged Gouda and Maple Vinegar at Sonoma’s romantic, upscale Southern restaurant, The General’s Daughter.

I dare you not to be fascinated by the Smoked Tempura Egg in scallion bouillon at Orson.

SAVORY – MEAT and SEAFOOD

Tender Green Peppercorn Seared Venison Loin with Rhubarb Puree, Spring Onions, Rosemary Oil at the delicious, if overpriced, Flora in Oakland.

Sticky, fresh, garlicky Garlic Noodles with shrimp and bits of fried egg at the Castro’s new, unexpected little Vietnamese oasis, Jasmine Garden.

Here’s an ideal sandwich made in heaven: the right balance of salty Duck Confit & tart Kumquat at Bar Tartine.

Yat’s (in a Potrero dive bar, Jack’s Club) Shrimp Po Boy w/ crispy cornmeal fried shrimp is a hearty lunch stop for New Orleans’ style sandwiches.

SNACK

Crispy, lightly fried Salmon Rolls w/ spicy Chinese Mustard dipping sauce at Noodle Theory in Rockridge/Oakland were winners. But sadly, the five main dishes I tried all lacked punch or a strong enough flavor, though homemade noodles themselves were satisfying.

Bacon Cracker Jacks: sweet caramel popcorn, spicy cashews and candied bacon (with a prize inside the box) at my beloved The Alembic.

SWEET

WOW, is all I can say for the oft-raved about Licorice Parfait in Lime Syrup at South Food and Wine Bar. It’s indescribable… and I’m not even a fan of licorice!

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding in Rum Caramel Sauce at my favorite East Bay Cajun, Downtown Berkeley’s Angeline’s Louisiana Kitchen.

DRINK

Rosy, refreshing Napa Sour Cocktail (Bulleit Bourbon, fresh lemon, egg white and Cabernet served on the rocks) at Michael Mina’s brand new, hip Clock Bar.

Have loved this 1800’s London cocktail recipe at Bourbon & Branch, now love it at Beretta: The Lonsdale, made of gin, apple, lemon, honey and fresh basil.

TART FROZEN YOGURT (aka FROYO)

Though there’s never a reason not to have ice cream/gelato in my book, a great (if secondary) alternative is frozen yogurt. Not regular frozen yogurt, which I’ve always found bland and boring comparatively, but the ever-trendy tart, plain “froyo” (hate the term), healthy with cultures and probiotics… a guilt-free dessert.

Southern California’s widespread Pinkberry chain may have started it all, but many SF locales have met or improved upon that unusual taste. Though a ridiculous number of SF “froyo” openings (and even more ridiculous hype around said openings) makes me want to avoid the whole subject, once I got started, I couldn’t stop tasting, on the hunt for the best.

I tasted every flavor at each place listed, and took notes with each visit, rating and comparing flavors. The basic groundwork: you can get similar toppings at all stores – everything from cereals to fruits (like blackberries or lychees) to chocolate. They’re in a similar price range ($2.50-$6 on average plus toppings). Here’s my rundown of the great, good and not-so-great:

MY FAVORITES
So it’s a tie between…

YoCup: With two locations downtown (one in SoMa near the Embarcadero and one on Market Street bordering FiDi/SoMa), this place does me right with one of the best Original/Plain flavors I’ve tasted, and their bracing, tart Blueberry.

So Green: So they cost more than most (at $4.25 for a Small!), but the clincher for me is their tart, strong Green Tea (made with matcha). There’s playful, candy-like Strawberry (a changing seasonal fruit flavor), and a solid Original/Plain (YoCup makes a better one). I also like their not sweetened, ultra fresh smoothies, which can be mixed with cereal for a ‘to go’ breakfast if you work near FiDi’s Crocker Galleria.

OTHER GREATS

Jubili: In Lower Fillmore near Yoshi’s, Jubili hits the right notes with their Plain (Original), subtle Peach, and a light but flavor-rich Strawberry Sorbet. They also focus heavily on cereals so come for breakfast.

Swirl Culture: For all the controversy surrounding the opening of this North Beach shop, I find it one of the best with giant windows offering wide-open, street corner views as you down an excellent Passionfruit or Plain. Friendly and warm, it’s a great addition to the genre.

Yogurt Bar: In two locations (Cow Hollow and a brand new SoMa spot), I give it mention because it was the first around, really, when many were not yet open… They feature a changing, monthly flavor, which means some are better than others. I like regulars: Plain, Chocolate, Green Tea. Good on them, they recently lowered their prices due to the economy (see an explanation on the website)! I can get behind that.

AROUND the BAY

Fraiche Yogurt: This is Palo Alto’s spot for not only great frozen yogurt, but fresh probiotic, cultured yogurt (made from Clover organic milk; tart but not sour). Besides the fact that they bless the South Bay by serving Blue Bottle Coffee, I love their Valrhona Chocolate frozen yogurt, which is unique amongst all local “froyo” shops. They also serve a Soy frozen yogurt, which I like better than their Plain.

Yogurt Harmony: Downtown Berkeley’s answer to the craze. Though the store has less of a crisp, clean feel than others, they serve great frozen yogurt (highlights: Plain or Mango Tart).

NOT SO MUCH

Tutti Melon: I find this one the worst, which is interesting (or speaks for itself?) since it’s also the one with multiple SF locations (2 now with 5 more on the way!) I find the texture thin, less creamy than all others I tried (the fat-free aspect?), and the flavors (Plain, Green Tea, Mango), bland.

Yogen Fruz: This worldwide Canadian chain recently opened its first West Coast location in SF’s Embarcadero Center. I can’t say it’s a welcome addition to the scene. First off, the name. Secondly, unlike every other Froyo shop, you can’t sample first because they have frozen bars of fruit to “blend” with Plain yogurt so no pre-made flavors. The plus is: you can choose your own… but they’re frozen packets of fruit yogurt, reminiscent of Jamba Juice (did I just make that comparison?)

LOS ANGELES

Farmer’s Market (since 1934)

Monday-Friday, 9 am-9 pm
Saturday, 9 am-8 pm
Sunday, 10 am-7 pm
Some merchant hours may vary

6333 West 3rd Street (and Fairfax)
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 933-9211
www.farmersmarketla.com

The original Los Angeles Farmer’s Market started in 1934 with actual farmers selling produce from the back of their trucks in a dirt lot. Now it’s a permanent set-up with (horror of horrors) chain stores like Starbucks (?!) and Pinkberry surrounding its outer rim, and permanent open-air “stands” or shops in the middle.

San Francisco’s Ferry Plaza Building Farmer’s Market this ain’t. No rare, expensive, beautiful produce here. Nor will you find gourmet, foodie dream shops serving lavender salt or grass-fed beef jerky. You won’t even find much of what might be deemed “gourmet”. What you will find at its center is almost a time warp, reminding me of ‘80’s food fairs of my childhood with bright red, sugary popcorn or bags of roasted nuts sold by sweet Grandma-types.

I didn’t experience a taste revolution here, but I’m lulled into its charm nonetheless. Piecing together a meal from various “stands” is a fun experience, with tables strewn everywhere for ease. True to form, I researched and compared ‘best recommended’ from multiple reviews, then tried many myself. Here are my top choices:

DRINK

Eple: The one spot that was actually inventive and current is a brand new (less than a couple months old) fruit and juice shop next to Pinkberry. Calling itself a “House of Decadent Fruit”, they sell fresh, exotic fruits, and refreshing, eye-opening juices in combos I could drink often: healthy AND teasingly delighting the palate. I love the Strawberry/Red Pepper/ Banana juice – just enough, not too much, red pepper. They also have Kiwi/Spinach/Banana juice, and a few others.

The Refresher: I’m not a soda drinker (never touch it) but occasionally love a high-quality root beer. Still, I couldn’t resist the idea of trying from the large selection of rare bottled sodas at this stand, including their own excellent house-brewed root beer (Bennett’s Big Bear Root Bear) and a Lemon Cola. Check out the daily house specials.

LUNCH

The Gumbo Pot: This somewhat greasy, Louisiana eatery was my favorite choice for a meal here. Not exquisite, most items are just hearty and plentiful, but shined compared to the letdown of Loteria or French Crepe Co. For $3, you get three hefty Beignets, drizzled in chocolate or plain (pair it with chicory coffee). They grill up Alligator Tail Filets, Catfish, Snapper and fried Oysters. Po’ Boys Sandwiches offer tasty meat (love the Cornmeal Fried Catfish), but darned if I didn’t have to dig to find the meat in all that French bread. And the Gumbo? Not bad. Nice, spicy andouille sausage and some good chunks of shrimp and chicken.

Loteria! Grill: After all the great things I’ve heard about this place, and knowing LA has some of the best Mexican food in the country (I’ve eaten plenty of it growing up), I was pretty disappointed. First, the price: $10 for two microscopic tacos – about three bites each – with rice & beans. Worse, each item I tried did not overwhelm me. It’s good, but heck, local SF taquerias beat it, hands down! What did jazz my taste buds, inauthentic as it is, was the side of “green rice” with flecks of fresh mint. Refreshing, bright and poppy – a treat. Also, tasty black beans. If only their mains were as great as their sides.

The French Crepe Co.: It’s mediocre, especially compared to Briton buckwheat crepes at SF’s Ti Couz, BUT… if you want to fill up on crepes, it’ll do the trick with a large menu and sweet servers.

BUTCHER

Huntington Meats: Just look at the photo of Jim and Dan on the website and you’ll feel good about this place. It’s old school in all the right ways, while current in its use of Harris Ranch, corn-fed meat. They make all sausages on the premises, which sound mouth-wateringly good (Chicken Jamaican Mango, Alligator Andouille). The Renaissance Man has been on a gourmet jerky hunt, trying all kinds of interesting jerky around the country (focusing on the Midwest where beef is king)… and he says Huntington’s beef jerky is the best he’s tasted. You can see the quality as it comes in big sheets of a large cut of meat, not in little strips like most. They make their own BBQ sauce, marinades and chutneys.