A Day in Cole Valley
Stop 1: Fill our Bellies
So on any given Sunday there is a magic about having brunch at Zazie on Cole Street in the heart of Cole Valley. The back garden transports you to a French courtyard with fountains, trellis and beautiful flowers. There is also generally a large wait but fear not, Finnegan’s wake next door has epic bloody mary’s so you can have a spicy amuse bouche if you will. This is the perfect local bar so if you’re a dive bar lover like us you will fall in love immediately. Cole Valley hardware is right across the street and is a great place to tinker around with the kids when they get antsy. Bonus: You can also pick up a present for the next birthday in your life. Right now both of these charming spots are closed but the parklet Zazie has built out is a promise of more secret garden brunches to come. For today we grabbed a curried carrot chicken salad at Lukes Local which was perfect to take to our next spot. I took a picture of the sandwich menu at their walk up deli window which also serves coffee! This grocery actually started as a grocery delivery service and they maintain that same day delivery along with their retail presence. Their website is really sweet and they have profiles on every person who works there from the register clerk to the CEO. It’s easy to understand why people fall in love with this tiny neighborhood.
Stop #2 : Gratton Playground
About three blocks away is a dazzling old playground which in traditional SF fashion is covered in sand. However this one is unusual in that it’s like a double decker bus in wonky land. The upper playground is for the younger kids and is like a huge obstacle course. The lower playground is a larger taller version for the older children. The odd bit is they are connected with slides and planks so you can really get a parent workout chasing around the children from one to the next and back. Definitely an SF rarity, it is a great spot for families and you can bring bikes or skateboards to ride on the large tennis courts for a nice flat learning area.
Stop #3: Adel’s Wine Cellar
This seemingly small neighborhood bodega with beautiful flowers outside is a treasure trove of vintage European wine! Head another three blocks to Adel’s at 17th and Cole St. and take home a bottle of wine for dinner. This is not Trader Joe’s pricing and yes, I love getting wine there too. But Adel’s has plenty of wine under $20 but some absolute steals in the $30-$60 category. I know that sounds a bit crazy. A steal at $60? If you dig a bit they have some incredible Super Tuscan, Rhone and Bordeaux wines that are never marked up as they age in his wine cellar. While I was there I mention my birth year 1979 and says he has a few bottles of Barolo left from that year. At $289, it costs more than we are willing to gamble with during these uncertain times but he insists a neighbor opened one not too long ago and it was perfect. Something to dream about but instead I grab a 2008 Quartz Reef Pinot Noir from New Zealand to age for Sophia’s 21st and we move back down the hill. This little gem is a great spot to stop before going to a special occasion. They are so nice and knowledgable so they can help direct you towards the perfect bottle and a bouquet of flowers.
Stop #4: The Ice Cream Bar
This spot is one of the best in the city and we have some damn good ice cream here in SF. We actually were lucky enough to be here on their opening weekend many years ago. The soda jerk was everything you want in a bartender: passionate, informative and hilarious. He walked us through the history of soda jerks as well as the menu explaining all the various phosphates and tinctures. We only had one kid at the time and she waited patiently while we geeked out at the boozy shakes and many bitters. Nowadays we mostly get ice cream with the kids, topped with marshmallow creme and toasted like a smore. That’s right with a blow torch. It’s the absolute best. Butterscotch, Creme Fraiche and Fudge Brownie are some of our favorites but the chocolate sorbet and coconut milk chocolate almond (vegan) are also incredible for the non-dairy folks.
Optional Stop 5: Say Cheese
Just want to say that as a huge cheese lover, Say Cheese is a fantastic cheese shop and it’s right across the street from the ice cream bar. They have any cheese you could imagine and are kind and helpful. They have helped my husband make many cheese boards for surprise special occasions for me. If you love cheese and didn’t blow your budget at Adel’s, then it’s worth taking something fun home. Crescenza goes great on asparagus risotto or a lovely Burrata for that eggplant caponatina. Can’t go wrong with an array for a cheese plate and serve as dessert with some fruit and honey. It’s a fun place to end the day even if you’re too stuffed and tired.
