So Very SF
This week turned out to be so very San Francisco. I patronized two exceptional restaurants, bought a bouquet of flowers I don’t recognize, heard the foghorns drifting up from the bay at night, concocted a delectable dessert, watched a naked protest and walked across the Golden Gate bridge. “What was that, I’m sorry? A naked protest?” Indeed, that is what it was. Naked men on bikes – one on rollerskates – riding slowly down Market Street at 2:00 in the afternoon on a Saturday. We were stopped at an intersection so caught the chant, “Less gas, more ass!” The precise details about what they were protesting was unclear, but from the chant, and the fact that they were on bicycles, I surmised that they were protesting overuse of fossil fuels. But then why were they naked? Oh wait- because it’s San Francisco, and because “ass” rhymes so well with “gas”.
I finally made the short journey to Citizen Cupcake, the restaurant that produces the desserts to end all desserts. I met two friends for dinner and the rules were that we could not order the same foods. Ergo, a berry shortcake, a lemon-drop inspired medley, and my chocolate cake-like, Brazil-nut-studded, pineapple-shot-accompanied miracle. The other two desserts were good, but frankly, my thoughts were focused too keenly on my own plate to have justly tasted the others. Chocolate, no less! I have to change my self-described rule of never ordering chocolate. But what really set it apart- what really made it something extraordinary – was the spicy pineapple shot. There must’ve been cayenne in that there drink, or somethin’, because it made my eyes widen – and then water – in delighted surprise. Served with chocolate cake and Brazil nuts? Who thinks of this!? Elizabeth Falker, that’s who. 
My new hero, she who created the recipe for the sweetness I built last Tuesday: condensed vanilla custard with caramel crisps and pistachio cookies. Jaw-achingly sweet, even though the cookies are almost savory with their saffron edge. It is, perhaps, a little much when consumed in the same day as the cherry pie Marc made (the first pie he has ever made), but somehow, we managed to find enough will-power to eat both. For breakfast.