I just recently traveled to San Francisco. I’ve heard only good things about California but I couldn’t wait to see for myself. Inevitably, food was a big part of our little weekend getaway. Upon our arrival in San Jose, the friendly hotel staff greeted us with fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. I must admit, that though it is a small gesture, it definitely is a thoughtful one and I’m sure that any traveler can appreciate such a nice and sweet surprise.
I love mornings in foreign places. There is something magical about waking up to a brand new day with adventures hanging in the air. To my complete satisfaction, there were numbers of various trees surrounding our hotel. Pine trees filled the air with their fragrance and sunbeams warmed the fresh morning air. After breakfast consisting of Greek yogurt parfait with fresh berries, we got on the road to San Francisco. 
I was thrilled to visit the Fisherman’s Wharf with a seafood market and tens of little food stands offering fresh clam chowder out of a bread bowl or a fresh crab salad. The whole street and little plazas were a cheerful site with various street artists showing off their talent.
Visiting the Chocolate Store on Jefferson Street felt like a journey to my childhood. 
The combination of neatly wrapped packages of chocolate pralines, vintage toys, old-fashioned tin cans, candy and endless assortments of chocolate truffles put a huge smile on my face. We simply had to indulge and try their fudge and their caramel apple. Everything looked decadent and the staff was incredibly friendly.
If you want to experience a flashback to the grand early 30’s, visit the Fishermen’s Grotto restaurant www.oldfishermansgrotto.com and request seating on the upper level with a view of the bay and numerous fish and sail boats, parked directly beneath the restaurant’s windows. The whole interior is with it’s nautical theme is designed to resemble a boat. The servers wear vintage uniforms and their service is impeccable. The music matches the atmosphere. Their menu features locally caught crabs, fish and seafood. 
On our trip, we also visited the small town of Sebastopol located in the Sonoma County, full of vineyards, green pastures with cattle and sheep, as well as quaint farmhouses, which sat atop rolling hills. It is a charming place. There are markets selling fresh, organic, locally grown produce. Various whole food stores, and shops selling herbs and homeopathic medicine, music store, an art supply store, as well as various art galleries. However, the shop, which happened to be my favorite store, was one with all kitchen supplies and cooking utensils you can possibly imagine. I bought a new apron, pie server and a cute little red cream container. The whole town is charming! Everyone we’ve met was friendly, with a story to tell, asking us, with an honest interest about our travels and plans.
Local restaurant, Gypsy Café, www.gypsy-cafe.com evidently popular among locals, welcomed us with a cozy atmosphere and cute décor. Their menu was mostly consisting of breakfast foods. We ordered Huevos Rancheros. The best I’ve ever tasted; mouthwatering, colorful, and full of flavorful goodness. They also served freshly squeezed orange juice, prepared right in front of our eyes.
The last destination of our weekend escape was the “Rotten Apple Ranch” www.rottenappleranchevents.com. We were invited to attend our friends’ wedding and the celebration of their new life together. It was a gorgeous place with a breath-taking view of vineyards, green pastures, apple trees, of course, and flowers everywhere. 
We all sat at rustic wooden tables, drank wine and ate good food. It was a true celebration of friendship and love. The surrounding nature and the presence of Native Americans gave the ceremony a mystical character and made us all take something away from this special day: There is nothing better than realizing what is important in life and celebrating it with your loved ones. (Adding good food and wine to the mix makes things even better!)
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