Tartine Dreams
Ok, so here's the deal... I'm just going to put it out there, right here right now so there is no awkwardness. Yes, I became a little obsessed with Tartine Bakery while I was in San Francisco last month. It's best you know this now. My name is Heidi, and I'm in love with Tartine.
I may or may not have eaten at this divine little bakery on multiple occasions during my four day visit. Let me count...yes, four times I passed through the Tartine doors, inhaling roses at the entrance and simultaneously becoming both giddy with excitement and paralysed with the fear of having to choose a menu item. So I guess that works out to be a visit each day...that's fairly tame, no? I also bought two bags of brownies (one with walnuts one sans nuts) on my last day as a gift for my hosts in NYC. They were outrageous.
Forgive my obvious excitement as I present to you my montage of Tartine visits. Has a better montage ever existed? I think not.
Tartine's breakfast menu is quite extensive, from pasties to puddings to muesli. One item I wished I had tried was the Croque Monsieur. It looked incredibly thick and well, frankly, delicious. Alas, too little time, too little stomach space. Another reason to return, I suppose...
Tartine offers hot pressed sandwiches for their lunch menu. These sandwiches are made using their absolutely, positively, scrumptious bread. Oh it's divine. See here for yourselves. My Dad was particularly jealous about my visits to Tartine, having long been a fan (cookbook link).
On the first day I ordered the Prosciutto and Provolone sandwich. Firstly, I feel I need to state again just how delicious the bread is. Thick slices with an earthy flavour and a prominent crust, yet the bread was perfectly soft and toasty. Uhhhh. Amazing. The cheese, prosciutto and arugula were top-class delicious. This was one mighty sandwich (mighty in size, too - it is a very large serve and I could only finish half).
With complimentary House-Pickled Carrots that were delightfully spicy!
That day I also ordered an Orange and Cinnamon Morning Bun for dessert. Even though it wasn't warm from the oven, it was just delectable. The best bun I've had from a bakery. I plan on making something similar (following on from my cinnamon bun success!) Every bite was heavenly and cherished.
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The second time I ate a Tartine sandwich was on Monday, before I walked Haight street for vintage shopping heading to Golden Gate Park. I then caught the bus to see the Golden Gate Bridge and had a surreal moment - I was in San Francisco, California, America. Wow...but back to the sandwich...
This day I ordered the Pecorino and Almond (the nuts were crushed with olive oil and sage). It was nice but not quite what I was expecting, and was probably my least favourite of my purchases.
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Enjoying a Fresh Warm Croissant for breakfast is a Tartine must, apparently. Naturally, I obliged. It was a Sunday morning around 9am. As you could imagine, the wait was considerable (~20 minutes of lining up at the door). But that was fine. In the line I read my book and tried not to get too excited for what was waiting for me...
It was huge and buttery and amazing. The best croissant I've had outside of France.
Elisabeth Prueitt (who owns Tartine with her husband, the bread-King, Chad Robertson) has been named Pastry Chef of the Year (the bakery has won many awards). I can see why. Sunday morning in my family often involved Dad waking early (he can't help himself) and heading down to our local bakery to buy fresh croissants. We would toast them in the oven, usually with cheese (or ham and cheese for my brothers, mum and dad). Occasionally we would have them toasted plain and sometimes with jam. Eating my warm croissant this sunny Sunday coated me with a lovely tinge of nostalgia.
Let's not discuss the Coffee...well, ok, I'll just say that it wasn't great. Beyond my Ferry Building Blue Bottle Coffee experience, I never had good coffee in the States. So be it. At least we can all appreciate the novelty of having a coffee in a giant bowl.
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Berry Frangipane Tart for lunch, anyone?
With a Fresh Grapefruit Juice, to boot.
Actually truth be told I don't tend to have tarts for lunch, this was a nice treat on my last day in San Francisco. I was determined to make my way through more of the menu. This tart was really lovely, the fragipane every inch the sweet heavenly concoction it should be. But the croissant was better...I'm just saying.
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My name is Heidi, and I'm in love with Tartine.