Neighborhood: Noe Valley

When I select places to review for PlanJam, I generally try for the types of shops, coffee houses, and restaurants that visitors to the city, or even residents who are new or have less time to wander outside of their own regular stomping grounds, may not have heard of or visited before. Sometimes though, I'm going to have to share a place that many people know about but that is worth reviewing for the one person who may not have heard of it. It would be an injustice if a single person in San Francisco, be it for good or for a few days, didn't know that Mitchell's Ice Cream is a must.

My first visit to the city last year was a whirlwind – shopping on Haight Street, visiting Coit Tower and Fisherman's Wharf, hitting Ocean Beach and the Musee Mecanique. In all of the sightseeing, my partner made very sure that we made it to Mitchell's, and, being a New England girl, I was surprised to find myself contemplating my now wavering loyalty to my favorite Vermont based ice cream men.

Mitchell's is open from 11:00 to 11:00 daily, and I've never once arrived and been able to go straight to the counter. Sometimes the line is ten or more people, and their deli style ticket dispenser is absolutely necessary. Other times, just a few people are ahead of me and I get a little panicky because I know I'll never make up my mind before it's my turn. With over fifty flavors of ice cream and sorbet in their standard queue and seasonal flavors on a rotating schedule, choosing what's going to land on my cone or in my cup is a difficult task. Thankfully, the staff is very helpful and friendly, and they'll let you sample any flavors you want without once looking at the growing line behind you.

Perhaps their most famous flavor selection is the tropical group – from avocado to lychee to thai tea, choosing a scoop from the tropical list is always an adventure of the most delicious kind. If you're not sure where to start, try a delicious Halo Halo, a traditional Philippine summer cooler (only made in Spring, Summer, and early Fall). If you're looking to get a couple of different scoops but don't know what flavors are going to taste best together, ask your server – they're always ready with an amazing combination that's guaranteed to make mouths happy.

My most recent Mitchell's experience, as suggested by my server? Their seasonal Pumpkin Ice Cream atop a scoop of Mexican Chocolate. The cinnamon of the Mexican Chocolate combined with the explosion of spices and cream in the Pumpkin was just like something that should be served after every holiday dinner. And it can – Mitchell's also pre-packs half-gallons of all of their flavors, and will hand pack a quart, pint, or half pint at your request. For larger gatherings, one and a half gallon or three gallon containers are available, as are round cakes, sheet cakes, and pies.

Visit Mitchell's and see why they've been a San Francisco favorite, earning awards and recognition from magazines, television shows, and local publications and fairs, for over fifty years.

Blogging for PlanJam has given me an entirely new view of San Francisco - as I meander down streets in new or familiar neighborhoods, I'm constantly keeping my eyes out for the next spot to review, be it a little storefront, a new coffee haunt, or a great new restaurant to tell you all about. Last weekend was no different; while I of course had to spend a good half hour browsing the shelves at Phoenix books even though I've already reviewed it, I poked my head into a few new places, picked up business cards, chatted with the staff, and took mental notes for future posts. Given the choice between Pasta Pomodoro, which you know I love, and a new place, I figured that, just for you, I would try out a place I'd not yet visited so I could give you the scoop. The result? A fantastic dinner at Savor.

Savor is well known for its brunch menu, and as well known for the long wait to enjoy that brunch menu. At four thirty or so on a Friday evening though, there was no line at all, and we were at a table immediately upon arriving. The restaurant is deceptively large; the few tables you can see from the front door are only a small part of the seating area, most of which lies behind the kitchen. One wall is lined with padded benches and throw pillows, behind which hang large paintings depicting ocean scenes and serene pastures. Opposite are several more tables as well as the outdoor dining area, a large wooden patio, the only drawback to which is the fact that it overlooks the adjacent dry cleaners' shop and nail salon. While some of the tables are a bit narrow to maximize seating capacity, there are also several that seat four comfortably, and could be arranged to accommodate larger parties.

We started the meal with their spanikopita appetizer, which came with a generous portion of hummus, pitted kalamata olives, feta cheese, and warm pita bread. Just as we finished, the entrees arrived. My New York Strip was done to perfection, and the mound of garlic mashed potatoes was more than I could even begin to conquer, even if the meal didn't also include steamed seasonal vegetables. My partner decided to try one of their savory crepes - filled with spicy tomatoes, cheese, chicken, and avocado salsa, and topped with sour cream, it was an enormous portion and delivered an incredible mix of flavors. The rosemary potatoes were perfectly seasoned and complemented the meal nicely.

As we were leaving, takeout boxes full of leftovers in hand, a nearby table received their dessert crepe, making me wish I'd saved room - filled to overflowing and topped with mounds of whipped cream, it looked amazing and I'll definitely be back to try it for myself. As for the overall experience, Savor is family friendly, but don't rule it out for date night; the atmosphere is conducive to either a meal out with the kids, or a quiet evening on your own. If you're in Noe Valley and are in search of a delicious, moderately priced dinner, a huge variety of brunch items, or a delectable dessert and glass of wine, Savor delivers the goods all around.

I can pass hours at a time at just about any bookstore, and the number of independent shops here in San Francisco has kept me thoroughly elated for months. Though I'll visit any bookstore, any time, and never walk out empty-handed, when I'm truly on the hunt, I nearly always make my way to Phoenix Books in Noe Valley. With sister stores Dog Eared Books and Red Hill Books, these three make up the most comprehensive selection of new and used books I've found so far.

Approaching the store, I always get sidetracked by the carts of books on the sidewalk. From under-rated to over-loved, the books here are cut to ridiculously low prices, and I can always find at least one treasure among the more laughable titles. From there, content with the knowledge that I've got at least one new book to take home, I head inside for a more luxurious browse through their wares.

I have a book shopping method. I always head to the furthest back, most hidden section, and work my way forward, one shelf at a time. By the time I reach the front of the store, my arms are nearly always laden with science fiction, cookbooks, writings about writing, and at least one title from the new release overstock table. Setting them, and my adult brain, aside, I crouch onto the diminutive wooden chair provided in the nook of children's and young adult titles, mindful of any small patrons who may think it strange to see a twenty-something woman curling up in "their" section. I begin running my finger across the spines of books I know practically by heart. I nod in satisfaction to see The Chronicles of Narnia in their original order, am excited to find a brand new hard cover copy of the Velveteen Rabbit, and send a word of thanks to the recently deceased Madeline L'Engle as I leaf through the familiar pages of A Wrinkle In Time. It is here that I conclude my shopping, my pile of books greatly increased, and head to the counter and the friendly smiles of the Phoenix staff. They ring me up, and though I know I've found some great steals, this is one of the only places that my surprise at the total is due to the amount being lower than I'd expected!

Whether you are on a feverish hunt for a particular title, in need of some inspiration, or you want to reconnect with your childhood through a story that brings you back on the first page, start your search at Phoenix; there's a good chance it will come to a successful end there, every time.