Summer might be over, but there’s one cold treat that San Franciscans will still be queuing in line for long after the rays are gone and it’s Bi-Rite Creamery‘s ice cream.

Considered by many locals to be the city’s best ice cream shop, Bi-Rite Creamery sits on an enviable corner, right across from Dolores Park in the Mission district. Whether they come for the original and delectable flavors or the local and mostly organic ingredients (Bi-Rite exclusively uses products from Straus Creamery just 45 miles north of SF to make its ice cream), the never-ending crowds certainly make it look worth the wait.

A giant illuminated ice cream cone shows the way to frozen nirvana while a red rope neatly contains the hungry crowd. With a neon sign outside the shop, passersby could easily mistake it for a hip night club…

Take home treats line the shelves and refrigerator, and some inside seating allows for an all-seasons comfortable enjoyment, though nothing quite beats taking your cone for a stroll in the nearby park.

Not your usual flavors…and that’s perfectly fine!

I opted for a savory and audacious selection, on the left, having skipped dinner that night for the occasion. My pick of Olive Oil, Basil, and Honey Lavender was a marriage made in heaven and possibly the closest one could get to figuratively getting a mouthful of Provence. I stopped and wonder for a second if I couldn’t get all my future meals delivered in this form, but that would be silly! Not the most colorful of trio but knowing no artificial colorant had made it into the mixture wins big points with me and probably most of the other aficionados. My friend went for a much more eye pleasing duo of Balsamic Strawberry and Fresh Cream – equally divine – missing only a glass of rosé to bring us back to a summer in France…

No visit of mine to the Bay area would have been complete without a meal at one of Thomas Keller’s (of French Laundry) delightful restaurants so I was thrilled to learn my friend had booked us a table at his latest ‘Ad Hoc‘ on Saturday night.

After a day of hiking in the valley and a light wine tasting session at a charming vintners collective (see ‘Ma(i)sonry – Napa Valley’ post), we were ready for a filling and comforting meal Mr. Keller is famous for.

The experience was fantastic, especially for someone who thrills on surprises like I do! At Ad Hoc, you don’t get to order. Instead, you’re served a 4 course family style menu that changes every day, accompanied by a small, accessible wine list in a casual setting, much like at home – convivial and oh so enjoyable!

Endive and green leaves salad – yellow peaches, gorgonzola crumbles, toasted hazelnuts, shaved cipollini onions, tondo balsamic vinaigrette. Simple yet still pretty tasty, it left us hungry for more!

Heirloom tomato salad – dungeness crab, marinated cucumbers, avocado mousse. Great combo, I still remember the exquisite taste of the crab mixed with the avocado mousse, light but unctuous at the same time…

Grilled beef short ribs – garden squash, charred sweet onions, fingerling potatoes, peppered beef jus. Oh…dear…I think everyone at the table rolled their eyes in ecstasy when we took our first bite into the ribs, realizing with delight the multitude of fat layers melting into our mouth. These have got to be the best tasting ribs I’ve ever had! For this reason, I can’t even speak of the side vegetables, not remembering if I’ve had any in this blurry memory of meat heaven…

Heublumen – mushroom conserva, puff pastry. I was still salivating on the ribs, and pretty full by then, so this cheese plate went a bit unnoticed… I did quite enjoy the perfectly grilled mushrooms but the puff pastry was a bit too much at this stage.

Peanut Butter Bars – concord grape sorbet. How else would you end such an Americana family style meal then with Keller’s take on a homemade peanut butter cup? My only regret is to have not been able to start the meal with it, as my full belly could barely fit one tiny bite of this uber-rich dessert at the end of the meal. Portions were a tad too big, who can actually ingest such a quantity of peanut butter, which tasted so good it must have been whipped with even more butter and salt?…I know, a lot of you apparently!

Ad Hoc is comfort food at its finest in a warm and casual atmosphere…definitely makes it into my ‘go-to’ places in the Bay Area. Plus, knowing you’ll never be served the same thing twice means I’ll surely be revisiting…they do serve brunch also, fyi!

I’m all for multi-tasking, especially when it involves admiring work of arts and shopping for antiques and home furnishings all the while tasting some pretty decent wine.

That’s exactly what Ma(i)sonry in Yountville, Napa Valley, has accomplished with its fine art, design, and wine tasting gallery.

A 1904 stone building on the National Register of Historic Places, the former farmer abode and seven-bedroom Inn has been renovated to house three private tasting rooms, two gallery rooms and outdoor gardens, providing an idyllic setting for a cultured wine tasting tour.

Owner Michael Polenske (who founded the nearby cult winery Blackbird Vineyards) has curated a selection of antique, vintage, and contemporary pieces that fit together surprisingly well.

All the furniture, art, and accessories are for sale, though most of them come with a hefty price tag ($7,000 chandelier anyone?).

I think I could seriously live here…

Outdoors, redwood dining tables can accommodate dinner parties underneath centuries-old olive trees. We kicked back on a massive wood table with a flight of Blackbird Vineyards wines in the middle of this artsy oasis.

A bust of Einstein greets the visitors at the entrance of the courtyard and sculpture garden.

Tasting flights range from $15 to $35 per person, featuring different vintages or types of wines. What I love about Ma(i)sonry is that, being a wine collective, they feature various smaller producers and boutique wines you would have a hard time finding anywhere else… guess it adds to the overall perfectly curated feel of the place!

Don’t miss this vintners’ collective on your next visit to Napa for a unique lifestyle experience in wine country.

My sweet tooth is always on the look-out for great bakeries when I’m traveling and this time I had the pleasure of stumbling upon Sweetie Pies in Napa for an afternoon coffee break.

Located on Main Street in an historic red brick building, the popular bakery specialises in retro treats, offering mouth-watering woopie pies, cinnamon-spiced morning buns, pumpkin pies, cheesecakes, etc. They also have a breakfast and lunch menu and make specialty cakes (birthdays, weddings).

Wonderful assortment of chilled pastries.

The baked goods section is overflowing with American favorites with a twist. We settled on a lavender shortbread and lemon cream sandwich cookie with our latte, a delightful snack we enjoyed while people-watching on the sidewalk tables.

I’m not surprised that this is one of the locals’ favorite breakfast and sweets shop. The homey style of baking, the mismatched antiques filling the cafe/shop, the large communal-style tables as much as the whimsical artwork would bring a smile to all ages.