Baker Street Bistro

Where the best Pain Perdu still presides…



http://www.bakerstreetbistro.com/


I went back to Baker Street Bistro ~ over in Cow Hollow*/the Marina ~ for my first (and I am sure it will not be my last) breakfast there this year. I sat outside (and was the only idiot doing it for a while until more folks showed up a little later); it was still a bit cool this morning, but the Sun was out ~ and it's the law out here in California: if the Sun is shining brightly you have to dine al fresco, Al. It did warm up nicely while I was sitting there eating, anyway.

When I first arrived this morning, I did not see any but heard some of the Wild Parrots of San Francisco across the street from the restaurant; it sounded like they might roost in the backyard of one of the houses in the neighborhood. (Mark Bittner, did you buy a house in Cow Hollow?) After breakfast, I did wander over to the Presidio** (I was parked just a block from the Lombard Gate, anyway) and did get to see some (about 6-7) Parrots flying around and in the large Eucalyptus trees where they roost, in the small park across the street from Liverpool Lil's***. It's interesting to note that neither the Parrots nor the Eucalyptus trees are indigenous to California; plus, Eucalyptus trees are not indigenous to Central America either. The Parrots seem to like these trees as they are pretty high off the ground for safety; and, as such, I really didn't get any good photos of them this morning to add with this post.

Seeing as this was my first visit this year to Baker Street Bistro, I had to order the Pain Perdu again, Frank. With a side o' home fries and a cuppa good, strong, black coffee. The Pain Perdu comes with a side of fruit salad/fresh fruits; today's fresh fruits were: oranges, pineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe, and apple. Now I could go on and on and on and on, anon… about how great this breakfast truly is, but I have raved about it here before (see 'blog entry from April 17th, 2010) and will just let this picture say my 1,000 words for me:



On the home fries, I used some of my own hot sauce, Trees Can't Dance ~ Tree Fire Sauce (Thanks again, Cindy and Greg!); the Pain Perdu was just fine as it was (if I had only had some ketchup, Moe!). This is a pretty nicely flavoured hot sauce from England. The ingredients are: Vinegar - 48%, Water, Chillies (not my normal spelling of this word, but it seems to be the preferred Britishlander spelling) - 14%, Onion - 14%, Sugar, Spices, Fresh lemon juice, Fresh lime juice, Honey - less than 1%, Garlic, Mexican oregano (which I assume means cilantro) - less than 1%. I forgot my little portable McCormack® pepper mill/grinder and really should have brought it as I also forgot that Baker Street Bistro only has shakers with the fine powder black pepper ~ good for sneezing, but not as much fun on potatoes.

Today I performed another premeditated "Pay-It-Forward" random act of foolishness. While I was sitting outside, a group of four people were trying to decide whether to eat there or not. I happened to mention that Baker Street Bistro has the best Pain Perdu ~ not just in San Francisco, but possibly the entire U.S. of A ~ and some very good Eggs Benedict dishes. The four of them decided to try the restaurant out (it may not have been due to my recommendations, but more than likely in spite of my insistence on the Pain Perdu). A couple of women sitting a few tables away overhearing me also asked me what I would suggest. I stressed both the Pain Perdu and Oeufs Baker Street Bistro (a Benedict-style dish with poached eggs, ratatouille, and a tomato-based sauce instead of the typical Nederlander sauce ~ see my 'blog-put from September 25th, 2010 for more on this particular treat). However, neither one of them got either of my two favourites. Pity. I was fully planning on paying for their meals behind their backs. Instead, the next couple that sat down outside happened to order Oeufs Baker Street Bistro (entirely without any kibitzing from me) and as the guy was wearing a Boston Red Sox cap, I paid for both of their meals without their knowing it.

The moral(?) of this story: when I suggest the Pain Perdu or Oeufs Baker Street Bistro, order one of those (or just be a fan of the Boston Red Sox)… you might just get un petit déjeuner gratuit.


Glen Bacon Scale Rating: Pain Perdu ~ 8.2; Boston Red Sox ~ 8.5


*(Why Cow Hollow, you ask? Or even if you didn't ask, I'm telling you anyway. This from Wikipedia:

"Cow Hollow is a generally affluent neighborhood located between Russian Hill and the Presidio, and bordering the Marina on one side and Pacific Heights on the other. The land was used for cow grazing (as its name would imply) and a settlement for fishermen (the coast line was much closer to this area than it is now). The main shopping thoroughfare is Union Street, known for its restaurants, boutique shopping, health spas and wellness centers.")

**(Boring cunning linguist tit-bit and history lesson for the day:

The word Presidio in Spanish is a garrisoned fort or military post. It comes from the Latin word Præsidium ~ guard, garrison, post; literally, defense, protection. See Preside.

The Presidio of San Francisco ~ or El Presidio Real de San Francisco as it was known in Spanish ~ is another nice neighborhood of San Francisco, located at the northernmost point of the peninsula. It started out in 1776 ~ That's the spirit!~ as a Spanish military center. For years it was owned and operated by the U.S. Military/Army, and since 1994 has been part of the National Park Service/Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Maybe if Hollywoodland would film more movies in this neighborhood, we may forget that Meg Ryan was once a cute up-and-coming young actress and not the aging, puffy-lipped, adulterer that she is today.

Coincidentally, the Presidio Real de San Carlos de Monterey, founded in 1770, currently houses the Defense Language Institute/DLI in Monterey, California. This is the main learning center for many future cunning linguists… and perverted spies alike.)

***(I really should check out Liverpool Lil's again for breakfast; however, I was a little disappointed the last time that I ate there that they do not really offer a Full English Breakfast ~ see 'blog entry from January 1st, 2011 ~ on their menu. Someone needs to inform Sir Paul of this neglect right away and have their name revoked. I mean Lillian would never stand for such an oversight, right?)