Tartine Chocolate Tea Cake by jasonlam from Flickr
Let’s just say that I didn’t go hungry during my recent trip to San Francisco. Between jaunts to La Boulange Bakery on Fillmore Street, A16 on Chestnut Street in the Marina, amazing macaroons from Paulette (‘Lette) in Hayes Valley, I was already a happy traveler. Then, I went to Tartine.
If the title of this blog entry is any indication, one visit to Tartine left me positively smitten. It’s exactly the type of bakery I need to live next door to. Chill yet chic, the interior is very simple, yet being there is a special experience. It’s light and airy, but has a unique buzz and vibe all its own. Oh, and then there’s the food!
Tartine Gougere by wallyg from Flickr
I was lucky to share my first Tartine experience with my dear friend Gabi. Our stop at Tartine was for an afternoon nibble, so we ordered one sweet and one savory option. For savory, we couldn’t resist a gougère, which for those not in the know, is a French cheese puff. While they look humungous at Tartine, they do have air pockets inside, which is actually a good thing. For sweet, I couldn’t resist the lure of a rich, dense chocolate tea cake. When paired with coffee, all I can say is très magnifique!
During my visit, I was also intrigued by the bread ordering system. Apparently, orders must be prepaid and placed three days in advance. At 5:00 p.m., a queue forms outside with people waiting to pick up their bread orders. Adding to this charming process on my visit was a random bout of live music. Apparently, Tartine has live music on occasion, and the sight of people picking up their bread, combined with the musicians playing while sipping rosé transported me back to Europe.
Bustling Tartine Interior by Charles Haynes from Flickr
Oh, and did I mention that the stars aligned and we also managed to bring a half country loaf of Tartine’s famous bread home? Positively. Smitten.
Tartine is located at 600 Guerrero Street in the Mission district of San Francisco, CA