3 Ways to Escape the Fog- Outdoor Date Ideas SF

June 24, 2013/in Date Ideas, SF /by Guest Blogger

It’s now been summer for three days in San Francisco, which anyone will tell you is one of the coldest winters a body could suffer. Many would misquote that timeless Mark Twain witticism that no Bay Area local can walk ten feet without hearing (though unfortunately, he never actually said it), but rather than start off this Monday on an obnoxious note, I’d rather present you with three outdoor date ideas to help you escape the fog and experience some real California sun this summer.

1. Sausalito
Believe it or not, directly across the bridge the fog completely dissipates and leaves you standing overdressed in a sunny seaside village called Sausalito. This is a place for the foodie in you, as many of the restaurants and bars are infamous for their stellar culinary exploits. For some outdoor chillage with great wine and even better food, pick Bar Bocce, whose outdoor patio lets your pasty self absorb all of the vitamin D you can handle whilst sipping excellent cocktails and playing some backyard bocce ball.

2. West Marin
For those of you looking to have a woodland adventure, look no further than West Marin. The region, extending from the sleepy surf town of Fairfax all the way out to Point Reyes and Tamales Bay has some of the most unspoiled natural wonders that Northern California is famous for, from the redwood cathedrals of Samuel P. Taylor park, to the sapphire beaches that are Stinson and Bolinas. If you’ve got a weekend empty of plans, go rent a campsite out at Wildcat Camp at Point Reyes National Seashore— you might be the only ones out there, and the trails and coastline are something that every Bay Area local should see.

3. Berkeley
Another area generally devoid of San Francisco’s wet-coldness in the summertime, Berkeley is an excellent choice when picking a sunny destination with a home-y feel. It has a little something for everyone, boasting a fun and vibrant downtown area and at the same time catering to the outdoors with some of the best rock climbing and outdoor destinations around. My pick is Tilden Lake, where you can go have a barbecue and swim in the sun, and when done, drive five minutes out of the hills and get your fix of good music and good beer on the outdoor patio at Jupiter.

Conquering Post-Christmas Withdrawal with 3 Great Date Ideas in SF

June 21, 2013/in SF /by Guest Blogger

The following article is a guest post, courtesy of Catherine Nguyen

Hey Bagels,
Happy June 25th! For some of you, today is any regular Tuesday, the notorious day-before-hump-day in the long work week. For others, it marks the halfway point in the year until Christmas Eve. While 6 months is a lot of time for the summer heat to get you down, and winter withdrawals to kick in, don’t fret! We got 3 great date ideas in SF for you to check out to celebrate a successful Christmas in the Summer, Aussie-style.
1. Summer Night Lights
Looking to take a romantic stroll down memory lane for overly-decorated homes with Christmas lights & Santa Clauses’? Look no further. Starting at dusk and going until 2 am, the San Francisco Bay Bridge will be lit with 25,000 white LED lights – a project called the Bay Lights. Catch the monumental light sculpture right before sunset with the app, Rise for accurate times on sunrise & sunset so you can get turned on by the Bay Lights when it turns on!

Why wait for this…

…when you can have this now?

2. Decorating Sweets

Got a knack (or a sweet tooth) for decorating gingerbread houses? Channel your inner chef with a romantic, 3-day class on Pastry Fundamentals at SF Cooking School! Learn the science behind pastry making with chocolate-glazed eclairs, fruit turnovers, & Devil’s Food cupcakes – YUM. See what’s bakin’ on July 16-18 @ 6-10pm and reserve your spot now!

Remember when you were going to invite your Bagel over & cook a romantic dinner for her? Do you really know what you’re doing?
Take a cooking class instead & show off your culinary skills with dignity!

If you can’t wait that long, check out Sweetly Sentimental Treats at Black Jet Bakery in South Beach for immediate indulgence & a sweet deal! This bakery knows how to hit the spot, baking only single-serving goodies. With classic treats from organic, local ingredients, Black Jet makes only the best of the best.
Insider tip from our friends @ Sosh: check out the jam-filled turnovers (arguably better than Pop-Tarts) & Devil Dogs (definitely better than Hostess Cakes) pictured below:

Yeah, we weren’t kidding. Look how good these look.

3. In the Rink & On Wheels
Wish you could ice skate your new beau & casually hold hands because you’re “falling”? Why waste time waiting around for the Union Square ice skating rink to return, when you can roller skate with your Bagel every Tuesday night @ Inner Mission’s FunkyTown. Entry is $10 plus a few extra bucks to cover skate rentals — but beer & margaritas are on the house! They also have rental options to go outdoors so you can soak up the summer sun with your Bagel on weekends!

If you’re looking for something on wheels but more scenic than indoor roller skating, try tandem biking around the SF Marina, Golden Gate Park, and across the Golden Gate Bridge with SF Bicycle Rentals, electric biking (for the lazy) with Plugz, and even renting your bike from SF locals via SpinLister, a bike rental marketplace for individuals & bike renting shops!

Look Ma! No feet!!
Electric bikes are the way to go

Best Summer Date Ideas in SF: Art, Food & Music Festivals

June 14, 2013/in SF /by Guest Blogger

The following article is a guest post, courtesy of Catherine Nguyen

Hey CMB,
We’re back with our series on best summer date ideas in your local area! We just covered Chicago in the Midwest, and now we’ll be talking about festivals in SF! Although Coachella is over, festival season is still raging on for the summer! Besides, nothing beats bonding with your Bagel on a hot summer day than with delicious food and local music.
1. Danville Fine Arts Faire – If you’re new to SF and need to decorate your blank apartment walls with some handcrafted goodies, head over to the Danville Faire! About a 40 minute drive from SF, the Danville Faire showcases high quality arts and crafts from local artisans.

What: Danville Fine Arts Faire – arts, crafts, food, music, free admission
Where: Hartz Avenue
When: This weekend! Saturday, June 22 – Sunday, June 23 @ 10am to 5pm

2. Treasure Island Flea Market – Located on Treasure Island for all the right reasons, the TI Flea Market hosts 100+ vendors selling hidden gems and treasures: from antiques, vintage, indie, retro to new & up-cycled goods. Food trucks galore, DIY workshops, scavenger hunts, and rockin’ music.

Treasures for all tastes!

What: Treasure Island Flea Market, $3 admission
Where: Great Lawn and Pavement
When: Saturday, June 29 – Sunday, June 30 @ 10am to 4pm

3. BreastFest – Not in shape to run a marathon to support breast cancer research? No worries; show your support through BreastFeast, a beer festival with, yes, unlimited beer tastings, food samplings and live music. Though tickets are on the pricey side, proceeds will benefit Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic. Drinking beer is always nice, but drinking beer for a cause is always better.

Thankfully BreastFest has unlimited beer offerings so you never reach the bottom of your beer.

What: BreastFest Beer Festival – $50 advance tix, $60 @ door
Where: Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center
When: Saturday, July 13 @ 2-6pm

New to SF-ers: Here are 5 tips for How to have a "Hella good time" in The City

June 10, 2013/in SF /by Guest Blogger

The following article is a guest post, courtesy of Catherine Nguyen

Hey CMBers!
We’re back with our series on how to get plugged into your new city. We recently wrote about NYC, Boston, and Chicago, today we’re focusing on Bagels new to SF. SF was recently described as the most romantic city according to a few love doctors, and we here at CMB agree! Lucky for you single bagels and recent college grads, we came up with the 5 best websites for falling in love in and with SF – from where you live, what you do and wear, and everything else in between.
Apartment Hunting with Apartment List
100+ districts. 49 square miles. Where do you even begin? Apartment List makes apartment hunting easy by consolidating property listings from hundreds of qualified listing services into 1 integrated interface. With unique features to compare properties with friends and potential roommates, and neighborhood metrics like “Walkability” and “Charm” scores, Apartment List makes the nuances of moving to a new city, fun!
P.S. Don’t know where to live in SF? Check out this extensively awesome and comical guide (Part 1, Part 2) from The Bold Italic about district stereotypes and where you will fit in

Unrealistic expectations is a serious side effect of apartment hunting. Hunt with caution with ApartmentList

How to be a Social Butterfly – Sosh
Sosh is a personal concierge and activity recommendation app that curates events specifically tailored to your liking. Craving Italian in North Beach for your next romantic date? Want to take a baking class on how to make french macaroons? Sosh has suggestions for every want and need so you will never be bored in SF.

Evolving from an awkward recent college grad to a full-time working professional can be hard.

One (wo)man’s trash is another (wo)man’s treasure – PoshMark
Remember when you could trade clothes with your roommates, friends, and sisters? Now you can, even if they are halfway around the world from you. Calling all ladies of CMB new to San Francisco, this app is for you. PoshMark allows you to shop the closets of other women around the world, while at the same time selling what you have in your closet. Revamp your fashion & accessories for a fresh new look!

PoshMark feels your pain & is here to help! Shop the closet of women all around the world.

Everything Else SF
The Bold Italic
Subscribe to The Bold Italic, an online magazine for all things San Francisco-related (living, eating, breathing), written and run by real San Francisco locals and writers. From fun posts like 10 Healthy Reasons to Drink Coffee and Sugar Daddies Name SF the Most Romantic City to helpful posts like an interactive San Francisco ‘Hood Guide for new San Franciscans.

7×7
Also run by SF regulars, 7×7 (named for SF’s 49 square miles & now evolved to 7 things to love for 7 days a week) is a city-living magazine with more coverage on fashion, food & entertainment. 7×7 also covers Marin and East Bay (Napa & Sonoma) for those looking for a quick weekend getaway.

Top 10 things to do in SF this summer!

May 29, 2013/in SF /by CMB

It’s the official start of the summer!
Summer is here, and so are we! Perfect time to hang out with friends, soak up some rays and get Bagel’d. We want you to rock as hard as possible, so we put together a Top 10 Things To Do in SF this Summer, Coffee Meets Bagel style.
Download the guide now!

Here is the text version below:
Top 10 Cheap & Fun Things to Do:
1. 34th America’s Cup: Concert starts 5/30; Competition starts 7/4, Marina
San Francisco is hosting the 34th annual America’s Cup this summer! Spectator tickets go for as low as $15. An outdoor concert series kicks off on May 30th with amazing line-ups: Sting, The Jonas Brothers, Sublime, Jason Mraz and more.
2. Free Opera @ AT&T Park: TBD, AT&T Park
Watch a free livestream of the SF Opera at AT&T Park. Guests can sit on the actual field that the Giants play on! The date will be announced soon on the SF opera homepage.
3. Shakespeare in the Park: Sat. & Sunday @ 2pm from 8/31 – 9/15, Main Post Parade Ground Lawn
For the 31st season of Shakespeare in the park, Kenneth Kelleher returns to direct Macbeth. Enjoy the suspenseful plot & thrilling scenes of witchcraft & swordplay in the Bard’s masterpiece for FREE in the company of sun & greens.
4. Stern Grove Festival: Sundays @ 2pm from 6/16 – 8/18, Sigmund Stern Grove Park
This free festival showcases various types of performing arts including ballet, symphony, rock bands, quartets and even opera!
5. Chipotle Festival: 6/8, Golden Gate Park
If you love Chipotle and live music, this is the place for you! Watch celebrity chefs like Michael Chiarello cook different chipotle recipes while rocking out to artists like Mayor Hawthorne & Walk the moon. Best part? It’s completely FREE!
6. Fillmore Jazz Festival: 7/6 – 7/7, Fillmore St. between Jackon & Eddy
Check out the largest FREE jazz festival on the West Coast. Groove to the sound of live jazz from multiple stages while strolling through 12 blocks worth of fine art, crafts and gourmet food & beverages.
7. Off the Grid picnic @ Presidio: Sundays @ 11 am all summer, Main post in the Presidio
Enjoy picnicking in the sun at the Presidio and leave the picnic basket behind! 30+ gourmet food trucks await, so all you have to bring is your stomach!
8. Oakland First Fridays Art Festival: First Fridays @ 5pm all summer, Telegraph Ave. from West Grand to 27th St., Oakland
Every first Friday Oakland’s cultural art community springs to life with galleries, street performers, local artists and, for those with discerning palates, culinary artisans as well. Free and open to everyone!
9. Ferry Building Farmer’s Market: Every Saturday all year around, Ferry building on Embarcadero
Come to the Ferry Building for a breathtaking view of the Bay Bridge and to check out assortment of artisan shops and the 30+ food trucks and local producers that line up outside. This is a year around event and every local knows about it but it’s a perfect way to spend your Saturday during the summer we just had to include it.
10. Outsidelands: 8/9 – 8/11, Golden Gate Park
So this one is kind of expensive; but it’s such an awesome event and is internationally renowned, so we thought what the hell, you can afford to splurge once. The lineup features Red Hot Chili Peppers, Hall and Oates, Paul McCartney and many more of your favorite bands

Top 10 Summer Bars in SF: Drinking under the Sun & Stars
1. Zeitgeist: 199 Valencia St., Mission / Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 2,048 reviews
Have you ever picnicked at a bar? Here’s your chance. Features an enormous outdoor patio, picnic tables & a BBQ grill! Try the house bloody mary.
2. El Rio: 3158 Mission St., Mission / Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 523 reviews
Everything you need for a fun summer night: outdoor patio, cheap oysters & margaritas, live music & free dance lessons!
3. Jones: 620 Jones, Tenderloin / Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 545 reviews
Swing by this awesome rooftop bar for an amazing view of the city.
4. Tipsy Pig: 2231 Chestnut St., Marina/ Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 869 reviews
Nice gastropub with a spacious backyard patio and a large & eclectic beer selection! Pair a beer with one of their famous salted pretzels and a side of their amazing bacon cheese sauce dip.
5. Biergarten: 424 Octavia St., Hayes Valley / Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 180 reviews
Summer in a pint glass. An old school Beer Garden with a superb beer selection. The line can get outrageous so be there early or on the later side. Opens at 3 pm.
6. Water Bar: 399 The Embarcadero South, Embarcadero / Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 1,275 reviews
Who can say no to $1 oysters? Oyster HH is everyday from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm. Sit outside, order a glass of wine, a dozen of oysters and enjoy the view of the SF Bay.
7. Fat Angel: 1740 O’Farrell St., Western Addition/ Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 430 reviews
Romantic nook with an impressive selection of wine, beer and delectable charcuterie plates. Come early & sit outside!
8. Bazaar Cafe: 5927 California St., Outer Richmond / Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 207 reviews
In the mood for drinks under the stars? Then take a seat on the patio. Live music & good food, open day and night.
9. The Ramp: 855 Terry Francois St., Dogpatch / Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 622 reviews
It’s SF’s worst kept secret but we couldn’t resist including it on the list. In the far, far away land of Dogpatch lies the perfect waterside bar where you can lounge all day in the sun with a nice beer, and admire the amazing view of the sea.
10. BIG: 761 Post St., Tenderloin / Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 94 reviews
Of course we have to include at least one mixology place. Dark indoor bar but crazy good cocktails. Tell the mixologist your favorite booze, ingredient, and style and they’ll whip up something amazing.

Top 10 Summer Restaurants in SF: Al Fresco Dining
1. Zazie: 941 Cole St., Cole Valley / Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 2,133 reviews
Friendly, neighborhood French Bistro with the coziest garden patio. Staff will treat you like family. Seating outside is first come first serve so be sure to come early!
2. Arlequin: 384 Hayes St., Hayes Valley / Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 420 reviews
A cafe with a leafy, community garden in the back. It’s like having lunch in Hobbit Town. Try their reuben, it’s amazing.
3. Devil’s Teeth Baking Company: 3876 Noriega St., Sunset / Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 429 reviews
Order any sandwich (they make the bread in house) on the menu (Beignets on Sundays!) and walk over to the beach. EVERYTHING here is amazing.
4. The Plant Cafe Organic: Embarcadero Pier 3, Embarcadero / Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 567 reviews
Sit in the outdoor area, soak in the view of the Bay Bridge and treat your taste buds to the healthy Californian food made from the freshest local produce.
5. Skool: 1725 Alameda St., Potrero Hill / Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 567 reviews
Uni flan anyone? Hidden behind The SF Design Center, Skool offers creative seafood, a large dining terrace and a modern, industrial atmosphere.
6. Cafe Divine: 1600 Stockton St., North Beach / Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 469 reviews
Tables overlooking Washington Square Park, great food, and live classical music. Each day showcases a different instrument (accordion, bass, piano, acoustic guitar) so be sure to check their homepage before going.
7. Cafe Flore: 2298 Market St., Duboce / Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 652 reviews
Lush, green outside patio serves as an oasis from the busy streets of Duboce triangle. Order a simple soup, sandwich & soak up the sun on the patio.
8. Aracely Restaurants: 1201 8th St., SOMA / Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ 13 reviews
Axis Café was reborn as Aracely early this year. 3 stars and few reviews but give it a chance! Why? Here’s one reason: bottomless mimosas on a gorgeous patio on a sunny day! Wait, is that three reasons? Who cares, just go!
9. American Grilled Cheese Kitchen: 1 S. Park Ave., SOMA / Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 956 reviews
Outdoor seating + crazy varieties of grilled cheese sandwiches (try the mac n cheese one!) + awesome happy hour = Summer Heaven (Tip: Avoid game days if you don’t want to wait forever).
10. Brenda’s French Soul Food: 652 Polk St., Tenderloin / Yelp: ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 3,602 reviews
So this one is not an Al fresco dining place. BUT! It’s the best Cajun food in town and it has the most watermelon iced tea that will help you cool off the summer! Try their collection of both savory & sweet beignets (crayfish, plain, chocolate and apple) – to die for.

Great Date Ideas: SFMOMA Closing Party

May 29, 2013/in SF /by CMB

Hey Bagels!

Come start your weekend, and your summer, early at the SFMOMA Closing Party starting Thursday. This is the last chance to check out the museum before it paves way for the new SFMOMA. This is your chance to show off your artsy side to your Bagel so don’t miss this great date idea!

SFMOMA’s Modern Ball Museum Party – they know how to party!

WHAT: SFMOMA Celebration Countdown
WHERE: 151 Third Street (between Mission & Howard)
WHEN: Thursday 5/30 to Sunday 6/2

Why should you check it out?

Sangria Bar & Local DJ’s @ Countdown Celebration Kick Off Party: Relax from a long day at work on Thursday evening with music and booze, plus fun activities such as a featured gaming pc lounge and t-shirt screen printing.
Off the Grid will be there with food trucks like Me So Hungry, Tres Truck, Fiveten Burger and more.
24 Hour Movie?!? If you have ever wanted to spend an entire day watching TV and still be ‘cultured,’ now’s your chance! “The Clock” will be playing on six separate screens. It’s expected to be popular so get there early, and no, you don’t have to stay for the whole thing! Check their twitter for wait times and updates: @TheClockSFMOMA

This is a great summer date idea to get to know other SF locals – its free, casual, and artsy!

Best summer date idea in SF – Cinco de Mayo Pub Crawl

May 2, 2013/in SF /by CMB

Hey Bagels, we’ve been searching for some fun date ideas for you guys this Cinco de Mayo weekend and came up with two of our favorites!
Yes it’s true that few people know the real meaning of Cinco de Mayo, but what we all do know is that it is a great excuse to have a good time.
WHAT: Cinco de Mayo Festival
WHERE: Dolores Park
WHEN: May 5th 10-6pm
3 Reasons to Check it Out

Free FREE Free!
Culture– watch live Mexican and Latin American music and dance performances. See if your Bagel really is up for anything and ask them to dance some mariachi on the grass!
Art & Food– everyone knows the Mission for having great food but it’s even better when there’s great art to go along with it

We hope you Bagels get a chance to enjoy this free date idea and maybe learn some new dance moves too.

Fun Date Ideas #2

For all you Bagels that want something a little more rowdy for Cinco de Mayo, we recommend you check out the famous Cinco de Mayo Pub Crawl.
WHAT: Cinco de Mayo Pub Crawl
WHERE: Meet at Extreme Pizza 1980 Union Street: Bars are on Union & Market Street
WHEN: May 4: 5-9pm & May 5: 12-6pm; Buy tickets ahead of time
3 Reasons to Check it Out

Sombreros & Mustaches- enough said
Great Deals– 2 for 1 drink specials, $4 margs and tequila shots, $2 Dos Equis. Tickets $10 for bar entry both Saturday & Sunday, or you and your Bagel can each invite a friend and get a 4 person pack for $15!
Worry Free- This crawl maps out all the bars for you so you don’t have to worry about where to go next. If you get bored of the bar you’re at, move on to the next one for more great deals!

What a great way to have fun with your Bagel by keeping it casual and fun. This stress free inexpensive date is perfect way to have fun with your bagel and meet people in SF.
Content By: @SurprenantK

Fun Date Ideas: SF- Earth Day 4/20

April 19, 2013/in Date Ideas, SF /by CMB

We figure since we’re in SF and looking for things to do, we might as well share some of our fun date ideas with you. First up- Happy Earth Day!
If you aren’t planning on spending this 4/20 on Hippie Hill why not head down to the Civic Center for the SF Earth Day festival!
WHAT: Earth Day SF– Free Festival at Civic Center
WHEN: Sat. 4/20 from 10-6pm
WHERE: Civic Center Plaza
3 Reasons to Check it Out

It’s free!- who doesn’t love free things?
Lots to do– you and your Bagel won’t get bored or run out of things to talk about because there’s so much to see and do.
What to do: watch live music all day, attend an Eco-Fashion show, take a free yoga class, make some DIY projects and a ton more.
Good Food– grub on some delicious organic food while you listen to some great tunes.

p.s. you might even see us there listening to some free music and hopefully enjoying the sun!
Content by: @SurprenantK

SF Food Truck Series Part III: Little Green Cyclo

March 27, 2013/in SF /by CMB

Our last installation of Coffee Meets Bagel’s mission to find all you Bagels a fun and unique date idea has finally arrived! Our last stop was Little Green Cyclo, where you can get an amazing Vietnamese meal made from the freshest ingredients!

Name:Little Green Cyclo

Cuisine: Vietnamese

Location(s):

Marina Green @ Scott St & Marina Boulevard

Market between 7th & 8th Street

5th and Minna Street

Background: Little Green Cyclo is a Vietnamese food truck started by Chef Quynh Nguyen, Monica Wong, and Susie Pham who’s main purpose is to support local business, be eco-friendly and cook with the best ingredients possible. Their hard work and dedication to quality food has earned them the #1 Bay Area Food Truck in the Chase Sapphire’s 2011 Eaters’ Choice Awards.

Little Green Cyclo is inspired by the famous Vietnamese street food. The inspiration is apparent in their name, cyclo, referring to the three-wheeled rickshaw vehicle that sells banh mis on the streets of Vietnam.

Garlic Noodles ($8): We ordered the famous garlic noodles cooked with green onion oil. This is one of the most popular dishes on the menu. I can definitely tell why, the noodles were a little chewy and enhanced with an abundance of flavor from the crispy peanut bits and the zesty scallions!

Masami Free Range Lemongrass Grilled Park Banh Mi ($7): We felt obligated to order a banh mi sandwich since this is the staple meal of the menu. A banh mi is a famous Vietnamese sandwich that consists of pickled carrots & daikon, cucumbers, jalapenos, cilantro, mayo and soy sauce all squished between a big French baguette. I’m a personal fan of all things banh mi and Little Green Cyclo did an awesome job! I liked it because it was a hefty sized sandwich that was filled to the brim with all their organic fixings. Banh mis are a great mixture of sour, sweet and spicy!

Thai Iced Tea ($3): Don’t forget to order the thai iced tea! It’s a sweet and refreshing way to cool yourself on a nice sunny San Francisco day!

Make sure to check out the Little Green Cyclo website to look up their food truck schedule. Locations spanning all the way to the East Bay.

Or for your convenience, just follow them on Twitter! @lilgreencyclo

Thanks Susie and the rest of the staff at Little Green Cyclo for feeding us your amazing Vietnamese cuisine!

SF Food Truck Series Part II: Curry Up Now

March 19, 2013/in SF, Uncategorized /by CMB

As a recap, Coffee Meets Bagel is touring all over San Francisco to find the best food trucks in order to get you Bagels excited for a new date idea!
Continuing our fantastic journey through the world of San Francisco Food Trucks, Coffee Meets Bagel ventured out to Curry Up Now; a food truck that shares all the wonderful spices and flavors of Indian street food to the people of the Bay Area.

Name: Curry Up Now
Cuisine: Indian
Location(s):
659 Valencia St., San Francisco
321 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto
129 South B St., San Mateo
Background: Inspired by the foods he grew up eating on the streets of India, Akash Kapoor, started Curry Up Now in 2006. His menu is inspired by the vibrant flavors from various regions of India including Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi, Chowpatty and Mumbai. Curry Up Now has launched into a successful company ranging from a selection of trucks and most recently, restaurants!

We decided to try out the newly opened restaurant, located on 659 Valencia Street. It has all the same cuisine as the food trucks but in a more hip and relaxed atmosphere. It was really sleek and modern with plenty of seating and an extensive menu. The menu was a piece of artwork, showcasing all the unique dishes Curry Up Now has to offer! And no fret, if you’re vegan or gluten-free, Curry Up Now definitely has something for you!

The menu was so enticing that we couldn’t help but order a feast!
1. Sexy Fries with Paneer ($6): The orange dish to the left are the “sexy fries” consisting of criss-cut sweet potato fries topped with cheese and onions and your choice of protein. We, here at Coffee Meets Bagel, are always up for trying something new, so we went ahead and chose the paneer. Paneer is a popular type of cheese originating from the regions of India. The sexy fries were absolutely wonderful; it was a sweet and creamy dish that just melted in your mouth!
2. The Naughty Naan ($9): Rotating clock-wise, we reach the naughty naan, a fun take on India’s famous Naan bread. They call it an “open-faced” sandwich topped with tikka masala, cheese, greens, onions and some shaved jalapeno for an extra kick. This was our favorite dish out of the three. It was crispy and flavorful due to the sweet tikka masala sauce that smothered the bread. The jalapenos made it slightly spicy but the fresh greens balanced out the heat.
3. Deconstructed Samosa ($7): The last dish was the deconstructed samosa. A samosa is an Indian pastry that includes some type of savory filling. This particular dish is a “deconstructed samosa” where the pastry is on the bottom and filled with garbanzo beans, pico & chutneys. To make it even better, the dish was topped with cute little samosas on the side! Akash told us this is his favorite dish on the menu. It’s no wonder why, the textures were amazing! We loved the crunch from the garbanzo beans and the nice flaky pastry at the bottom.
4. Mango Lassi ($3): Don’t forget to order their mango lassi! This is a famous drink from India, it’s basically a frothy mango beverage that is both sweet and refreshing.

Don’t forget to tip ‘em!
Make sure to check out the Curry Up Now website to look up their food truck schedule. They serve up all over the bay area, even reaching out to Stanford in Palo Alto!
Or for your convenience, just follow them on Twitter! @CurryUpNow
Thanks Akash and the rest of the staff at Curry Up Now for fulfilling our Indian Street Food Craving!
Write-up: @gabydomingo
Images: @SurprenantK

3 Ways to Escape the Fog- Outdoor Date Ideas SF

Conquering Post-Christmas Withdrawal with 3 Great Date Ideas in SF

Best Summer Date Ideas in SF: Art, Food & Music Festivals

New to SF-ers: Here are 5 tips for How to have a "Hella good time" in The City

Top 10 things to do in SF this summer!

Best summer date idea in SF – Cinco de Mayo Pub Crawl

Fun Date Ideas #2

Fun Date Ideas: SF- Earth Day 4/20

SF Food Truck Series Part III: Little Green Cyclo

SF Food Truck Series Part II: Curry Up Now

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