What a crazy summer. It’s almost over and I feel like I barely hit the swimming pool since Hawaii. Maybe that’s because I have been traveling so much. One of my most favorite trips was to San Francisco. I chose the relatively new Fairmont Heritage Place Ghirardelli Square because each room is an apartment with a full-on kitchen. HIgh end appliances and even a wine refrigerator make it a perfect place to put on a cocktail doo. And an extra bonus is they have a driver in a Lamborghini who took us shopping. Such fun. 

I have lots of friends in the bay area and so the cocktail party was the perfect way to entertain. My generous friends brought along some wonderful wine. I had always had a wish to be able to market at the Ferry Building and then cook up a meal. I decided to make it easy on myself so I put together a fabulous tapas platter from Cow Girl Creamery, breads from Acme Bakery and made up a platter of ceviche along with some yummy figs wrapped in proscuitto and drizzled with home made Meyer Lemon Balsamic glaze. 

In addition to shopping at The Ferry Building I visited one of the oldest Italian delis in San Francisco called Lucca on nearby Chestnut street where I filled in the menu with some of their homemade goodies.

Watching the sunset over the San Francisco bay with a glass of wine in my hand and friends chatting away was truly the highlight of my weekend trip. And to top it off we all went for hot fudge sundaes next door at the Ghirardelli ice cream shop for dessert. Consider staying at this more modern cousin of the original Fairmont hotel. You can be a local for the weekend and find out what it’s like to live in this “foodie” destination.