San Francisco is a town for foodies. And every neighborhood hides at least one gem worthy of you stepping away from your chosen neighborhood. In the financial district, Palio d' Asti is that gem you should search out for a taste of Italy and for a venue that encourages you to visit with friends and family.   When it comes to Italian restaurants, as an Italian-American I'm a harsh critic. My lens is filtered through my mom's cooking. I have a certain flavor profile that I expect and that my taste buds crave. So walking into Palio d' Asti to meet Emily, the Jetsetting Fashionista , my expectations were high. Leaving the restaurant later after a filling late lunch, my expectations exceeded, I knew I would return.  

I've been known to buy wine for the labeling, and now I've tried a restaurant based on its curtains. My weakness? Script fonts.     I wasn't expecting to eat lunch at Paprika this week, but the lure of soup and a sandwich pulled me in. I ordered their Lentil Soup with a Reuben on Rye which I had prepared without the Swiss cheese.   The food came quickly. The Lentil Soup was lighter than I was envisioning (I had visions of a stew in my head), with carrot, celery, and parsnip. It was flavorful, but not spicy as you might expect from the name. The Reuben had a good ratio of bread to meat to sauerkraut. I especially like that the rye wasn't over toasted and didn't get soggy from the sauce. I like eating my sandwiches with my hands and hate when I have to resort to a knife and fork because the bread turned to mush. The best part about my lunch? Without tax or tip, it was under $10.     Paprika opened the day before we flew back east to introduce Gates to her pat...

Sometimes the third time really is the charm. After two visits on days they were closed, I finally made it into Wise Sons Deli on 24th Street. Was it worth the wait? Short answer: Yes.     cubes' jury duty had finally ended and he was off for the day. While the office where I work is being painted and recarpeted, I'm working from home in the city, giving us the perfect opportunity to have lunch together. Having tried to eat at Wise Sons on Monday (I always forget that they're closed on Mondays and Tuesdays), I suggested Wise Sons.   It was after 12 when we arrived. They were busy, but the tables turned quickly. We opted to get our food to go. I was originally going to order Pastrami on Rye (my favorite at Saul's) and what I got a taste of at a Street Food Festival this summer. But then their twist on a burger caught my eye. I'm a sucker for a good burger. Their deli burger is ground with pastrami and comes with a beet-horseradish spread, deli mustard, iceberg l...

A couple of weeks ago, cubes and I enjoyed a late lunch of tapas at Esperpento on 22nd in The Mission.     We started off our meal with two glasses of Sangria. We then ordered four tapas to share: Patatas Aioli, Almejas A La Plancha, Ropa Viejo, and Rabo Toro. (To see full size images of the food we ate, visit my Flickr gallery.)   Of the four dishes, I was most excited about the Ropa Viejo. While the flavor was good, the meat itself was overcooked and a little tough. The Rabo Toro was the opposite. The flavor was a little lacking, but the oxtail was perfectly tender and moist. Of the tapas, our favorite was the Almejas A La Plancha; on our next visit to Esperpento, we'll be sure to order two! The Patatas Aioli was also good, but as other reviewers on Yelp have stated ask for the Aioli on the side.   Where do you go for tapas in the city?   Bon Appetit! Eden   Credits: All images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

Lately when I'm not eating hot and sour soup or potstickers, I'm on the hunt for something salty or salty and sweet. With the exception of the chicken strips and french fries, three of my four favorite snacks are actually healthy. Airpopped Popcorn with Olive Oil and Fresh Cracked Pepper and Himalayan Salt Guacamole with Tomatoes on Toasted Sliced Sour Batard Drizzled with Olive Oil and Topped with Fresh Cracked Pepper and Himalayan Salt Water Crackers with Chevre (Pasteurized) Drizzled with Balsamic Vinegar and Topped with Fresh Cracked Pepper and Himalayan Salt Chicken Strips with French Fries and Barbecue Dipping Sauce from Black Bear Diner What did you crave when you were pregnant? Bon Apetit! Eden   Credits: All images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.