Nestled between SoMa, the Mission, and Potrero (Somisspo!), Source is a vegetarian (and vegan-friendly) restaurant offering not only a varied organic menu, but also a host of mood-enhancing and body-healing atmospheric elements.

The feng shui'ed space will feature a waterfall, custom-designed music, a special lighting system, purified air, and heated patio.

The menu will be seasonal and organic offering dishes from a wide range of cuisines. The food menu is about 60% vegan, with the only non-vegan ingredients in the kitchen being honey (used in some drinks) and cheese. Many dishes do include cheese, but they are easily veganizable. And the desserts are ALL vegan! Banana Chocolate Pie anyone?

Everything on the (reasonably-priced) food menu sounds delicious, but these stick out as particularly intriguing:

Peking Quack [faux duck] sandwich w/ soy quack, cucumber, avocado, scallions, and black sesame hoisin sauce

Crisp [dairy and fish-free] Caesar Salad with tamarind caesar dressing and sliced crispy pinole strips

Country Shepherds Pie with moo [faux beef], assorted fresh vegetables, caramelized & toasted onion, and mashed potatoes

[raw and gluten-free] Pecan Date Cream Roll

When asked about the reason for choosing onomatopoeias for the faux meat names, owner Andrew Fox replied, "We are using the animal sounds to name the foods so that no one is offended. [Also], the sounds of the animals are their voices thanking us for saving their lives." The faux meats are not made in-house yet, but will be in the future.

The extensive menu also offers pizzas, burgers, and dosas and they will offer a whole elixer and smoothie menu, raw options, and filtered ionized water.

My hope is that they will venture into offering vegan cheeses for their dishes. While the option to veganize is lovely, it would be nice not to have to subtract ingredients and instead be able to replace them with something equally delicious. I know I tend to challenge restaurants with this request, but nut cheeses and creams are a delicious alternative that more and more restaurants are embracing (like Gather, Gracias Madre, and Gratitude). They do offer cashew mayo and embrace raw food, so I'm hoping cashew cheese is not far off? And since the intention in their faux meat names is to acknowledge the saving of animals, a move away from dairy would acknowledge the fact that the meat and dairy industry are inherently connected.

Source looks to be an exciting addition to the vegetarian family of restaurants in the Bay Area. With it's wide range of culinary options, unique design elements, and welcoming spirit, it's sure to fulfill you mind, belly, and soul.

Source opens for dinner today, Wednesday, March 9, at 5pm. Beginning Thursday, March 10, it will be open 11am-3pm for lunch and 5pm-10pm for dinner. They will have a happy hour at 5pm on Thursday, serving elixirs, teas, coffee, dessert and some lunch and dinner fare. They will start serving brunch on Saturdays and Sundays in two weeks. (Always excited for more vegan brunch options in the Bay Area!)

Source
Open 7 days a week, 11am to 3pm for lunch, 5pm to 10pm for dinner
11 Division Street (at the corner of Division St and De Haro St, between King St and Berry St)
San Francisco, CA
415-864-9000
info@source-sf.com

It's the weekend. You rolled out of bed craving something good. It's been a long week, you've been working hard, and you deserve some carbs that have been slathered in butter and griddled. And bacon. Definitely some bacon. The answer is, obviously, brunch.

Orson has been my go-to weekend indulgence ever since they started their brunch service months ago. This industrial-chic space is well known for its nighttime vibe, but in the light of day, the modern, artsy décor translates well. With one of the most well-composed brunch offerings I've seen in awhile, it won't be a neighborhood secret for long.

True to form, executive chef Elizabeth Falkner has put together a stellar menu that features comforting classics, amped up with gourmet ingredients, nuanced flavors, and out-of-the-box combinations.

Blueberry and Thyme Monte Cristo

Cue: Blueberry and Thyme Monte Cristo with House-made Breakfast Sausage. Love at first sight. This sandwich makes all other sandwiches pale in comparison. It will make you go weak in the knees and will haunt your dreams for days months after.

It's savory, it's sweet, it has melty cheese, and powdered sugar. What else could you ask for? Nothing. But Orson gives it to you anyway, like flowers, just because. The entire dish is like a big game of call-and-answer. The blueberry compote calls, and the French toast answers. The cave-aged Gruyere calls, and the Canadian bacon answers. A touch of thyme whispers aromatic notes to the house-made breakfast sausage, and staccato slices of pickled red onion keep it fresh amongst all that richness.

To my disbelief and heartbreak, I recently returned to Orson and discovered that the Monte Cristo had been taken off the brunch menu. Nooooooooo!! Just when we had found each other! The menu changes frequently depending on seasonality and the market, and I saw that a handful of other items had also been cycled out:

Fried Chicken Sandwich with Pickled Red Onion and Spicy Sesame Aioli, on a Parmesan Bun

Eggs in Brioche with Duck & Pistachio Sausage, Fava Bean Pesto, and a Shower of Pecorino

Orson Burger with House-made Steak Sauce, Cobb Relish and Truffle Mayonnaise, on a Parmesan Bun

Despondent and stricken with grief, I considered drowning myself in $10 bottomless mimosas and making friends with The Mary's.

The 7 Sisters

I was consoled by the sight of ol' faithful, the Pastrami Sandwich.

House-cured Pastrami Sandwich

Rightfully lauded as one of the best sandwiches in the city by the likes of San Francisco Magazine, SF Weekly, and the Wall Street Journal, just to name a few, Orson's House-cured Pastrami Sandwich with Cave-aged Gruyere and Russian dressing, on Sourdough Rye is all that it's cracked up to be. Katz's has nothin' on this bad boy (sorry NY, it's true).

The beef brisket is cured in-house with chili flakes and caraway, cold-smoked, then slowly steamed. The sourdough rye is baked in-house, and griddled to crispy, buttery decadence. And, needless to say, melted Gruyere and Russian dressing make any sandwich a winner in my book. Served with a side of Duck Fat French Fries (or salad), if you're going for the glory, be sure to ask for the Brown Butter Bernaise dipping sauce, the stuff is like crack.

This sandwich is no joke -- you can easily split it between two people. If you're going to risk finishing it by yourself, be responsible and plan not to do anything that requires heavy brain function or operation of motor vehicles directly afterwards. A food coma and belabored heart is pretty much guaranteed.

House-made Bacon with Cane Syrup

Speaking of heart trouble, the Extra Thick Cut House-made Bacon with Cane Syrup is one of the most obscene displays of porcine glory I've ever seen. It's more like bacon steak. It's ridiculous. Please share it. Half of one strip is usually enough to satisfy my bacon craving for the day.

French Toast with Peaches, Lavender, and Whipped Brown Sugar Butter

The good thing about a restaurant that changes up the menu regularly is that you get to enjoy the bounty of what's in season. The French Toast on the menu is a sure bet here, expect a big portion and seasonal flavors. This summery take featured juicy white peaches, lavender, and whipped brown sugar butter on top of thick slices of homemade milk bread that had been soaked in egg batter overnight. Solid.

Eggs Benedict

Not so solid were the Eggs Benedict. Our server warned us that the Eggs Benedict were like none we had ever encountered. She actually used the word, “gnarly,” which I should have taken as a warning. She said it was rich (the hollandaise is made with bacon fat), but I thought, well yeah, any eggs benedict is rich…I was up for the challenge and went for it.

The order came out, and our waitress was right. Like nothing I have ever seen. The sous vide poached eggs and boudin blanc were floating in a swamp of creamed corn and scallion hollandaise sauce. Pieces of basil biscuits were buried beneath. Rich was an understatement. This monster was rich on rich. The boudin blanc and the biscuits had good flavor, but they were drowned in cream. Maybe Eggs Benedict in a Bowl and I just weren't meant to be. Not like Monte Cristo.

All in all though, I think Orson has one of the best brunches in town, with staple dishes that you can't go wrong with. It's also a large space, which means you can sleep in and not face repercussions of an hour-long wait for a table.

Citizen Cake's French Macarons: Basil, Salted Caramel, Tangerine, Raspberry Rose

Added bonus, there's a Citizen Cake bake sale every Saturday and Sunday at the bar counter. They usually have an assortment of cookies, cupcakes, and brilliantly hued macarons.

Elizabeth Falkner

Interesting News: It looks like Chef Falkner will be teaching cooking classes in August at $65 a pop. Maybe she'll teach me how to make the Monte Cristo?

Orson
508 4th Street
(between Bryant St & Brannan St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
415-777-1508

MAPPING TACO TRUCKS

The next time that craving for carne asada hits, check out this new taco truck map for the nearest snack stop near you. It's only a couple of days old, and already, the entire state of California is dotted with promising forks-and-spoons. Help the cause and add your own favorite source for tacos. Then, print out a map of a neighborhood near you and venture forth!

KOREAN BBQ TRUCK

For another take on ambulatory eating, keep an eye out for Seoul on Wheels. I first spotted Julia, a friendly princess hailing from "the Province of Yummi," parked near my office in SoMa earlier this summer and, hardly believing the words splashed across her sparkling truck, crossed four lanes of rush hour traffic to see for myself.

Eating the spicy pork later (she starts selling at 6:45 am!) I'd have to say that first rice bowl wasn't the best I've had. But she's been tweaking her recipes, and the long lines now at lunch time attest to a faithful, hungry, and patient following. Her generous servings of kimchee fried rice will keep you alert through the afternoon doldrums; just be sure you have plenty of mints in your desk drawer. Seoul on Wheels' no-nonsense website lists its regular parking locations and times. If you work or play south of Market, it's definitely worth a bite.