missing san fran

I woke up this morning missing my favorite city in the world... San Francisco. Two years ago, if I woke up with a feeling like this, Mr.H and I would've hopped in the car and headed down to the City by the Bay. Now, I'm 2,393 miles away from that beautiful place, but a little piece of my heart will always be there. 

{mr.h & i on one of our san fran trips when we lived in cali}

In my dreams, I'd get out one of AFAR's Wanderlists and Mr. H and I would discover some of SF's hidden gems today. Have you checked out AFAR's Wanderlists? They are awesome! And, for cities like San Fran they have tons of information to fit your trip - 12 Must Do Experiences in San Francisco, If You Only Have One Day in San Francisco..., San Francisco for Framlies, Classic San Francisco, 3 Unforgettable Days in San Francisco, and the list goes on. They give you a local's guide to each city they cover. It's invaluable for travelers who like to get off the beaten path. 

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So, if you're going to SF anytime soon, check out AFAR's Guide to SF and give the city a hug from me. 

Have a great weekend!
-mrs.h

gary danko | san fran

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What's the best meal you've ever had? In my book, it would be impossible to narrow it down to one. However, I do have a list I refer to as my "meals of a lifetime" list. So many things can attribute to a meal making that list -- the food is a definite factor, but the company, atmosphere, conversation, and occasion all combine to create one of those "perfect" nights. It doesn't have to be the artful food of a James Beard award winner, I've had "meals of a lifetime" at the best burger joint in town. It was just one of those special life moments with great friends on a wonderful day where it just feels good to be alive and celebrate life with food. 

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My meal at Gary Danko restaurant is at the top of my "meals of a lifetime" list. It's definitely not a dive. Chef Danko is one of those creative geniuses who's food rightfully has a price tag. The atmosphere in the restaurant is warm, but in my opinion the design really isn't something super special or inspirational. The food and the company made this night what it was for me. I was living in Cali with Mr. H and we hadn't seen either of our families in months. My parents came to visit and the four of us went to San Fran for the weekend. Our dinner at Gary Danko was a time where my heart was full after craving family for so long and my stomach was also full with the some of the best food I've ever tasted! Many restaurants seem to be cyclical, but Gary Danko always strives for excellence. If you're heading to SF anytime soon, you should be it on you "must" list -- you won't be disappointed.  Maybe it will be your next meal of a lifetime!

What are your meals of a lifetime? What made them so special?

"if you're going to San Francisco..."

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The Mama's and the Papa's advised those going to San Fran to wear flowers in their hair. Here at the mr.&mrs.h guide, we advise you to add another item to your list when heading to the City by the Bay... make a stop by Tartine Bakery.

Yesterday was my (mrs. h) birthday. I would give anything for the days when we lived in NorCal and would celebrate my b'day in SF. I made sure that we went to Tartine for breakfast to get a morning bun - my favorite. And, we'd usually make another stop that afternoon for a loaf of fresh baked bread--that is if we made it in time. The line starts before 4:30 p.m. (approximately the time when the loaves come out of the oven) if you don't get in line in time you'll miss your chance to taste the heavenly treat of Tartine's bread... plus what could be more perfect than enjoying bread in the city where sourdough became famous? (They have great lunch items too - salad/sandwiches, etc - if you're in the Mission District around lunchtime.)

So, if you're going to San Francisco be sure to stop by Tartine with some flowers in your hair.

-mrs.h

how it all began

It was about two years ago.  My wife had left our good, stable jobs in Birmingham, Alabama to attend a year-long spiritual school of ministry in northern California.  We decided to spend the first year of our marriage doing something we would never do again.  Well, we got more than we bargained for.  To save money, we lived with eight other people in a ranch-style home that was dark, damp, and less than cozy.  Mrs. H's parents came to visit, and after a few days in Redding we went to San Francisco.  We were tasked with finding a reasonably priced, fun hotel for the four of us to stay in.  Now you need to know that Mrs. H can discover anything online.  So after much effort we decided on a charming boutique hotel in the city.  We quickly discovered that the website had some serious photoshop going on, and this place looked way more to similar to our very humble abode than it did the quaint retreat we thought we were signing up for.

The Ritz Carlton, San Francisco

 via escapekeeper.blogspot.com

We got into SF at night and were exhausted, so after much discussion, we decided to go with a reliable option and stay at the Ritz.  That's when everything changed.  The Ritz-Carlton has a way of making everybody feel like royalty, which is what we all really want, right?  I don't want to be a rock star, usually at least, but I do want to feel valued with just the right amount of attention and self direction.  Our room was a far cry from our usual digs in Redding.  For starters, we were ALONE.   That's when I realized hotels are healing.  They create an open space for reconnection and love.  I would sit at the window in our room and admire the architectural details on the building, dreaming about a day I could experience such beauty more often.  That trip did something for my soul.  It was more than a nice vacation.  The presence of beauty restored me to a place of dreaming and belief.  Our time in California even inspired us to pursue hospitality as a lifestyle, taking us to work for one of the best hotels in North America, Blackberry Farm, learning hospitality hands on, and finally starting our own hospitality consulting business. For that reason, I am forever ruined for a good hotel, restaurant, or retail operation. May beauty continue to expand at an ever increasing rate and conquer the world we live in.  

-mr.h