After extensive… and I do mean extensive research, I’ve determined that certain items always taste better if someone else makes them for you.
It’s like when someone else draws a bath for you… maybe with bubbles or salts, and perfectly warm water. Dang, that’s a good bath… somehow way better than it would have been if you turned those bathtub faucets yourself.
So, what items always taste better if someone else makes them for you? Perfect macarons and the day’s first cup of coffee.
Cookie and a coffee? And I don’t have to move a muscle in the kitchen? It’s already delicious.
Now let me tell you about who made them for me.
There is a magical place in San Francisco. It’s called the Ferry Building. No matter how many times I’ve been to San Francisco I can always always visit the Ferry Building. Why? They have some aaaamazing food, and I always happen to be hungry.
Let me tell you about my favorite cookie and my favorite coffee in San Francisco.
Blue Bottle Coffee is a company based out of San Fransisco. They call themselves Artisanal Microroasters, which I think is a fancy way of saying that they truly care about the quality of bean they buy, and the way they treat it. In turn… they produce my absolute favorite cup of coffee. At the Ferry Building, they brew their drip coffee to order. You know what tastes so good about that? The freshness, care and attention… what else could a girl want first thing in the morning?
A cookie! Miette Patisserie! Oh heavens! Beyond cuteness! Miette makes the most lovely macaron I’ve ever had. Perfectly chewy, full of nutty bits and in flavors that make my life happy like Rose Geranium. Want to know something rad about Miette Patisserie? Their founder Megan Ray is a self taught pastry queen and got her start at the Berkeley Farmer’s Market. Yea… true. Cool, right? She makes one fine cookie. They literally taste like fun and awesome had a cookie baby. You think that’s weird… try these cookies! See for yourself.
Ferry Building. Food magic outside of the kitchen.
{ 73 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s very very true! Things ALWAYS taste better when someone else made them.
I can’t believe those macarons are only 50 cents each! They’re so expensive in Paris!
Very cool blog!
Oh wow…those cookies made me want to hop on a plane and pluck the jars clean. Luckily, I have sweets obsessed sister-in-laws there to send me some!
This looks sooo nice and tasty. If I ever get to visit San Francisco, I’ll go there definitely! Thanks!
I’m often convinced my cakes will be awful and other people’s taste so much better. Thanks for the charming trip to the cafés – I’d love to visit San Francisco someday.
Oh wow.. this looks idyllic! You are so right about some things being better when someone else does them for you, and this just sounds lovely! I feel so deprived over here in Ireland! :(
LOVE the Ferry Building! Definitely a must-stop anytime I’m in the city! I adore sampling cheeses at Cowgirl Creamery.
Macarons are the absolute bomb. Coconut makes me happy, happy.
Originally from the Bay Area, this post made me home sick!! I do miss it so.
Yum those cookies look beautiful and delicious! Wish I had found these places when I visited San Francisco! Well maybe I can save them up for the next trip!
Oh what lovely sweet shops!!! I love visiting them myself and hearing of others trips! Gosh those macarons look good!
Salad and sandwiches always taste better when someone else makes them. I am very interested in this coffee. So many bad cups out there, love to try a fabulous one.
oh my. Do you think traveling across the country would be too much in order to have this breakfast? I don’t think so…
:P
this breakfast is definitely definitely travel worthy! Hey! I’ll meet you in SF!
A dangerous place that patisserie – oh yes. At a $1.50 per macaron, weekly earnings could be blown in a matter of seconds. Dangerous…and delicious :)
OMGosh, the cookies look so yummy. I agree, some things in life taste SO MUCH BETTER when someone else makes them! My weakness is the coffee from a coffee house in the mall (no it’s not Starbuck’s either). I don’t get to the city often but when I do, I hit the coffee house. It’s so divine!
I love the ferry terminal. Now I just need another excuse to drive down to Larkspur, get on the ferry and spend the day in SF. My idea of a perfect Saturday – especially if the farmer’s market is running.
“fun and awesome had a cookie baby”… this is why I read your blog ;)
I adore the sign at Miette and how the macarons, a cookie often placed on pedestal or lined up in cases like jewels, are instead piled in casual jars. They are much friendlier that way.
And coffee tastes by far better when someone else makes it. It’s magic.
Joy, I’m totally jealous!
LOVE your blog… thanks for writing!
I used to have a friend who could make an awesome latte – He hasn’t done that for a while – but besides that for me coffee at a cafe is always better than homemade…and those macarons look lovely!
I fell hard for Blue Bottle when we visited the Ferry Building. So far it is the best coffee I’ve had in the U.S. But how on earth did I miss Miette?!? I must go back!
You simply must go back!
The Ferry Building is one of my favorite places in the world. There are few things that make me as happy as when I wake up early on Saturday mornings and walk around the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market with a Blue Bottle New Orleans iced coffee in hand. Delightful. :)
Miette also has a confiserie on Hayes and Octavia, which is closer to where I live….and what do you know, there’s a Blue Bottle kiosk around the corner :) Joy if you ever find yourself in that area, make sure to La Boulange de Hayes and grab a cannele; they’re listed as one of the 100 things to eat in SF before you die!
I love the Blue Bottle kiosk in Hayes Valley! It’s so cool to see a long line of people lined up in a tiny street. Thanks for the cannele tip! Perfect! I’ll visit on my next trip up for Blogher at the end of the month!
Well, macarons take soooo muuuuch time to prepare and bake that, yes, it is so much better when someone else does them for you. *sigh*
Though it is a great self achievement for me to bake my own, I love heading to laduree in Paris for the perfect round treat…
I love macarons!! The rose geranium is indeed interesting… hmmm, never been to SFO. Perhaps, now I have a compelling reason! :)
As an LA native transplanted in LA, I 100% agree with that statement. Miette has the macaron texture down, just like the one’s in Paris. And blue bottle is also a cup of caffeinated perfection.
I’ll totally have to hit that up when I’m in sanfan this november! I agree coffee always tastes better out than at home!
The Ferry Building is a dangerous place for me…to many delicious treats! We always try a new kind of cheese at the Cowgirl Creamery.
Used to live in SF, and totally miss Blue Bottle. I never minded standing in that LONG line on Saturday morning for a cuppa theirs…it’s impossible to re-create it at home.
It is impossible to recreate, right? That’s ok… I’m happy to have it as an occasional treat.
Thanks Joy! I’m going to SF in two weeks and have been wondering where I should stop in. Perfect timing.
I agree about coffee being better when someone else makes it. When my husband makes me coffee it’s always better than when I do it, and I’m pretty sure it’s exactly the same thing.
That looks like a great shop. I’m in Tulsa, OK and always looking for cute little coffee shops like that. Sometimes it’s harder here, but there are a few good places. Thanks for posting! You’ve inspired me to go out and search some more.
The Ferry Building is my happy place. And Miette is a dream! Have you gotten to visit the other locations? They are so whimsically beautiful I sort of want to cry.
Let’s bakery hop the next time you’re in town!
I haven’t yet been to their other locations! Let’s bakery hop! I’m in!
You’ll be happy to know that they’re putting both a Blue Bottle AND a Miette in Oakland’s own Jack London Square! No more need to cross the bridge for delicious coffee and macarons!
You’re kidding!!! You’re totally kidding! Wait… you’re not kidding are you? Oh My Heavens! I’m totally gonna kiss you next time I see you! Bless your soul. This is monumental news!
I HEART BBCC! I had my first taste when my brother who lives in SF bought me some beans and it was love. It IS hard to recreate at home, but since it would take 300+ miles of driving to get there every morning, I do it myself. The manual drip. The pour over. And with the freshest of micro-roasted beans, it comes in a pretty good second place. If you’re ever driving the Nor Cal – So Cal route, try Barefoot Coffee Roasters in Santa Clara. My personal fav in LA is Intelligentsia. No contest.
P.S. Macarons def. taste better when someone else makes them (& so much easier, not that I’ve ever tried)! Too bad Boule closed on La Cienega. :(
I do so love a good cup of Intelligentsia!
LOVE the Ferry Building, I’m always making a bee-line to Cowgirl Creamery that I will have to take a moment to try the coffee at Blue Bottle and some macarons at Miette. Thanks for the tip!
I love that you said – “fun and awesome had a cookie baby”. It’s why I read your blog. Does Miette ship to Chicago, ’cause I could go for a lovely little macaroon!
Definitely one of my favorite spots in San Fran. You make me want to jump in the car and drive the five hours right now. Since those awesome macaroons are waiting for me… speaking of which, have you found anywhere in LA that makes GOOD macaroons? I’ve been disappointed with everything I’ve tried here. Of course, my first macaroon experience was at Laduree, so perhaps I’ll never find an American version to measure up. ;-)
When it comes to perfect macarons in Los Angeles, I’m sad to say I’m still on the hunt.
i agree, i went to paulettes in beverly hills (have you been?) they just miss the mark somewhere
I’ve visited SF three times and I always stroll at the ferry market. Unfortunately when I’m there it’s for my husband business and we never have time to have breakfast or lunch over there :( and I don’t like to treat myself alone!! But that place has something special, the light, the sparkling of the sea, the scent of good food…how lovely!! However I didn’t know to miss so much… next time I won’t miss it. I promise. thanks for the tips
Martina
Good call, and very true. When it comes to cookies and coffee, I’m confident that I can do the coffee thing myself with out worrying to much about it. But cookies will forever taste at least 3 times better when someone else has baked them, and at least 7 times better when someone else baked them just for you.
hi joy..
macaons looks pretty ;) i wonder San Francisco :)
ps: i guess you didn’t get my mail :( about random :(
i’ve had those cookies! i was in san francisco a couple of weeks ago and like you, i can never get enough of the ferry building ;)
Mmm, Miette’s madeleines! Maybe I need to visit the ferry building this weekend for a birthday treat and try that coffee place :) I could also use more meatstuff from Boccalone…
I work two blocks away from the SF Ferry Building; I think it’s wonderful!!
Joy, what about a San Francisco Joy The Baker party?! We’ll bribe you with macaroons and coffee… ;)
Miette’s grapefruit macarons are my all time favorite. Their gingerbread cake with cream cheese frosting is pretty dreamy too. I always go their when we visit SF.
Oh heavens! I’ve never tried the grapefruit! That would surely send me soaring. I’ll keep my eyes peeled next time I’m up there.
what a n ice place to visit. Pity it s so far away for me :( Nice macaroons
Oh, I’ve had these little bits of deliciousness…I used to travel to San Francisco quite a bit, but alas, no more. I’ve tried to make French macarons at home, but I haven’t had much luck yet…I’ll have to browse your index to see if you have any helpful tips. Mine always seem to kind of collapse – maybe I don’t grind the nuts fine enough?
At any rate, as you say, I’d much just rather have someone else hand me one!
Have you had the homemade yogurt at the Farmer’s Market there? Divine!
Absolutely LOVE those macaroons!! I live in Hawaii but son goes to college in SF so when I visit, I have to get my fix of those macaroons at the Ferry Building (along with everything else!! I can taste the Lavendar chocolate ones as I type this!!!
most awesome descriptor sentence i’ve read in a while:
“They literally taste like fun and awesome had a cookie baby.”
YES!!! :)
I love the ‘cookie baby’ line. Genius.
I keep trying, but I simply can’t find a decent french macaron anywhere around where I live. I did find one shop that had them, but they were down right flavorless compared to the ambrosial ones I remember having in Paris. I tried to make them once or twice, but I still haven’t given up the search. SOMEONE in Chicago MUST know how to make them. You’re lucky you found your very own “supplier” :D
This is the first comment I have left (after months of reading the blog) but I have to say that I am so happy you love the Ferry Building too! I originally from the Bay Area and the Ferry Building is my Disneyland! When I have a day in LA where I miss the City (of San Francisco) I just read my San Fransisco Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market Cookbook and it takes me away!!
Oooh my goodness. Thanks for commenting. This sounds like a cookbook I need. Pronto.
If you’re still in SF, or the next time you’re there, please PLEASE go to Phil’z Coffee.
There are a handfull of locations, but my favorite is at 24th and Folsom.
Try 4 Great Horses with cream. You’ll absolutely die, it’s so good.
Phil’z Coffee.
All these places look great, thanks for sharing. I am going to San Fran in November and will defiantly try to swing by Miette Patisserie for some of those fabulous looking macarons.