Sold on Samovar Sundays

I'm hesitant to post about the gem of a eatery my boyfriend and I go to in an effort to decrease a future wait for a table... but will share anyway. Some of you San Fran adventure loving folk may already know of this treasure, but others might still be missing out on the secret. The secret of Samovar, that is. Samovar is a tea lounge and is the real San Francisco Treat if you ask me. Creatively dubbed "the tea lounge" by me and Boyfriend (do you know how to pronounce "Samovar?") it has become a monthly ritual to eat here.

Which brings me back to Sunday...

Another ritual we partake in are Farmers Markets, although this happens on a weekly basis instead of monthly. Sundays usually began with Balieys and coffee (we walk there, ok?) plus a trip to the local Farmers Market. Who doesn't love the Farmers Market, the fresh food for your week, the sounds of local musicians playing sweet tunes in the background, the falafel (!), the kettle corn, the all around goodness that is the Farmers Market? I'm sold.

So 3 out of 4 Sundays, we hit up the Farmers Market and then go on with the rest of our day... but on 1 magical Sunday a month, we go to Samovar as well. Last Sunday was Samovar Sunday.

My taste buds are adventures and rarely come across something they don't like. I enjoy every vegetable from broccoli to brussel sprouts, every cut of meat and kind of fish from lamb to squid,* and every type of food from India to Italian. Aside from spicy mustard and cilantro I can't think of a thing I dislike.

On Sunday I enjoyed a curry egg salad sandwich with sliced fuji apple on whole wheat ciabatta and a side salad with tarragon-balsamic vinaigrette. Boyfriend, who has less thrill-seeking taste buds, opted for his favorite ginger quinoa waffles. Safer choice, equally delish. Some duos may find it nice to share a pot of tea when dining on delectable bites at Samovar, we do not. We are equal parts selfish and stubborn. While I enjoy black teas with milk he enjoys every other tea, so we each get our own pot. And while he tries a new tea every month, I've stuck to the same delicious (and organic! bonus points, w/o a doubt) Lapsang Souchong. An "ancient and smoky" tea, that is "delicious with milk and sugar" every time we've been there.

Our Samovar Sundays are my favorite Sundays. Some of my favorite things; healthful, fresh foods in unique combinations, black** tea, time with Boyfriend in The City by the Bay, all experienced in one day. Again, I'm sold.

Stay tuned.. -a.


*Is squid a fish? Whatever, you get my point. &So what if I can't eat the tiny squid bodies if they're still intact? Those battered and deep-fried rings are squid as well and delicious as ever.

**only pitfall Samovar has, no coffee.. but black tea = next best thing.