As I wrap up my time in San Francisco and pack up to return to college out East, I thought I would share one of my favorite restaurant discoveries from the summer. (Sorry for the poor quality of the photos, these were all taken on my blackberry!).
Pane e Vino (bread and wine in Italian) is a trattoria on Union St. in Cow Hollow that serves some of the best authentic Italian you can find in the city. The decor is misleadingly unassuming, for the food, although simple, is perfectly portioned and exquisitely balanced in flavor.
One thing I've learned from San Francisco dining is to sit at the bar - you will often get a chance to interact with the owner, chef, or other staff, and will have a more special dining experience. At Pane e Vino, the bar is located right next to the wood-burning oven and small prep station, where you can watch the chefs prepare the salads, desserts and mouth-watering pizzas. On this particular night, our spot at the bar meant that the executive chef, Bruno Quercini (below), gave us five-star treatment as he served us lightly fried white anchovies, house-cured coppa salami with fennel and pickled onions, extra fun appetizers and dessert (including a taste of a sweet dessert wine) - all in addition to what we had ordered.
