Brunch at San Francisco’s Foreign Cinema

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Just before the holidays, Aron and I drove into San Francisco for the morning and enjoyed brunch at Foreign Cinema.

We hadn’t shared a meal there for years, but soon after the restaurant opened in the Mission (back around 2000), we’d sat in the courtyard and ordered some olives (and a few other Mediterranean dishes we could barely afford) while La Dolce Vita was screened on the giant white-washed wall in its courtyard: a fond memory. It’s become a city institution in the years since, and we’d always heard brunch was not to be missed.

We were especially impressed by the savory dishes we tried—in particular a scramble that combined tart lemon with bitter brussel sprouts, silky white beans and crunchy breadcrumbs. The menu changes with the season.

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It’s actually the cocktail menu I plan to crib from, however. My drink, “The Hotel Laguna” was made with Hayman’s Old Tom Gin, Gran Classico Bitters, Giffard Pamplemousse, Lagunitas IPA, & Citrus juice.  The beer rounded out the gin and grapefruit and it was refreshing and delicious. I actually think it would be prefect once summer rolls around. Here’s an article about some of the master bartender’s cocktail menu, with some highlights.

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Of course a great deal of the appeal is the restaurant’s beautiful space (with incredible floral arrangements by Natalie Bowen Designs—a very talented friend), a large dining room with steel and wood and tons of light paired with a courtyard where foreign and independent films are shown after dark. It’s a good scene.

P.S. More to see and do in San Francisco.

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