Mission Mission

Yesterday the S.F. Chronicle published a piece detailing the “Mission District Sugar Trail.”  Nothing too interesting there, it is just a standard list of the usual sugar haunts: Bi-Rite Creamery, St. Francis, Mission Pie, Tartine etc.  The major note is that now, according to Eater SF, there is “a fun new term” for “the veritable explosion of sweets offerings in the Mission.”

Maybe I am missing something here, but this does not look like a trail.  It looks like two lines.  We can do better than this.

"The Mission District Sugar Rails." Not only is it edgy but it is Mission-relevant as a popular district remedy for drowning out the pain of working at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway.

As a number of readers have pointed out, apparently Mission Street Carts / Bicycle Food is now controversial.  Eater SF is home to a new perspective against our district’s delicious eats: “I’m not against street food, I’m just anti-novelty, anti-trend, and 100% pro delicious, cheap, convenient street food–real street food.”  Hilariously enough, Bike Basket Pies called the author out in the comments insinuating that he bashed the food without even trying it.  Smooth.

Agree or disagree with the piece, the comment thread is certainly interesting and ridiculous.  (link)

Pop’s late on a Sunday afternoon…

The subject says it all.  SF Moo Moo Cakes is also debuting tonight (maybe Dolores Park?).  Pie and homemade ice cream?  I cannot wait to completely spoil my appetite tonight.

“Homemade organic Ice cream Sandwiches, Popsicles, and Ice Cream!!”

In the event that magic curry, sexy soup, amuse bouche, crème brûlée and wagging cookies are not satisfying your twitter-powered streetfood desires, Bike Basket Pies, the latest Mission streetfood business, is debuting tonight in Dolores Park at 5pm.  Strawberry-rhubarb, blueberry-mango-coconut, and mixed berry free-form rustic pies will be sold for $3.  Be sure to check out BBP’s twitter feed for what is the best streetfood twitter avatar to date.

One of my favorite activities is reading the #mlnow feed on twitter so I can steal the tips sent to Mission Loc@l and post them here.  Yesterday was a particularly riveting day as Mission Loc@l reporter Armand Emamdjomeh spent the entire day hanging out at the McDonald’s on 24th and Mission.  Here are the highlights:

A little self-deprecation?:

730 am and the place is bustling. Amazed by the people socializing, reading or just…staring. #mlnow (link)

Apparently McDonald’s has some unspoken racial segregation:

Who knew mcdonald’s was such a meeting space? Mexicans, Salvadorans, Chapines, to each their own corner. Quieting down now. #mlnow (link)

Nothing says romance like a nutritious Happy Meal with apple slices:

Two boys just got up the nerve to go sit down w two girls across the restaurant. Godspeed! #mlnow (link)

Ultimately, it sounds like a pretty boring place to hang out.  No surprises there.

Vegan Drinks happens tomorrow at Martuni’s from 6-8pm. While it isn’t technically in the Mission, it involves veganism and it is on Valencia, so I’ll allow it.

(Credit Vegansaurus!)

As you might have heard, there is a new food cart, Sexy Soup Cart, serving up cheap eats in the Mission.  I was initially a little taken aback at the boldness required to call, presumably, oneself sexy in such a public way.  Is this required to market soup these days in the Mission?  Am I completely missing something?  I decided to go straight to the source to find out.

Kevin Montgomery: What brings you out to the neighborhood?

Sexy Soup Lady: I’m constantly inspired and moved by the adventurous and enterprising nature of San Franciscans and in particular the uniqueness and spirit of folks in the Mission. As a local nutritionist and chef dedicated to nourishing the body, and thereby the soul, of Bay Area residents, I was particularly inspired by the community building I saw when I participated in my first experience with MagicCurryCart, CremeBruleeCart, and AmuseBouchSF at the Friday night suppers. It was such a fun and playful atmosphere and I just couldn’t resist being a part of this movement. I wanted to contribute through my dedication to the use of local and seasonal foods. Each of my soups will be based on the locally available, seasonal foods offered to us through our many farmer’s markets – that’s why the last soup was an asparagus soup, which is delicious and in season right now!

KM: Why “sexy?”  Do you think it is a little peculiar to self-ordain yourself as the “sexy” soup vendor of the Mission? Do you feel you need to use sex to sell your soup?

SSL: The reason I joined the cart movement wasn’t necessarily for entrepreneurial reasons, it was simply because I loved the fun and playful atmosphere it provided for me to meet others in the community I love and to nourish my neighbors with healthy food. When it came down to naming my cart, I wanted to emphasize the fun and playful aspect that so endeared me to the experience. What’s more playful than a Sexy Soup? The adjective sexy is not being used in the erotic sense, but in the alternate definition meaning “interesting, exciting, appealing.” Just as the Curry is Magic, so is the Soup Sexy!

You can follow the adventures of the Sexy Soup Lady on Twitter or feast on a cup in various Mission alleys with other popular street carts.

capitalism- unlicensed food.

A new super-minimalist coffee shop, Haus, opened last week on 24th and Treat. The wooden interior is certainly interesting and they are serving up Ritual Roasters coffee (a major plus if you love their coffee but hate their lines).

(Photo by _heather_r_)