Foccaccia: the San Francisco Treat

        When the Mayor visits the City, whether for business or pleasure, the thought is always there that maybe, just maybe, the Sirocco Bakery on Columbus Square is open and has not run out of their only product: foccaccia.  For me, foccaccia is comfort food, that term applied to food items that conjure up home, familiar tastes, comforting aromas, and security.  While Mom never made foccaccia, Nonna was the expert.  Her tried and true recipe was as dependable as a sunrise!  She made a few different types, mostly variations on a theme: with or without tomato sauce; plain; or on some special occasions-onion with a dash of her red pepper flakes.  All made on a special bread dough, almost like a pastry dough: low rise, soft wheat without much yeast.   Ahhhhh, just the thought......
       So, while cruising the City, stopping South of Market, my friend, Tom,(Minister of Automotive Engineering) and I found our way to North Beach for some lunch, which brought us to Washington Square which brought us to Sirocco's and as luck would have it, they had about 5 sheets left of their pizza style bread.  It was a special dinner at home.

Serendipity all over again
      While walking back from lunch at Gigi's "SOTTO MARE" ristorante, Tom spied his old basketball coach, Johnny Duggan, owner of Original Joe's on the corner.  While talking in front, he mentioned a class reunion group inside having lunch- the Mayor's class from SI.(didn't get the email).  Walking inside in disbelief, there they were, about 35 members of the old gang.  They laughed and insinuated that I showed up late so as not to be a paying guest. Ridiculous!  After much conversation, Johnny Duggan came over and said there was a group of ladies having lunch and they wanted to talk to the Mayor.  So, here was another reunion group-different school.  Much laughter and chit-chat.  Always a pleasure to reconnect with friends now rarely seen.
     The weather had improved and the sun was shining as we headed for the bridge.  We were able to give a lift to one of the old boys who regaled us with stories of his east coast cruising adventures on his 49' Grand Banks, a fine offshore boat as there is.

Truckee Report
      Talked with my on scene Truckee observer, Jerry, and the word is: it's a little warm, rain but no snow just yet, and then probably at the 7000'  and above level.

Web Cam -Homewood
   The Explore.com camera is down, must be technical issues.