Last Sunday, my day started with Lucy in Menlo Park before getting ready for brunch in San Francisco. Lucy woke up early to begin her guard shift, one of her favorite activities. We headed out the door for a nice walk in the scenic neighborhood. After walking and feeding Lucy, I put myself together in a stretchy black jumpsuit that felt as soft as pajamas.
The scenic drive from Menlo Park up through the peninsula looked as gorgeous as always. As I cruised through the Bay in my 2011 Chevy Impala, the day kept getting better and better.
I parked in the garage around the corner, walked up Mission Street past my old job Purple Star MD, and strode through the double doors. When I laid my eyes on the concrete oasis of Foreign Cinema, it felt surprisingly cool in the warm summer afternoon of our latest heatwave.
This particular brunch at Foreign Cinema celebrated the 30th birthday of a dear friend who recently married the macaroni to her cheese. My friend, her husband, their housemates, and I gathered under the generously spread overhead awnings.
During our meal I mentioned to my friends how wonderfully quiet the inner courtyard sounded, especially considering we were literally on bustling Mission Street in the heart of the Mission District. The design of the concrete courtyard - which doubles as a movie theater - allowed the typical San Francisco breeze to flow pleasantly throughout our brunch. Foreign Cinema has a reputation for their rotational menu so the dishes pictured could be different than those diners previously enjoyed.
Everyone’s food combined interesting flavors with desirable textures and reasonably sized portions that allowed each member of our group to feel satiated. Even though I lived in San Francisco for nearly seven years and worked next door for two of those years, this was my first experience dining at Foreign Cinema. Now that I moved to Oakland, I can't wait to come back. My blind assumption (super duper fancy) proved to be pleasantly incorrect as each dish looked visually engaging while also tasting superb. Yes, it's a fine dining experience, and it's also straight-up delectable.
After chowing down on brunch, two dessert orders plus a stone fruit shaved ice presented with a candle for the birthday babe, our group lumbered out to noisy Mission Street. A couple of folks headed home to Oakland while the other three of us began leisurely walking toward Dolores and, importantly, Bi-Rite Creamery.
After I departed from my friend and her husband, I made my way slowly along the old familiar streets where I spent two years working from October 2018 until November 2020. As I admired the street art that brought me joy all those years ago, my ice cream slowly settled in my stomach as I wandered back to my Impala.
My drive down the peninsula back to Lucy included sun, water, and the usual mix of atrocious drivers and traffic (IYKYK). I swooped by Palo Alto to buy a $20 IKEA Lack TV console I thrifted from Craigslist, which I popped into my Impala’s generous trunk.
My journey back ended a few minutes later when pulled into the driveway in Menlo Park. As soon as I entered the door, Lucy erupted into her routine chorus of ferocious barking before she quickly pivoted to a request for belly rubs. Lucy settled in with the poached chicken I cooked and served along with her kibble for dinner. All around, another gorgeous day living in the Bay!
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