San Francisco was home to the 37th Winter Fancy Food Show earlier this year and it was a welcome break from our Canadian winter. We arrived, tossed away our winter coats and started a three-day journey. Here are the highlights:

Saturday
• A walk to the Ferry Building where the outdoor Farmers Market was being held on a picture-perfect sunny and warm morning.
• As luck would have it, some of the Good Food Award winners were on site to sample their wares: a dizzying array of stellar, award-winning cheeses, chocolates, coffees and charcuterie. Pickles, sauerkrauts and preserves were also in abundance. We tried so many – before 11 a.m.!
• The outdoor market is a feast for the senses, as is the inside of the Ferry Building. In addition to the stunning array of food shops, there is a bookstore, antique shop, kitchen store and so much more. The Ferry Building is a “must do” if you get to San Fran.
• We had an exquisite lunch at the Hog Island Oyster Bar. Fresh oysters and seafood. Even the freshly baked bread and local butter was over the top.

Sunday
• With an extraordinary food day already under our belts, Jan, Nellie and I got ready for the opening of the food show at the Moscone Center. With more than 80,000 products from around the world, we carefully chose our sampling route.
• Throughout the day, we caught up with many of the companies whose brands we carry and sampled some of their new products. Highlights included: Dave’s Gourmet award-winning Masala Marinara sauce that will be on our shelves soon; a huge new range of Stonewall Kitchen products including a fabulous baked doughnut mix, gluten-free products and a wonderful crepe mix; and we watched a demonstration by a Sardinian chef as to how to use their “music bread.”  We brought this unique product to our shelves in December.

Monday
• We jumped in a taxi and headed to the legendary Tartine Bakery and Cafe, and by the time we got there the lineup had already started. We were lucky to snag a spot at a long communal table to join some locals over croissants, coffee and other assorted divine baked goods.
• They directed us to BiRite Market, a specialized neighbourhood grocery that drives community spirit, and although it wasn’t yet open, the kind folks there allowed us travelling foodies to have a quick tour of their store.
• Next was a return to the food show to meet Ina Garten. Her cookbook how easy is that? is a bestseller at Jill’s Table.

Highlights
• dinner at SPQR¸ with its Italian-inspired cuisine and wine
• dinner at AME at the five-star St. Regis hotel, a prestigious landmark incorporating the historic Williams Building and a contemporary 40-storey tower
• chocolates from Recchiuti¸ a premier confectioner that offers fine chocolates, gourmet caramels and fresh chocolate truffles
• fruit preserves from Tell Tale Preserve Company