I recently moved to the neighborhood right around USF, and there’s a little bar and grill on the corner of Fulton and Masonic that I had yet to try. I had been walking by pretty much every night on my way home from work and wondering over the scads of Russian-speaking smokers hanging out on the sidewalk and the raucous parties of twelve sharing feasts at the table in the window. The sign says “B and G,” which alternately stands for Beer and Grill, Bar and Grill, or Bistro Gambrinus depending on which of the many handwritten signs you consult. According to their menu, and to wikipedia, Gambrinus was a legendary King of Flanders who was widely considered patron saint of beer and brewing.

I stopped in there solo on Tuesday when I had an hour before LOST and no food in the house. Armed with the New Yorker, I ventured in past the smoking gauntlet and made myself comfortable at the bar. Although I’m not normally a beer drinker, the extensive list begged a taste. I asked the nice barmaid (it’s European, I can call her a bar maid) for something with two qualities: 1. Dark brown in color and 2. a name I couldn’t pronounce. She seemed amused and gave me something Czech and brown on tap that was very good. I settled down with the menu and picked out a couple of things that seemed unique, one being lox canapes and the other “pelmeni,” a traditional Russian ravioli with garlic butter sauce and sour cream.

The ambiance is typical European bar, meaning the proprietors had no particular plan for the decor, in contrast to most other bars in San Francisco which seem to have a predefined “look” and “feel.” Lots of wood and beer brand paraphernalia with about six televisions, mostly playing sports. Insubstantial napkins.

Here, I break into the cliche part. I have traveled extensively in Europe, and a good portion of that was alone. Sitting at the bar drinking a beer I couldn’t pronounce, eating food I’d never had and pretending to read while eavesdropping on conversations in languages I couldn’t understand, I was flashing back to being a pert young backpacker in Europe. It was like a mini-vacation. The food was awesome: ravioli drenched in butter with a side of sour cream? Yes please. The lox canapes came with these strange forest green olives that seemed fresher than your average olive and very tasty.

Although Bistro Gambrinus is right on my corner, I almost don’t want to become a regular. I want to go in there every time as an anonymous traveler and try a new beer and some random Eastern European dish.

Bistro Gambrinus

1813 Fulton St. (at Masonic)

San Francisco, CA 94117

415. 221. 7777

http://www.beerandgrill.com/

You see, there are stringent rules here in San Francisco about what constitutes a commercial kitchen ($$$!) and requirements you have to fill to be able to sell food of any kind. Mix that with a bunch of foodies who like to do things a little differently (read: everyone who lives in SF) and you’ll get a little chafing.

Enter the San Francisco Underground Farmers Market. They’re about to have it for the fourth time in as many months, and each month they’ve had to move to a bigger venue. The next one is next Friday, April 16, from 5pm-11pm, location TBD. Taste and buy homemade sasparilla, cupcakes, sauerkraut, foraged mushrooms and berries, kombucha, jam and kettlecorn.

The way around the authorities (who are well aware of this event) is signing up before hand here. Then you’re on the list,  just attending a private party with some friends and some food. Bon Appetit.

Farina

3560 18th St. (at Dearborn)

San Francisco, CA 94110

phone: (415) 565-0360

www.farina-foods.com

Green Chile kitchen, a NOPA neighborhood standby for New Mexican dishes made with great, healthy ingredients, has a new little sister. I’m pretty sure they’ve settled on Green Chile Pies as the name for this delightful den of deliciousness. It’s in Green Chile Kitchen’s OLD space (Baker and Fulton) before the Kitchen moved up the block to Baker and McAllister.

This is the cutting edge of food blogging, people. The spot opened last night, and I was there eating homemade Peanut Butter Pie and Three Twins Organic Milk and Cookies ice cream. My fiance snarfed some Three Twins Mint Confetti and Dad’s Cardamom (yes, cardamom!)

Ordinarily, I try to stay away from the sweets but I solved this caloric conundrum but just having dessert FOR dinner instead of dessert after dinner. And there’s one other type of pie you have to check out, a house specialty: Frito Pie. That involves a pile of Fritos with ground beef, cheese, salsa, beans and chiles dumped all over it. But Green Chile takes it a step further: they serve it IN THE BAG. Talk about minimizing waste. And possibly maximizing waist (sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

Mojo Cafe has been around for a couple of years, first opening in a bright yellow Victorian with a cafe in the front and a bicycle repair shop in the back.

Good things about Mojo: great coffee. Generous happy hour specials, beer, wine and sangria. Neighborhood patrons “working from home,” chatting it up, or playing cards. Healthy, simple sandwiches and salads. Vegan donuts. A secret backyard garden that I’m reluctant to write about lest it become too crowded.

And as of yesterday, Mojo cafe is host to the city’s very first “parklet.” A mini-park. The cafe has taken over two parking spaces out front and made, essentially, a front porch. Gavin showed up for the grand opening and everything.

So, check it out. Sip a cup. Sit a spell. Experience a parklet.