Writer Erin Carlson covers the bases of Bay Area favorites for a summer of delights.
When local scribe Erin Carlson isn’t rooting for Giants slugger Mike Yastrzemski to jack a baseball deep into the night, she’s exploring the eateries and shops around town, including Zimmermann (zimmermann.com) on Jackson Street. “The High Tide halter dress is an absolute dream. Wear it to a coastal cocktail party and watch heads turn. If you’re not into polka dots, Zimmermann is like a candy store for dresses with something for everyone.”
San Francisco author Erin Carlson
Carlson’s latest book, No Crying in Baseball: The Inside Story of A League of Their Own (Hachette Book Group, 2023) comes out in September. Before then, she has a little Euro travel on tap. “I’m going to Paris with friends,” says Carlson. “I can’t wait to stroll through the Marais, dine at Le Dôme Café (thefork.fr) and, of course, see the Eiffel Tower. Once a tourist, always a tourist—no shame in the game!”
The North Beach classic exterior of Trattoria Contadina
“I live in North Beach, my favorite neighborhood for nightlife,” says Carlson. “Of all the fantastic restaurants, my favorite remains Trattoria Contadina (trattoriacontadinaon.com) Mason Street. Order the Mama Fratelli pasta and soak in the cozy, romantic, red-sauce atmosphere.”
Mama Fratelli pasta at Trattoria Contadina
“I love to unwind on the weekend at Bricoleur Vineyards (bricoleurvineyards.com) in Sonoma County,” says Carlson. “The food, wine and scenery are spectacular, and it’s the rare winery that opens its gates to families. I appreciate that I can bring my 2-year-old daughter, Poppy, to the winery’s fun, family-friendly events, such as the Bastille Day Celebration on July 15. If you go, say hello to the lovely Sarah Hanson Citron, who runs Bricoleur with her parents.”
Bricoleur Winery in Sonoma
“My all-time favorite bakery is Maison Nico (maisonnico.com) on Montgomery Street,” says Carlson. “The Michelin-starred chef Nicholas Delaroque and his bakers make the best croissant in San Francisco. They also serve gourmet delicacies you won’t find anywhere else in the city, such as aspic with gorgeous layers of lobster, mussels, snapper and fennel. Julia Child would approve!”
To-die-for croissant at Maison Nico
“When I host a dinner party, I love to order table settings from Table + Teaspoon (tableandteaspoon.com), founded by San Francisco’s fabulous Liz Curtis,” says Carlson. “The pink-and-green Harlow tableau takes inspiration from The Beverly Hills Hotel’s famous palm print. So glam.”
Elegance abounds at Table + Teaspoon.
Photography by: MOANALANI JEFFREY; COURTESY OF HACHETTE BOOK GROUP; MICHAEL ACHACH; SABRINA LYNN PHOTOGRAPHY; COURTESY OF BRICOLEUR WINERY; VANESSA YAP-EINBUND; MISCHA PURCELL
Writer Erin Carlson covers the bases of Bay Area favorites for a summer of delights.
When local scribe Erin Carlson isn’t rooting for Giants slugger Mike Yastrzemski to jack a baseball deep into the night, she’s exploring the eateries and shops around town, including Zimmermann (zimmermann.com) on Jackson Street. “The High Tide halter dress is an absolute dream. Wear it to a coastal cocktail party and watch heads turn. If you’re not into polka dots, Zimmermann is like a candy store for dresses with something for everyone.”
San Francisco author Erin Carlson
Carlson’s latest book, No Crying in Baseball: The Inside Story of A League of Their Own (Hachette Book Group, 2023) comes out in September. Before then, she has a little Euro travel on tap. “I’m going to Paris with friends,” says Carlson. “I can’t wait to stroll through the Marais, dine at Le Dôme Café (thefork.fr) and, of course, see the Eiffel Tower. Once a tourist, always a tourist—no shame in the game!”
The North Beach classic exterior of Trattoria Contadina
“I live in North Beach, my favorite neighborhood for nightlife,” says Carlson. “Of all the fantastic restaurants, my favorite remains Trattoria Contadina (trattoriacontadinaon.com) Mason Street. Order the Mama Fratelli pasta and soak in the cozy, romantic, red-sauce atmosphere.”
Mama Fratelli pasta at Trattoria Contadina
“I love to unwind on the weekend at Bricoleur Vineyards (bricoleurvineyards.com) in Sonoma County,” says Carlson. “The food, wine and scenery are spectacular, and it’s the rare winery that opens its gates to families. I appreciate that I can bring my 2-year-old daughter, Poppy, to the winery’s fun, family-friendly events, such as the Bastille Day Celebration on July 15. If you go, say hello to the lovely Sarah Hanson Citron, who runs Bricoleur with her parents.”
Bricoleur Winery in Sonoma
“My all-time favorite bakery is Maison Nico (maisonnico.com) on Montgomery Street,” says Carlson. “The Michelin-starred chef Nicholas Delaroque and his bakers make the best croissant in San Francisco. They also serve gourmet delicacies you won’t find anywhere else in the city, such as aspic with gorgeous layers of lobster, mussels, snapper and fennel. Julia Child would approve!”
To-die-for croissant at Maison Nico
“When I host a dinner party, I love to order table settings from Table + Teaspoon (tableandteaspoon.com), founded by San Francisco’s fabulous Liz Curtis,” says Carlson. “The pink-and-green Harlow tableau takes inspiration from The Beverly Hills Hotel’s famous palm print. So glam.”
Elegance abounds at Table + Teaspoon.
Photography by: MOANALANI JEFFREY; COURTESY OF HACHETTE BOOK GROUP; MICHAEL ACHACH; SABRINA LYNN PHOTOGRAPHY; COURTESY OF BRICOLEUR WINERY; VANESSA YAP-EINBUND; MISCHA PURCELL
