Tartine Bakery (San Francisco)

600 Guerrero St. (@18th Street)

San Francisco, CA 94110

www.tartinebakery.com

Pastry Chef: Elisabeth Prueitt /Baker: Chad Robertson(husband)

This neighborhood bakery and cafe does not have a storefront sign to indicate that it's Tartine Bakery. But you can't miss it with the long line of people that stretches around the corner all day long. Their pastries are made with organic flour, sugar and local eggs. They use organic produce as much as possible and many of their meats come from Niman Ranch.

"Tartine" in French is a piece of bread—any size, sliced or torn, grilled or not—on which something is spread such as jam and butter for an everyday breakfast, and also such things as tomatoes, goat cheese, and olive oil.

The bakery is very crowded so keep an eye out for tables while you're in line. Croque Monsieur ($8.25)

This is one of my favorites!! So crispy and all the flavors are a perfect blend. This open face sandwich is made with country bread, bechamel, gruyere, thyme and pepper and is topped with either smoked Niman Ranch ham, Cowgirl Creamery fromage blanc, or shitake mushrooms and seasonal vegetables. It is also served with housemade pickled carrots. Here is the croque with the ham and roasted tomatoes. Pain au Jambon with Gruyere and smoked ham ($3.75)
This croissant is another favorite. Somehow the ham and cheese croissants at other bakeries either don't put enough cheese or not enough ham or is not light and flakey.... Until this beautiful one at Tartine!

Bread Pudding - ($2.75-cup, $5.00-bowl)
A generous serving made with housemade brioche, topped with caramel and fresh fruit. Tartine serves the organic coffee Mr. Espresso and all dairy for the coffee bar is organic from Straus Family Creamery in Marin County.
Tartine Bakery is one of our must-stop place whenever we visit San Francisco. We always get a nostaligic hunger for their pastries and sandwiches whenever we come back home from SF. There are so many decadent pastries to try but can't do it all in one sitting. I suggest ordering a few to eat there and boxing more for home.