Touching down in Lima

We finally touched down in Lima! We checked into a B&B and found out that Edo Sushi Bar doesn't close until 11pm. This restaurant was recommended to us by a friend as having the "best sushi ever" so how could we not try it? Apparently Lima has an unusually large Japanese population and the cuisine is supposed to be amazing here. Well, the restaurant lived up to our expectations - best sushi I have ever had (though I've never been to Japan so I may not be a credible source). Here, we also had our very first round of pisco sours, the drink of Peru.

 After dinner, we had just enough energy to check out a small outdoor strip of bars/ restaurants. We had a few drinks, people-watched and then had the most amazing sandwiches at a random late-night spot called La Lucha Sangucheria. This trip was off to a good start!

SFO to San Salvador

At the crack of dawn we departed for Peru. First stop, San Salvador. We initially had a 7-hour layover that we were all excited about since we'd be able to leave the airport and venture off into El Salvador, but the flight was changed and we were left with one hour. The upside is we'd get into Lima right away and not be so exhausted. Another plus, we had enough time to enjoy authentic Salvadoran pupusas, empanadas and local beer. Yum!

Shake a Hair Feather

I am absolutely obsessed with my new hair feathers. I think I want one more!

Put on your dancing shoes

I was a little skeptical about going out on Broadway (not really my scene), but it was a special occasion! To my surprise, this new place we checked out called Monroe was actually a very cute bar/ club. We had tons of fun and danced the night away. I miss making moments like this with the girls.

Goapele at Yoshi's SF

The last time I saw Goapele perform was 5+ years ago when she opened up for a Hieroglyphics concert at the Fillmore. This time, she was the star of the show at this intimate venue. She performed songs from her last album, Change It All and mixed in a few other tracks like an acapella version of A Change Is Gonna Come (which she also performed for Obama 2 weeks ago when he was here). She did such a beautiful rendition that I was nearly moved to tears. I fell in love with the music of special guest, Mateo, who sang a duet with her (watch out for his upcoming album).

This city never ceases to amaze me

 This past Sunday was one of the most beautiful days in the city this year. San Franciscans never waste a sunny day and you can tell by this picture. Crowds gathered at Dolores Park to pop bottles of champagne, cans of PBR and bottles of fine wine or even 2 buck chuck. Food trucks were in attendance, the SPCA was holding a doggy event/ fashion show and there were even people tanning with their bikinis on. To top it all off, a mariachi band even played tunes beneath one of the few trees at the park. Can't get enough of this place.

La Mar Cebicheria Peruana: Ceviche & Pisco Sour

#47 Ceviche and Pisco Sour from La Mar
7x7 The Big Eat SF: 100 Things to Try Before You Die 2010
Embarcadero

The food is nothing spectacular - definitely good enough to come back. The ceviche, on the other hand, is amazing (for $17, I wish they gave more of it). Even better when you pair it with a pisco sour. Since the big trip to Peru is right around the corner and a lot of positive things have been happening, we thought we'd celebrate by having a Peruvian dinner and we heard so many great things about this place. They have a few different types of ceviche, but we opted for the cebiche mixto (catch of the day, calamari & octopus). The seafood tasted fresh and had the perfect amount of spiciness. I love ceviche! BTW - pisco sour was good, though I have nothing really to compare it to. I'll update you on that after I try them in Peru.

Bi-Rite Creamery: Salted Caramel Ice Cream

#35 Salted Caramel Ice Cream at Bi-Rite Creamery
7x7 The Big Eat SF: 100 Things to Try Before You Die in SF 2011
Mission District

 

Pure deliciousness. Don't be turned away by the long lines that trail down Dolores St. for Bi-Rite Creamery, they move fast and the ice cream is worth any kind of wait anyways. The Salted Caramel ice cream makes it on the 7x7 Things to Try Before You Die list every year and unlike some of the other spots on this list, it truly deserves it. You can't go wrong with this flavor. Also deserving of a mention: Toasted Coconut & Roasted Banana. If you don't want to wait in line, you can grab a few pints and bring it directly to the register. Can't wait to go back.