Faves and raves by Hans Baldauf
Personal sats
Age: 50
Years in The City: Almost 40
Neighborhood: Cole Valley
Occupation: Principal, along with partners Ken Catton and Chris Von Eckartsberg, of BCV Architects, the firm that designed Ferry Building Market Hall and the retail spaces at the California Academy of Sciences
Self Description: Architect and sustainable food advocate
FAVORITE RESTAURANT
House of Nanking
Where: 919 Kearny St. between Columbus Avenue and Jackson Street
What: Shrimp cakes with peanut sauce and other Chinese delicacies
Info: (415) 421-1429
Even though it’s a no-frills atmosphere, they serve incredibly fine dishes. I like that the restaurant is on the edge of Chinatown and North Beach; there’s a synthesis to how the neighborhoods interact and exist in pure forms right next to each other. It’s one of the reasons I love San Francisco.
FAVORITE DRINK DESTINATION
Press Club
Where: 20 Yerba Buena Lane between Market and Mission streets
What: An extensive wine-tasting experience
Info: (415) 744-5000 or www.pressclubsf.com
My partner Chris at BCV just designed this. I love going there because of the intensity of the wine experience: There are eight wineries, all serving their entire lines of wine. It allows you to have a serious wine-tasting experience right in The City.
FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD SPOT
Zazie
Where: 941 Cole St. between Carl Street and Parnassus Avenue
What: Homey, French-inspired dishes
Info: (415) 564-5332 or www.zaziesf.com
Zazie is the perfect neighborhood restaurant, but it transcends that category. The seasonal menu is always changing, always interesting and isn’t pretentious. They do a lot of classic French dishes very well.
FAVORITE SHOP
Period George
Where: 7 Clement St. between Second Avenue and Arguello Boulevard
What: Culinary and tabletop antiques
INFO: (415) 752-1900 or www.periodgeorge.net
Donald Gibson, who owns the shop, is one of those extraordinary merchants who travels the world to find the pieces in Period George. It’s as much a gallery as it is a store; there are always treasures to be found.
FAVORITE PLACE TO TAKE VISITORS
Ferry Building Marketplace
Where: 1 Ferry Building on The Embarcadero
What: Clam chowder at Ferry Plaza Seafood and oysters at Hog Island Oyster Company
Info: (415) 693-0996 or www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com
I love taking people from out of town to enjoy the seafood; you get to be right by the Bay with great food. The building has so much history, as well. It’s the building my grandparents arrived at when they emigrated from Europe.
FAVORITE CITY WALK
Mt. Sutro
Where: Inner Sunset
What: Walking from Mt. Sutro to the top of Twin Peaks
Doing this walk is one of those amazing urban experiences, where you can experience all sorts of different ecosystems in The City. Then, you arrive at the open hilltops with these spectacular views; we’re so fortunate to have this in The City.
FAVORITE LANDMARK
Palace of Fine Arts
Where: 3301 Lyon St. at Bay Street
What: Beautiful architecture and views
Info: (415) 563-6504
I’m a passionate devotee to the Palace of Fine Arts; I’m actually on the foundation that’s leading the restoration. It’s one of the most important works of architecture in The City, and a place you can go to meditate on life and immerse yourself in beauty.
FAVORITE BOOKSTORE
The Argonaut
Where: 786 Sutter St. between Jones and Taylor streets
What: Collection of rare books
Info: (415) 474-9067 or www.argonautbookshop.com
I’m a great devotee of rare books, and the Argonaut is an amazing location to find them. It’s just one of those institutions that exists and makes The City more interesting and special.
