I remember reading "The Food Lovers Guide to Paris" by Patricia Wells back in the early 1980's. It was a revelation to me. Someone who knew and loved food so well took the time to catalog all the best places in Paris for eating and shopping for food. It had history and trivia and even some classic recipes. The book certainly was a mainstay for my parents trip to Paris and as an armchair traveler I got my first good introduction as well. The very fact that this guide is now in its fourth edition is proof positive that it found an appreciative audience. If you are going to Paris--you owe it to yourself to check out this book.
In San Francisco I turn to many resources to find good places to eat and shop. Word of mouth of course, terrific tips from the craigslist food forum, Citysearch for on-the-fly reviews and now "Patricia Unterman's San Francisco Food Lover's Guide".
Patricia Unterman is a well-respected authority in the Bay Area when it comes to food. She is the owner of the wonderful Hayes Street Grill (and Vicolo Pizzeria) and has written for both the San Francisco Chronicle and Examiner over the past thirty years. Being someone who appreciates her criticism and her restaurants I was pleased to see she had taken on the Bay Area with this guide book. San Franciscans consistently post the highest total and per-capita spending on food away from home among 28 metropolitan statistical areas according to research by the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Spending; so a quality guide book is very good to have indeed.
"Patricia Unterman's San Francisco Food Lover's Guide" published by Ten Speed Press truly is Patricia Unterman's take on the food scene of the Bay Area. It points you to the places she likes best and tells you why. She covers all types of purveyors and restaurants and sprinkles in recipes as well. I have been checking out her picks and I have to say agree with her most of the time. She does not review all of the places I love, but if you are looking for solid recommendations in just about every corner of the City and beyond into the East Bay, Marin and Wine Country I think this book may just be your best bet.
