Cit(ies) by the Bay

Season 2, Episode 1

It's been quite a busy travel schedule since my last posting, with lots of interesting and fun destinations.  Time to get back to the blogging and start off a new season! (I certainly didn't want to take a page from HBO or AMC's series planning and wait 12+ months between seasons!)

Just returned from the Bay area, spending a little bit of time in that excellent "city by the bay", aka San Francisco, as well as some time in the heart of Silicon Valley.  Unfortunately the San Francisco city proper visit was quite short, but I did have time to grab lunch at Darwin Cafe.

 http://darwincafesf.com

Darwin Cafe, San Francisco

This was a very cool little establishment with a lengthy, locals lunch crowd line.... always an excellent sign!! It was worth the wait for a delish ham and cheese baguette.  The salads and full-fledged sandwiches also looked amazing, and I'll definitely go back to give them a try!

ham + gruyére + dijon baguette

 After my quick visit in SF, I headed down 101 to Santa Clara for a few days of meetings and conferences.   I'm a fan of the Marriott Santa Clara when in town, it is a nice hotel which is conveniently located and always has great service from the staff.   A mystery remains though on their beer pricing scheme:

A 16oz beer is $8.00
A 25oz beer is $14.50

The beer in question at Marriott Santa Clara

In my many, many years of adult beverage consumption in travels around the world, I don't believe I've ever encountered a situation where volume-based pricing was worse for the larger drink.  For the same "value", the 25oz beer should be priced at $12.50..... But to drive sales, a slight volume discount might be offered to encourage a patron to buy up to the larger size (so perhaps $11.50).   For those who need more motivation on why math is important, this is surely it!  At least the smaller beers are colder since they are poured more frequently.  Not that the 25oz'ers remain in the glass long enough to warm up.....

Wrapped up the week with a red-eye back to the East coast.  Thursday is the new Friday for sure when traveling on business.   No time to grab a meal before getting to SFO, so went to my old standby "Buena Vista Cafe" near gate 82 in terminal 3 (United terminal).  I've had the wings there before;  you only get 7 and they are small.  Avoid.   However, the pulled pork quesadilla is not only sizable but they are delicious... especially for airport food!! 
 

Pulled pork quesadilla at SFO T3 - Buena Vista Cafe

After the quesadilla and a few Stellas, the flight home seemed like a great night sleep in a king size bed.   Ahhhhhhh........