last update: May 20th 2013

Travel: Destinations

An Insider's San Francisco

Chef David Kinch's personal view of the city by the bay

by Cleo Glyde | November 19th 2011 | 08:00 pm

: Photo: Mark Holthusen

Chef-owner at Michelin star-rated Manresa, David Kinch is honoured for the creative flair of his European-influenced yet superbly re-imagined California cuisine. Nestled in Los Gatos, a small town in the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains just south of San Francisco, the Manresa menu is bursting with seasonal freshness and variety. Kinch’s famous tastings and wine pairings reflect his passion for biodynamic farming and the cornucopia of the California foodbowl. He shares with us what he loves most about San Francisco, the state’s glittering capital.

David Kinch: San Francisco’s spectacular assets of physical beauty and a gorgeous climate draw travellers here. Even for a local, there is always something special about the view over the bay and Golden Gate Bridge, which I love most when the sun starts to set. The people who live in the Bay Area tend to be well-travelled, educated and sophisticated, which is an important part of the restaurant culture here. This, coupled with the proximity of wine country, makes San Francisco a great place to live or visit. For me, California is about eternal optimism. Life, work and the great outdoors make the possibilities seem endless, which inspires me on a daily basis.

On my time off, I love walking around San Francisco - the street life always keeps it interesting - or sailing out on the bay. And there are amazing water views from the Mandarin Oriental, the best five-star hotel in the city. My favourite shopping district is Hayes Valley, which is full of high fashion boutiques, art galleries and homeware stores and has a great buzz. For a great classic cocktail, I recommend 15 Romolo in North Beach or Bar Agricole in the inner city. I also love unwinding with a drink at local secret, House of Shields, a beautiful old-school bar on Montgomery St. with ornate 1908 woodwork.

: Photo: Jessica Stout

: Photo: Jessica Stout

Diners fall in love with the vibrancy of the San Fran culinary scene. For a fairly small city, we have a large number of restaurants per capita, which creates an exciting, competitive atmosphere because the restaurants try harder. My favourite informal dining destination would have to be La Ciccia on 30th and Church, a Sardinian restaurant run by a husband and wife team. And for me, the quintessential, evocative smell of San Francisco will always be coffee, sourdough bread and Dungeness Crab.

Part of the San Fransisco's allure for David Kinch; Dungeness crab

Our lively, modern regional cuisine brings in outside influences without losing the details and characteristics that give it a Bay Area flavour. The Cal-Med style honours European traditions and the great immigration culture that introduced different culinary techniques from around the globe to San Francisco, but we always put our own spin on it with indigenous West Coast produce. We have the Mediterranean climate to thank for its glorious quality and diversity. That’s why my favourite dish at Manresa is 'Into the Vegetable Garden'. It is always on the menu but changes constantly – an edible reflection of Love Apple Farms, our exclusive farm partner. There is only one rule for the dish: if it doesn’t come from the farm, it doesn’t go into the dish.

Visit Chef David Kinch's Manresa on the web

Sections: Travel: Destinations