Sunday Morning in San Francisco

Every Sunday morning, while others are in church praying (for us, we hope), we walk through Chinatown along Stockton Street, make a right on Vallejo and then a hard left on Columbus and end up at Caffe Puccinni. Sometimes the tables are full, sometimes the place is empty. It all depends if we arrive by 9:30 or as late at 9:35. We have made it into the inner circle of regulars. By now, Senora knows our order and tells us what we will be having. An iced tea for Mr. Muse, a double cappuccino for me, two almond biscotti, sometimes a breakfast bagel with scrambled eggs to share. There is a jukebox with Sinatra, Pavarotti and, of course, Puccinni.

We leave after an hour and head home along Stockton Street. One stop for bananas (39 cents a pound) and one stop at Gourmet Delight for cheap chow mein to go. I always say the same thing as I walk out the door with my white Chinese take-out carton stuffed full for $2.00. You will never go hungry if you live close to a Chinatown.

Caffe Puccinni, Columbus Avenue between Vallejo and Green

Gourmet Delight, 1045 Stockton