SFist Answers: Do It Like We Do
Hey, folks -- today we answer questions on how to do it like the locals do, how to become an animal cop (are you listening, Rita?), and, something up our alley, suggestions for upgrading a coffee grinder.
Marie-Christine asks:
I'm French, living in Paris and working for an IT company. I'm organizing a business tour (15 people aged 35 to 55) . . . spending 2 nights over SF on Feb 15 & 16. I know you are not a travel agency but I thought you might be able to give me advices : I'd like to find a place where we could have dinner or a drink, where there are no tourists. In fact, I'm looking for the last place where to go out in SF, just to do as the SF people do (when in Rome...). Do you think you could help ?
Well, of course we can help! In general, stay away from Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, and most of China Town and North Beach--these places are tourist-heavy (though they do have some great places to eat and drink). Beyond that, if you want to do it like locals do, we recommend visiting Web sites that cater to locals, where the citizens themselves can leave opinions. Try Yelp, for instance; people that post comments are not shy about pointing out what's good or bad about a place, and they'll often mention the tourist factor. Another great resource? Look through some of the reviews here on SFist, particularly those written by our restaurant reviewers Sam and Ced (who originally hails from your neck of the world, in fact). One thing -- if you are avoiding places that cater to tourists, you'll find that your transportation options and convenience may be more limited as well. But, as you said, "when in Rome . . ."
In our comments section a few weeks back, a commenter known as "Anthony" asked "How would I apply to become an animal cop in San Francisco???"
I forwarded the question to the local police department's inquiry email; the response I got back was:
All special units in the SFPD require you to be a patrol officer for a minimum of three years before you can apply for the position. Usually a selection process is conducted before an officer is considered for the position after the application process. All training is provided to the officer for the selected position.
So, hey, Anthony -- get into the academy first. Visit here for how to apply.
Tim asks:
Any advice on buying a new coffee grinder? I need a new one and since you are the expert I thought I'd ask. Also I have/use a french press. $20-$40 price range.
Ah, Tim -- we're not an expert by any means, just an aficionado. Before we recommend any specific brands, we must emphasize that the burr grinder is key. Don't grind your coffee until you are going to use it, and when you do, stay away from those propeller-blade thingees! A burr grinder is the way to go. There aren't a heck of a lot of super models in your price range. The truth is that the better the grinder, the more consistent and uniform the grind will be. Just because you aren't drinking espresso, don't think the grinder quality is irrelevent. In a press pot, differing sized particles will make the coffee sludgy. This being said, it's a huge step up from a propeller grinder. Even with the cheaper models, we damn near guarantee you will notice a sharp difference in the quality of your coffee. Check out Froogle, type in the words "burr grinder" -- this should be a good place to start researching what's available in your price range.