Famished Girl
Boulette’s Larder, the Embarcadero
I am proof that getting married and owning a house does not make one domestic. For starters, I can’t cook. None of my mother’s culinary genes were passed on to me. But, thankfully, there is Boulette’s Larder.
Former Stars chef-owners Amaryll Schwertner and Lori Regis opened up shop in late 2004, naming their business after the Hungarian sheep dog that can often be found hanging out beneath the big, communal dining table. (Boulette is French for “little meatball” and a larder is a storeroom.) Although Boulette’s Larder serves breakfast and lunch, it’s the prepared meals — made with local produce and organic ingredients — that have made a repeat customer out of me. I get to eat well in the comfort of my own home, without much effort or skill involved. A little heating on the stove or in the oven is all it takes.
The take-home menu is seasonal, but typical offerings include braised short ribs, Hungarian pork-stuffed cabbage rolls and Moroccan lamb shank. Soups (mmm … butternut squash), salads, side dishes and desserts are also available.
For those who actually can and like to cook, Boulette’s Larder carries ingredients for whipping up your own fabulous dishes. You can purchase stocks, rillettes, doughs, bread and cake mixes, out-of-the-ordinary spices (including 11 varieties of salt!) and prepped organic vegetables. It’s like the pantry of your gourmet dreams.
All of this wholesome goodness does come at a somewhat steep price. But the way I see it, I’d easily spend more on a dinner if I went out to eat and, chances are, the quality of the food and the preparation wouldn’t be as high. The mise en place approach — having all the ingredients for a dish prepared and ready to combine up to the point of cooking — saves me time and plenty of inevitable frustration in the kitchen. And that alone is worth the money.
TIP: Piping-hot beignets are only available on Sundays. Grab a batch and enjoy them with a rich, European-style hot chocolate.
Boulette’s Larder
One Ferry Building
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 399-1155
