Bears, leathermen, clones: the Castro's long been known as a neighborhood of self-expression, not culinary revelation. Last year, that began to change. SFoodie's spent Pride Week highlighting some of our favorites, both new and old. Here, as a guide to the weekend that's the queer equivalent of Christmas and Halloween and the Folsom Street Fair all rolled into one, we offer 10 of our favorite things to eat and drink in America's gayborhood. Happy Pride, everybody.
1. Applewood-smoked bacon beignets at FrancesIf you don't have a rezzie this weekend (or next weekend, or the weekend after that...), forget it: chef Melissa Perello's iconic bouchée, or pre-first course nibble ― warm, savory doughnut holes fragrant with bacon smoke ― will be as unattainable as that torso model grinding to some "Poker Face" remix in front of the dance stage at Civic Center Sunday. But just think: You can taste the beignets, eventually, if you're patient. Try saying that about the torso model.
Frances 3870 17th St. (at Pond), 621-3870.
2. Raisin rolls at Castro TartsThe deceptively plain-looking Danish spirals at this Castro Street all-day café with Vietnamese lunch specials offer up a surprise: gobs of thick, yellow vanilla custard concealed within the flaky dough layers. Possibly the only thing that could get us out of bed before 9 on Pink Saturday.
Castro Tarts 564 Castro (at 19th St.), 861-3268.
