Kitava, A Healthy Lunch in the Mission

Sunday mornings are usually for brunch, am I right? Instead of going straight to stuff our faces, Abbie and I have been using Sunday mornings to sweat it out and hang out over a good workout. This time, we went to Orange Theory Fitness and we were DEAD AF. We really needed some food to refuel and wanted to pick a place mindfully, even though we've got weak spots for mimosas. 

Along with fitness, we've been making mindful eating choices, and Abbie completed the Whole30 meal plan. For this week's Sunday eats, we needed to go somewhere that would accommodate that. We ended up at Kitava: a healthy eats restaurant that serves nutritious whole foods. And it tastes so good, you almost feel guilty about it. 

The small gluten-free restaurant is in the heart of the Mission and is right across the street from 16th Street Bart Station. Walk in and you'll be welcomed by minimal decor, natural elements and fun graphics on the walls. We went up to the main counter, ordered our food and sat at a table near the entrance. The staff was friendly and overall had a calm, relaxing vibe.

What we ordered:

• Cuban Bowl: naturally sweet plantains, avocado, kale slaw, cilantro-garlic mojo sauce, white rice (or cauliflower rice) & beans (or extra kale slaw)
• Butternut squash hummus with yucca chips
• Fried Plantains: naturally sweet plantain slices sprinkled with sea salt, paired with chipotle aioli
• Pinot Sage Kombucha

Food with a purpose: Kitava's Food Philosophy

As we waited for our food something caught my eye. At our table, I saw a little card that talked more about their food philosophy. That's where I learned about where and how they sourced their ingredients: 

• All the food is made from scratch
• Kitava prides themselves in assuring the food is sourced consciously
• They make sure to fill the dishes with veggies that are dense with nutrients. Bye bye iceberg lettuce! 
• The meat they use are only grass-fed beef, pasture-raised chicken and pork, and wild-caught salmon
• The recipes only incorporate naturally occurring fats like olive oil, coconut oil, and sustainably sourced palm oil. 

Everything we ordered was a customer favorite, and we could see why! All food was flavorful and filling. I don't know if it's just me, but sometimes I feel like veggie heavy meals just don't always cut it and I get hungry shortly after. I didn't have that issue with Kitava.

Also, I want to note the portion was generous. Even with the big bowl, the taste was so satisfying that it made me savor my bites anyways. 

I'm already thinking about the butternut squash hummus with yucca chips again. If I could take some of that home, I'd be snacking on it all day!

If you're looking for healthy nourishing food and find yourself in the Mission District, this is a spot you don't want to pass up. Hope you enjoy!

Thanksgiving Brunch at International Smoke

Things have been heating up under the Millennium Tower, and I don't mean the fact the building is apparently sinking. (Don't worry, It's earthquake safe ya'll).

Ayesha Curry and Chef Michael Mina have opened the doors to International Smoke. The menu is a collaborative dream of their individual heritages and also gather inspiration from the places they've traveled. All those international flavors come together for quite the cozy eating experience at their newly opened restaurant on Mission St. in San Francisco. 

Make reservations to taste the food and enjoy this warm, welcoming, and intimate dining experience for yourself! 

Out here, we do things a little different

On Thanksgiving, my family and I keep things pretty small. Meet my mom and dad! It's an annual tradition to go out and enjoy our Thanksgiving feast. 🦃 Say goodbye to the worries of prep, cook and clean up! 👋🏽 If it seems strange or unfamiliar, know this is quite common in California.

My mom visited International Smoke on opening night earlier this month and has made it widely known she got to talk to Ayesha Curry lol. She loved it so much that she wanted Curtis and myself to experience it too, making it the perfect place for our annual Thanksgiving meal.

International Smoke's Thanksgiving Buffet

Finally, what you've been waiting for! Please don't blame me if you're hungry after this part! 🙈

Though the daily menu is already on it's own level, let's just say International Smoke's Thanksgiving Buffet set the bar for going out on this day of gratitude. After this meal, I damn sure had a lot to be thankful for. 

The Ribs

When we arrived Ayesha had already gone back home for her family plans, but she had been at the restaurant all morning cooking ribs! Happy to say, I got some and didn't regret it one bit. When offered, we quickly said "yes please!" and the chefs sprinkled brown sugar and glaze over the ribs. Then they torched it, creating just the right crispy top layer. 

The Steak

At each station of the buffet, you are served with plentiful portions. The steak was no exception, served to perfection and topped with Chimichurri.

The Brussel Sprouts 

International Smoke's brussel sprouts are flavored with soy caramel and peanuts. I could tell by those around me, that everyone that ate them loved them because the flavor packs a punch. 

The Stuffing

My holiday weakness... the carb overload of all carb overloads... stuffing. My sweet tooth was happy when I took the first bite and realized it had a sweet undertone. Definitely went back for seconds... okay fine, you got me. Thirds!

The Charcuterie Table

At this point your plate is probably full, and you scoot over what you can to make room. I'll let your eyes gander and enjoy at the choices. 

The overall experience

Cheers to the holidays! We took our server's recommendation to try the spiced cider bourbon cocktail. 👌🏽 In addition to some great serving selections, the staff was as warm and welcoming as the ambiance of their restaurant. Not once did we feel rushed during our reservation, even when the restaurant started to fill up. 

We enjoyed our food to our hearts content, shared great conversation and the staff sometimes joined in our conversation as well!

Ayesha is very hands on at her restaurant and comes in to both cook and serve, so if you're lucky she'll be there during your visit! Make reservations before going. Since it's meant to be an intimate environment the restaurant keeps it cozy at 80 person capacity.

Before heading out, they handed us gift bags from Ayesha Curry. We all went home with one of the loaf pans from Ayesha Curry's cookware line with Target! Truly, that hospitality was the cherry on top for a great holiday experience. 

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Quick Outfits Deets

Nail color: Butternut Squash gel by DNC
Little Dipper Ring: Katie Dean Jewelry
Frankie Zebrawood Watch: JORD Watches
Necklace: Target
Crossback Knit Sweater: Charlotte's Russe

Kamayan Feast at Pampanguena Cuisine

A Kamayan style dinner is a relaxed filipino traditional feast. Imagine a ridiculous amount of filipino cuisine favorites shared family-style around one table. Oh, and the only utensil you need is your hands. Mhmm, that's right. Hands only!

Along with a few of my closest girls, we knew what we were getting ourselves into. We came equipped to Pampanguena Cuisine with stretchy leggings, comfy tops and empty stomaches to best prepare for a feast as good as the company we shared. 

Apattan, Kamayan Feast for four people.

I'm pretty sure I skipped a meal that day with best intentions to make room for this. Needless to say, we were impressed when our enormous feast hit the table. I mean, look at those fluffy mountains of rice! Surrounding the fluffy white mounds were delectable favorites including fried tilapia, tapa (beef), lumpia shanghai, lechon kawali (crispy fried pork belly) and a colorful variety of fruit, veggies and sauces to compliment our proteins.

We dug right in. No hesitation.

diced mango, onion and tomato to compliment our meals

All hands over here. No forks.

To top it all off, we added an order of turon (not pictured, but imagine sweet banana lumpia) and a big serving of halo-halo, a layered ice cream dessert.  I'm drooling thinking about it all over again.

Halo Halo

Pampanguena Cuisine sits in the heart of Mission/Ecelsior district of San Francisco and is known for their Kamayan Feasts and authentic filipino cuisine.  

This visit wasn't about modern decor or food trends. This one was personal and nostalgic. As soon as we walked in, it felt like the Filipino-American household I grew up in. It was especially familiar because TFC (The Filipino Channel) was playing on the background. Whether you have grown up with filipino traditions or not, this is a meal and experience worth sharing with loved ones!

Have you ever enjoyed a Kamayan Feast? Share your story in the comments below! 

Restaurant: Pampanguena Cuisine
Website | Menu | 4441 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94112