Special: The San Francisco Bay Area

The San Francisco Bay Area is a major center for food and art, rivaling even Chicago and New York City. Nearly everywhere you go in the region, you'll find dozens of restaurants close by. From fast to formal, Italian to Japanese, the area has it all. Fresh ingredients created by sustainable farming techniques are huge here. Seafood is also of major importance to the region. The Bay Area also has many famous restaurants, including Chez Panisse, Gary Danko, Scoma's, and the French Laundry. It is a region with culinary depth, as some of the most delicious restaurants are never heard of, such as Zazie in Cole Valley, San Francisco. But you have to be very careful where you go in the Bay Area, as well. In Willow Glen, many of the worst restaurants are highly toted, while the best are rarely visited. The same is true throughout the rest of San Jose and Campbell. In San Francisco, though, I've found it's hard to go wrong, as the last half dozen places I've dined at have been spectacular. In the Bay Area, it's very easy to end up at the wrong place, but when you find a gem here, it shines brighter than any other in the nation.