I love Garlic...and not just to repel those vampires! (The Stinking Rose)

(This is from their website)

(Angel Hair Pasta with Tomatoes, roasted Garlic, Olives and Basil)

 

(Fettuccine with Arugula pesto and Sun dried tomatoes) 

We were in the California Bay area over the weekend. The moment we planned the trip a month or so ago, we knew that one of the things we would definitely do while in the bay area is to visit Little Italy in San Francisco because we absolutely have to eat at The Stinking Rose. I do love myself some good Italian food and a few years ago, while my husband and I were exploring Little Italy on a pleasant spring afternoon, we saw this place and thought we'd check it out since we are both HUGE garlic lovers.(Garlic = Stinking Rose, but of course you knew that!). We stepped into the restaurant and the first thing we see is a store - full of garlicky stuff. Garlic flavored extra virgin olive oil, pasta sauces, all kinds of gourmet garlic products. And the decor of the restaurant was just so cool (see the picture -they have garlic braids hanging across the entire ceiling and paintings and murals with garlic).This is definitely a garlic lover's paradise and not for the weak hearts because, boy, can you smell that garlic aroma the moment you step in!! We ate at the Stinking Rose that time, and several times after that over the years, before we moved out of the area. So when we went back there this weekend after almost 4 years, I was so happy that the ambiance and the quality of food was just as wonderful as I had remembered.

There are a lot more choices for the meat-eating population, but there's more than enough for us vegetarians as well.The thing I was looking forward to most was the Garlic chutney (or sauce) that they serve with their yummy warm foccacia bread. This is a potent chutney because it has raw garlic in it! I am guessing it's made with extra virgin olive oil, parsley and small thinly sliced garlic bits.You (I) can definitely lose track of how many bread rolls you just ate with that chutney! We ordered a side of the Garlic Yukon gold mashed potatoes. I ordered the Fettuccine pasta with Arugula pesto (out of this world) and my husband ordered the Angel hair pasta with tomatoes, basil, olives and of course, roasted garlic (so so good). We cleaned up our plates within minutes. We also tried their Margherita Pizza and Gnochetti during a previous visit and those were great as well.

Next time you are visiting the SF bay area,I highly recommend trying this place out. I cannot wait to go back, maybe in a couple of years again *sigh*..oh, unless they open one right here in the Chicagoland!