Scones Hit Home Across San Francisco
Nopa's scone, size: L. Photo from Lynn Huang on Foodspotting.
Despite the scone's reputation as dry and difficult, the classic British quick bread has been rearing its crumbly head on several San Francisco brunch menus of late. Done wrong, the scone becomes a rock-solid exercise in jaw strength, but the right technique yields a flaky, buttery bite that holds up, miraculously, to the most deliberate of coffee dunks.
25 Lusk chef Matthew Dolan often puts a scone of some sort in his gratis brunch bread plate. He sent us a two-paragraph long description about how he makes them. We'll spare you the details, but say that they're perfect.
Nopa pastry chef Amy Brown spares nothing in her recipe, full of cream, buttermilk, butter and creme fraiche for an extra tang. She makes a batch every Saturday and Sunday morning before Nopa's brunch service. This weekend look for her larger-than-average scones specked with dried plums and lemon zest. They're served with a heaping dollop of summery lemon verbena mascarpone that knocks plain old butter out of the ballpark.
At Jane on Fillmore, pastry chef Amanda Michael bakes two types of scones daily and mixes everything by hand. Her sweet variations like ginger and whole wheat-cherry-cocoa nib draw repeat customers, but her savory herb and cheese blends are our favorites. If the white cheddar thyme variety is in the case, scoop it up immediately. "I love making scones because they aren't a super sweet baked good and you can play with flavors and whole grains," says Michael.
And no scone round-up would be complete without a Lovejoy's Tea Room shout. Co-owner Muna Nash gets the round beauties from traditional Irish baker John Campbell of John Campbell's Irish Bakery. Served with Devonshire clotted cream, strawberry preserves (from taste-test-winner Smucker's) and Lovejoy's charmingly kooky decor, there's nothing else like 'em in San Francisco.
Are you currently crushing on a scone that went unmentioned? Share it with the world in the comments.
Well, there were excellent scones at Remedy Coffee in Oakland until they lost the pastry chef. I think she started the trend over two years ago. Best scones ever, innovative flavors, long before thus scone trend. I think you can find her now in Kensington at the farmers market on sundays, or monthly at the Alameda Point Antique Faire, and at Cole Coffee in Oakland.
By on November 12, 2011
By complete, and in this case -- serendipitous -- accident, I grabbed a ginger and apricot scone from The Chestnut Bakery. I had never stepped foot in the place but it was Sunday morning and I was driving north and needed a something to quell my coffee stomach. It's not your typical scone. More flakey and butter. Had me licking fingers all the way to Healdsburg. p.s. - Ginger/apricot is a weekend only offering.
By on June 08, 2011
Sarah Meakin serves up Sarah's Scones with Devonshire cream and jam at Tal-Y-Tara Tea and Polo shop in the Outer Richmond. Served alongside proper English tea and their Motorloaf tea sandwiches - this is definitely the package! Soooooo delicious!
By on June 08, 2011
Sarah Meakin serves up Sarah's Scones with Devonshire cream and jam at Tal-Y-Tara Tea and Polo shop in the Outer Richmond. Served alongside proper English tea and their Motorloaf tea sandwiches - this is definitely the package! Soooooo delicious!
By on June 08, 2011
Sarah Meakin serves up Sarah's Scones with Devonshire cream and jam at Tal-Y-Tara Tea and Polo shop in the Outer Richmond. Served alongside "proper" English tea and their “Motorloaf" tea sandwiches - this is definitely the package! Soooooo delicious!
By on June 08, 2011
Sarah Meakin serves up Sarah's Scones with Devonshire cream and jam at Tal-Y-Tara Tea and Polo shop in the Outer Richmond. Served alongside "proper" English tea and their “Motorloaf" tea sandwiches - this is definitely the package! Soooooo delicious!
By on June 08, 2011
Mission Pie makes a walnut maple scone to die for. It's the perfect blend of texture, moisture and flavor. A must have for anyone living in San Francisco. Can't believe SF 7 X 7 missed that one but now you know about it!
By on June 07, 2011
Axis cafe makes a good cherry scone
By on June 06, 2011
Ditto what nanette said. Cornmeal cherry scones at Arizmendi are amazing!!!
By on June 06, 2011
The scones (as well as pretty much everything else) at Crown & Crumpet were fantastic when Caroline Romanski headed up the kitchen. Since she departed last year, they've stepped in to the horribly blah category.
By on June 05, 2011
Cherry and cacao nibs at Sightglass Coffee (7th & Folsom)...
not sure who makes it.
By on June 05, 2011
Home plate near the presido!!!!!
By on June 04, 2011
The corn cherry scone from Arizmendi is amazing! The texture of the corn meal compliments the moist, chewy cherries beautifully!
By on June 03, 2011
The only scone worth eating in San Francisco is Tell Tale Preserve -- once you have one you will know why. Not bready, not dry. A category unto itself.
By on June 03, 2011
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