Our city is chock-full of interesting people and wild personalities. Overwhelmed by the coolness? Every week we'll pick one standout local we'd love to be friends with to answer seven essential questions about their life in San Francisco.
Think of your favorite restaurant beer program. Did you think of The Monk's Kettle and The Abbot's Cellar? Yeah, us too. And we have Christian Albertson to thank for that! As the Beer Program Manager and co-owner of the two Mission eateries, his work is the stuff of a beer geek's dreams.
Along with breaking beer hearts with his genius (Christian's first-of-its-kind beer-by-the-glass program at The Abbot's Cellar got nominated for a James Beard Award), Christian is also a total heartbreaker in real life too! He told us he'd love to thank his wife for bringing him to SF (she's a 6th generation San Franciscan), and gave us this piece of insight about his goals when opening Monk's and Abbot's, "We set out with the goal of creating a place that people wanted to hang out in. We sell food, beer, wine, yes—but our job is ultimately to make people happy." Mission accomplished!
1. What neighborhood do you currently call home? Would you ever move or are you happy in your 'hood?
So I have two kids and live in Noe Valley….how weird, right? I do love it though, so I’ll probably stay here until I die or can afford to buy here. RIP, buddy.
2. What's your hands-down, absolute favorite thing to eat in SF?
The Zuni experience: oysters, Caesar salad, some other random dish (game time decision, but it’s always good), roast chicken, and a whole lotta drinks.
3. What's your perfect night on the town?
Right in our hood, I love Contigo. They’ve got such a great atmosphere there, and the food is delicious (our favorite is the meatball!) I love the seats in the back patio. Otherwise, if I get an occasional date night with my wife, either popping into our old favorites, or even checking out some new restaurant! There’s still so much to explore in this city!
4. When you need a low-key afternoon, where do you go for down time?
Does that mean it’s an afternoon during which my house is empty—no kids, and I can just hang out? Then I go to my house. But since that doesn’t happen (yet…), I go to the Mill. Either I go to chill by myself, or I bring my son, who charms the staff.
5. What's your favorite place to go on a day trip from the city?
For the day: Marin (Point Reyes—great hiking). For a few days: Arnold, a town in the Sierra Foothills.
6.Quick-fire round:
Burrito or Burger?
Burrito.
Presidio or Golden Gate Park?
GG Park.
Bi-Rite or Mitchell's?
Bi-Rite.
Bike or MUNI?
MUNI (I said Noe Valley, but it’s more like Diamond Heights…high on the foggy hill that my bike doesn’t appreciate being pedaled up.)
Fort Mason or Dolores Park?
Mission, baby. Dolores Park.
The Independent or the Fillmore?
Fillmore…I’m so Establishment.
Baker Beach or Ocean Beach?
Ocean Beach…I’m so pathetic…[editor's note: definitely not!]
10. Three words that describe your life in SF?
Me. Here….Amazing
Want More Christian?
The Abbot's Cellar, The Abbot's Cellar on FB, @AbbotsCellar, The Monk's Kettle, The Monk's Kettle on FB, @monkskettle
