My City: Fresh ingredients, good food and a thrilling view

Jed Lane and his favorite spots in San Francisco. (Jason Steinberg/Special to The Examiner)

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Jed Lane

PERSONAL STATS

AGE: 56

YEARS IN THE CITY: Lifelong resident

NEIGHBORHOOD: Miraloma Park

OCCUPATION: Real estate broker with Coldwell Banker

SELF-DESCRIPTION: Active member of local neighborhood groups with a passion for creating opportunities for people who love to live here

FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD TO SHOP

The Mission
Where: Valencia Street from 15th to 22nd streets
What: Ingredients for cooking

“I get inspiration from the different ingredients I see. I’m a cook who reads recipes but then doesn’t really cook from them. I’ll go to the vegetable markets and the Indian markets in the Mission to get ideas, and go from there. There are just so many places in the Mission now, from restaurants to secondhand clothing stores.”

FAVORITE FOOD MARKET

Bi-Rite Market
Where: 3639 18th St. between Guerrero and Dolores streets
What: The meat counter and selection of local products
Info: (415) 241-9760 or www.biritemarket.com

“Bi-Rite stocks a lot of locally made products and locally grown meats, which are better for you and mean shorter transportation expenditures for the environment. Everything there is really fresh and high-quality.”

FAVORITE CITY WALK

To the top of Mount Davidson
Where: Dalewood and Myra ways
What: Catching the views of downtown

“Having grown up around Mount Davidson, I know the area really well. The view looking downtown from there is just incredible. It’s thrilling to see The City, and it brings up lots of memories.”

FAVORITE PERUVIAN RESTAURANT

Fresca
Where: 24 West Portal Ave. between Claremont Boulevard and Portola Drive
What: The sirloin-steak salad for lunch, or Pescado a lo Macho for dinner
Info: (415) 759-8087 or www.frescasf.com

“I wasn’t that familiar with Peruvian food before Fresca opened; the West Portal location is the original. There’s such a great story behind the restaurant and its expansion. The owner initially was serving things like wraps when he opened, but then found that there was a market for Peruvian food. His son then graduated from the City College culinary program and started making all the ceviches. It’s a local success story.”

FAVORITE FRENCH RESTAURANT

Chez Papa
Where: 1401 18th St. between Connecticut and Missouri streets
What: Bistro classics
Info: (415) 824-8205 or www.chezpapasf.com

“I like the fact that Chez Papa is in a sunny part of The City, and it really feels French. It’s just a comfortable place, and the food is always good.”

FAVORITE COOKWARE STORE

Cookin’
Where: 339 Divisadero St. between Oak and Page streets
What: The selection of cast-iron cookware
Info: (415) 861-1854

“This place is like some kind of old hardware store; it’s just crammed with products! It’s like the owner buys everything they can get their hands on. I’ve never seen such a selection of Dutch ovens and cast-iron frying pans. You just don’t see the likes of it at Sur La Table or Williams-Sonoma.”

FAVORITE BOOKSTORE

Green Apple Books
Where: 506 Clement St. between Sixth and Seventh avenues
What: Trading in old books and seeking out new ones
Info: (415) 387-2272 or www.greenapplebooks.com

“The staff is really knowledgeable; they’ll steer you to certain sections or bring out something that’s harder to find. I like browsing the selection of old books. Plus, when you drop off your old books you get credit toward the ones you purchase.”

FAVORITE ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Trattoria Contadina
Where: 1800 Mason St. at Union Street
What: Comforting Italian fare
Info: (415) 982-5728 or www.trattoriacontadina.com

“It’s in North Beach, it’s classically Italian and you always feel welcome when you’re there. It’s like being a kid again and going to Sodini’s Green Valley on Green Street. Because I cook pasta a lot, I’ll usually order something a little fancier, but the menu is all really good.”

FAVORITE CAFE

Greenhouse Café
Where: 329 West Portal Ave. between 14th and 15th avenues
What: A latte and an almond croissant
Info: (415) 681-3991 or www.greenhousecafesf.com

“The Greenhouse Café also has a great story. The guy who owns it opened right down the street from Starbucks and Peet’s, figuring there was still room for a neighborhood cafe. There are a couple of really comfortable sofas in the back room where you can sit and chat with people; I’ll meet with clients or other Realtors there.”