Residents of San Francisco's Cow Hollow district may have noticed significant changes to the intersection of Green and Gough streets recently. A small liquor store on the Southwest corner of the intersection changed ownership in 2006 and reopened as a neighborhood gourmet food store called Blue Fog Market. The concept was developed by Andy Skov and his business partner and cousin Matt Skov, who are also the team behind Ella's restaurant on California and Presidio.

Blue Fog Market has a goal of bringing the gourmet food that we find in places such as farmers' markets and the Ferry Building to an approachable neighborhood level. With available products such as Blue Bottle Coffee, Cowgirl Creamery cheeses, Massimo Gelato, and Vosges chocolates, the strategists behind Blue Fog Market are bringing artisan food producers to Cow Hollow. "We are all about supporting the local food community," says Jen Marsh, one of the buyers for Blue Fog Market.

The market has a large section of prepared foods -- both sandwiches which are made while you wait, and prepared meals to go that you can take home and heat up, or take to the park across the steret to enjoy. The sandwiches have the same attention to ingredients that you see throughout the store. The most popular seller is called the "Green and Gough," and is a chicken sandwich with avocado, kalamata olive spread, red onions, and greens on meyer lemon rosemary bread from Della Fattoria bakery.

Blue Fog Market does not have a kitchen in the store, so all the food is prepared in the Ella's kitchens. Last week, I picked up a delicious dinner of turkey meatloaf, blue cheese scalloped potatoes, and grilled vegetables. The price, at $9.50, was not cheap, but it rivals prices at Whole Foods, Mollie Stones, or any of the other prepared-food sellers in the area. Had I practiced any self restraint, the meal could have been eaten for two meals -- but I inhaled it all in one dinner. Attention is paid to all details, down to a delicious spicy ketchup for the meatloaf.



The store not only sells whole Blue Bottle Coffee beans, but they also have a coffee bar where you can enjoy a prepared espresso drink. They have their own twist on coffees, offering a tupelo honey latte and a latte flavored with raspberry flower flavoring as a concession to customers who enjoy a flavored drink. Their hot chocolate is receiving rave reviews and inspired one Yelp writer to declare "It is BY FAR THE BEST [hot chocolate] I've ever had. No joke!"

If you are in the area, Blue Fog Market is an excellent place to pick up a bite to eat, an appetizer for a party, or even a hostess gift on your way out for the evening.

Blue Fog Market will be opening a second store at California and Divisadero this month. It is a bigger space and will include many of the same offerings, as well as featuring a salad bar.

Blue Fog Market
2567 Gough Street (between Green and Vallejo)
(415) 931-9331

Mon - Friday, 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Saturday - Sunday, 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

Labels: blue fog market, jennifer maiser