Survival Arts

Hog Island Oyster Company, Ferry Building, San Francisco

If you have the opportunity to do so, visit Hog Island Oyster Company in San Francisco's Ferry Building and eat a dozen or so of their excellent Tomales Bay oysters (including Kumamotos, one of my favorite varieties.) I normally don't dip good oysters in any sauces, but I was converted recently by their version (which has rice wine vinegar as its base) of a Mignonette which was superb. Their clam chowder is also fantastic - expensive, but worth every penny - and made unlike any you've ever had elsewhere. If you prefer your seafood with a good beer, they've got North Coast Old No. 38 Stout on tap.