Local Mission Eatery (LME) uses local Californian farmers, ingredients, and vendors to craft quality food for the Mission district and surrounding local communities. The mix of flavors and freshness of the dishes makes it a Mission District favorite. For our first fieldtrip, to the Mission District, we visited the LME as our first stop.
Upon walking into LME, indoor locally grown plants decorated the right wall, spilling over their sacks of soil. Long rectangular wooden tables and plastic ivory chairs set a relaxed mood for our visit. Local wood tiles and pictures of 24th street over the years covered the wall across from the small, open kitchen. A cookbook library covered another wall for those who are interested in checking out these books. Knead Patisserie, a bakery, inhabited the back of the LME, displaying all of its fresh and locally made breads, rolls, and other pastries. LME prides itself on their windowed walk-in refrigerator, where they pickle their own vegetables, make jams, and other homemade products.
The smell of fresh bread and other delicious aromas greeted us as we made our way to the open kitchen, for a taste of one of LME’s dishes. After the chef explained what LME is all about – local, fresh ingredients in the local Mission community – he set platters of their Grilled Cheese Sandwich on the bar-like table off the kitchen. Wagonwheel cheese with apple compote and caramelized onions on fresh baked bread, grilled to perfection. I took my first bite and the cheese stretched out of the section I bit, the onions squishing out of the opposite end. The butter from the bread dripped down my fingers. The cheese was strong, yet delicate, with sweetness from the apple and caramelized onions. Slight saltiness hinted at the end of my bite from the mix of the ingredients.
My sandwich was gone in no time and I licked the remaining butter off of my fingers. We thanked the chef and said our goodbyes, taking business cards on our way out. Our tour took us to many other restaurants including Roxy’s Café, Humphrey Slocombe, Pig & Pie, and Wise Sons Delicatessen. Of all of the visited restaurants, LME was my favorite. The relaxed vibe and delicious, local food are what I am all about. It is casual yet classy, with everything homemade. I will definitely be back to the Local Mission Eatery.
eatingwitholivia 