Haute Secrets: Mireille Schwartz’s Guide to San Francisco

Mireille Schwartz, granddaughter of former U.N. Ambassador Apollo Kironde, has made her mark in her hometown of San Francisco after a successful career at Lucasfilm by helping Bay Area charities such as the homeless shelter Raphael House, and Friends of the Urban Forest. In 2009, she was honored with the Bay Area Change Starts at Home “Changemakers” Award. And in 2010 she was named to the Board of Directors of The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), the world leader in information about food allergy, a potentially life-threatening medical condition that afflicts approximately 12 million Americans, or one out of every 25.

As Schwartz and her daughter both have food allergies, she has gained an encyclopedic knowledge about food preparation, and takes great care in choosing the right restaurants based not only on taste, but also safety and service.

Today she shares with us her list of some of her favorite places to go in San Francisco.

Where were you born: East Coast transplant

How long in San Francisco: 15 years

Neighborhood: Presidio Heights

Occupation: Philanthropist

Favorite restaurant: Greens Restaurant in Fort Mason Center

Best steakhouse: House of Prime Rib

Best sushi: (severely allergic, can’t!)

Best ethnic food: New Eritrea Restaurant

Best Italian: Osteria Cucina Toscana

Best pizza: Pizzetta 211

Best lunch: Spruce Restaurant (shout-out to Chef Brent)

Best place for late night dining: Globe Restaurant

Best dessert: Tartine Bakery

Best place for a romantic date: Fleur de Lys

Best Sunday brunch: Rotunda Restaurant at Neiman Marcus

Hautest club and/or lounge: Otis forever and ever. Amen

Best place for a power business meeting: Skywalker Ranch, if you can get the access

If you have out of town guests, which hotel would you recommend? Four Seasons Hotel

Favorite shopping venue/boutique: Susan of Burlingame, in Presidio Heights

Best place to buy jewelry/watches: Shreve and Co.

Best spa: Spa Radiance

Best gym/athletic facility: Equinox

Best massage: Metropolitan Club

Best limousine/driving services: Bauer Limousine

Favorite charity event: The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network’s Walk for Food Allergy which takes place annually (this year’s San Francisco event is September 25, 2010.) For more information, please visit FAAN at www.foodallergy.org

Favorite cultural event: Fine Arts Museum of SF Junior Committee Mid-Winter Gala

Favorite cultural institution: Legion of Honor fine arts museum

Best museum/exhibit: Annie Leibovitz “A Photographer’s Life” retrospective at the Legion

Favorite historic/legendary place to see or explore: On foot atop the Golden Gate Bridge

All-around favorite locale in San Francisco, whether a neighborhood, restaurant, venue, or other: The Presidio Wall tucked behind Lake Street is great for jogging and tennis; where it dovetails into Mountain Lake Park is a festive picnic spot or a destination to just sit beside the lake and watch the swans glide.

Best aspect of San Francisco: Dynamic food & wine set against a stunning backdrop. Here: chefs and vintners are our ‘rockstars’, and they continuously impress with intelligent, innovative concepts and stellar execution.

To get full access to all Haute Secrets, click here to become an exclusive member.