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.
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July 23, 2010Haute Secrets New York: Tori Praver
