Stephanie Hibbert Culinary Mistress

Where would you have your last meal on earth? It’s funny. I was a vegetarian for 22 years and now my favorite indulgence is the amazing bacon cheeseburger at Gotts, along with the sweet potato fries.

Who's your favorite quintessential local character? The Tamale Lady, Virginia, is one of the original “ SF street food vendors” and deserves props for that! She was way ahead of the food truck craze and so many of SF’s current food trends.

Where's your go-to date place? ICHI Sushi on Mission Street. It is in our neighborhood and Tim has such creative items on his menu. We like to sit at the bar because he’s a fun guy to chat with during dinner. The fish is always super fresh and they have a great sake menu too.

Why do you love your neighborhood?  Bernal is really intimate and “neighborhoodly.” I attend Workout on the Hill, an outdoor exercise program, and I have met so many of my neighbors who are now friends this way. The cafes and shops on Cortland Ave. are small local businesses that I prefer to support over chain stores. And the view from the top of Bernal Hill is hard to beat!

What's your favorite under-the-radar SF restaurant? Wise Sons Jewish Deli. They have been a pop-up restaurant this past year and sell at the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market. They are awesome guys and make awesome food!

What's your favorite SF institution? Brian Wilson, the SF Giants closing pitcher. He is hilarious and really smart at the same time. I am a big Giants fan and love all of the characters on the team, but he’s the most eccentric. I am working on forgiving him for the bad judgment and irresponsibility he demonstrated in making those Taco Bell commercials.

What's next for San Francisco? I love watching the food trends. The food truck explosion has been amazing to witness. I predict that will continue with more and more fusion concepts as well as the old standards. I would love to see more “food truck parks” like what I have heard about in Portland.