Burlingame: Showing It Off to Visitors

This week's Burlingame Bite is brought to you from Dallas, Texas, or “Dallas, America” as my friend and host Jonathan calls his hometown. 

Over lunch, Jonathan and I talked about our recent weekend, noting that there was not a single corner of the 385 square miles of Dallas that we had not covered in just three much-too-short days. While wandering through downtown – through the Farmers Market, past the plethora of taco stands and cowboy bars – I felt like I was on an episode of Tony Bourdain's “No Reservations”.

And it made me wonder, where would I take Jonathan if he came to Burlingame? What would I show him? Could I fill up an entire weekend with local activities and authentic meals within Burlingame's quaint 6 square miles? I came to this conclusion: I'm pretty sure I could.

Now, keep in mind, most of my travels and weekends revolve around food, planning my next meal as I finish the first one. Maybe your itineraries differ from mine, but I welcome you to follow me on this local's food-centric weekend tour of Burlingame.

Day 1:
There's no better introduction to the neighborhood than with breakfast at Nini's. An institution among locals, this diner was built in the 1950's and remains nearly unchanged, save more and more photos of locals and celebrities – and local celebrities – on the walls. Counter seating, the cramped dining room or the sunlit patio serve up some of the best breakfast in town. Large portions of pancakes, house scrambles and eggs benedict fly out of the kitchen all day long.

After a satisfyingly heavy breakfast, it's wise to get a move on and walk it off a bit. What better way to show off our gorgeous town than a stroll or bike ride along the bay? The Bay Trail currently stretches across more than 290 miles around the Bay – and that’s just the half of it, literally. Once completed, the Bay Trail will continue across all 500 miles of the nine Bay Area counties.

Start the trail at  and learn about the indigenous flora and fauna while gazing at the life-size gray whale suspended from the ceiling. With stunning views of the city and the clean sweet scent of the giant eucalyptus trees, it's Burlingame's perfect postcard.  

After working off some of Nini's, it's undoubtedly time for a snack, and is just the place for a late afternoon scoop. In a waffle cone, chocolate-dipped-on-a-sugar cone, side-by-side in a cup or blended in a shake, Preston's 30-something flavors are a treat no matter how they come. Enjoy your ice cream on the bench outside the little red door, or walk up Broadway and stop in the various boutiques and antique shops.

After going home to rest and clean up, head to Burlingame Avenue and stop in at to pick up a bottle of wine to bring to dinner. The Wine Stop has a plethora of wines from around the world at reasonable prices and provides impeccable service, giving spot-on recommendations for wine drinkers at varying levels of interest and price points.

Fine wine in hand, move on to dinner at for authentic and delicious Burmese and Mandarin cuisine. The Burmese style curries, spicy lamb, a variety of noodles and traditional fried rice will leave you plenty full but drooling for more.

Day 2:
After a day full of walking, a calm, casual day of strolling – and eating – down “the Ave” is a great way to show off the neighborhood. My advice? Start at the top.

is a small and narrow space, almost easy to pass by unnoticed. But that's what makes it the gem that it is. The counter seating allows for a view of the open kitchen, where you can watch fresh batches of scones being pulled from the oven, Southern Pecan pancakes being stacked and smothered and the Jalisco scramble (black olives, mild green chiles, green onions, tomatoes, cheddar and house-made tomatillo salsa) being piled high next to a mountain of herbed homefries. Wash down your breakfast of choice with fresh squeezed orange juice or fresh pressed apple juice for a refreshing finish.

Meander down Burlingame Avenue and stop in the number of clothing and furniture boutiques, high-end designer shops and retail chains, specialty kitchen and home stores, neighborhood book and flower shops. Have you shopped up an appetite?

Hit up , a native to San Francisco's Mission district with its newest location right in our backyard. It's the freshest, fastest, most delightful Mexican food since . Not only is the food completely delicious, but it comes in large portions and it's affordable. As an added bonus, check out the fresh salsa bar and Mexican Coca-Cola in a tall glass bottle.

Continue down the Avenue across California Drive and check out the historic – an icon in Burlingame dating back to 1894. Just beyond sits one of Burlingame's most beautiful, beloved, and traditional buildings, , set in the gorgeous . After strolling the cool, shady winding pathways, head back up the avenue for a petite french macaroon from , the perfectly small, satisfyingly sweet afternoon treat.

Hungry yet? (I am). Walk or drive the one mile to Broadway for the best pizza this side of the Mississippi, . A landmark among locals for decades, Village Host has been slinging pizzas and burgers for as long as I can remember, and they've been perfection for as long as I can remember. Homemade sauce all the way to the edge of the crust, plentiful mozzarella cheese with a special spattering of cheddar, and a variety of fresh, traditional toppings, all piping hot and served with a smile.

Day 3:
By now, you're probably wondering how much more you could possibly eat in one weekend. I'm with you on this, but believe me, it's possible. Especially when you have an active and healthy day ahead.

In the environmentally-healthy-local-conscious Bay Area, we love our . Every Sunday, the freshest fruits, vegetables, meats, breads and flowers delightfully decorate Park Road. Pick up some berries, some fresh roasted nuts, a couple of ripe apples and some flatbread, toss it in a backpack, and head up Hillside Drive to Adeline Drive for an afternoon hike in (extra points if you walk there).

The trail may be only two miles long and in a residential neighborhood, but it's beautifully secluded, you'll feel hundreds of miles away from Burlingame's bustle. Find a spot on the trail to stop and enjoy your Farmers Market finds.

With the weekend coming to and end, there's one more stop to make to complete this local's tour of Burlingame; . A varied menu with mostly traditional American fare like burgers, wood-fired pizzas, and the best onion rings in town, the Brewery also brews award-winning beer and a spicy draft root beer that will knock your socks off.

While this concludes our three day tour, there's still so much we didn’t even get to! I guess you'll just have to come back for round two. After all, now you know to bring your appetite.