A great destination for foodies, San Francisco lies at the heart of the California cuisine movement. This trend fuses disparate culinary traditions, including those of Europe and Asia, and incorporates high-quality regional ingredients in a truly local cuisine. Fresh produce and seafood figure prominently, and healthful preparations are standard. A pioneer of the genre, Alice Waters, operates Chez Panisse in Berkeley, one of the top restaurants of its kind in the nation. Today, many variations of California cuisine exist, and many exhibit French tendencies. San Francisco’s best establishments take the impulse and run with it, delighting in organic goods and authentic flavors. Characteristic of these well-received places are Boulevard, whose Art Nouveau interior is as mesmerizing as its fine fare, and Aqua, where seafood is elevated to new heights amid soothing hues and spectacular floral arrangements. Greens Restaurant takes the California premise to a logical vegetarian conclusion, pairing incomparable views with fabulous dishes so inventive that meat is never missed. Fortunately, San Francisco restaurateurs have also capitalized on the city’s beauty, as seen in Slanted Door’s marvelous Bay vista – a wonderful complement to the restaurant’s incredible Vietnamese cuisine. Terrific food can be found, too, in places as unassuming as Mama’s on Washington Square, a North Beach mainstay known for scrumptious morning meals and convivial weekend lineups.