Hi there! My name is Sandy. fancyfoodfancy is where my love for food and photography convene. I was born, raised and currently reside in the San Francisco Bay Area. I love the Bay Area. Aside from it being incredibly diverse and picturesque, there is so much good stuff to eat around here! If you love the Bay too, we should talk.

I love to spend my time sharing meals and cocktails with friends, experimenting in my kitchen, and perusing various farmers markets and antique stores in the area. I love oysters on the half shell, especially with a cold pint of beer. I have dinner with my eighty-four year old grandmother every Sunday, which is when I do most of my cooking and baking for this site.

Because I have a serious sweet tooth, you’ll find lots of baked goods and confections here. But I love breakfast, lunch and dinner as much as I love dessert, so you’ll find savory dishes here, too. I try my best to keep it balanced. Enjoy!

Contact me at: fancyfoodfancy (at) gmail (dot) com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who takes the photographs on fancyfoodfancy?

I am responsible for all of the images here on fancyfoodfancy, unless otherwise noted. I’ve known since I was seventeen years old that one day I would be a photographer, it’s just taken me a while to get here. This site allows me to photograph what I love most on a daily basis.

What kind of camera do you use?

I shoot with a Nikon D90, primarily equipped with a standard (the secret is out!) 18-55mm lens. I also have an old Nikon F2 from the 70′s, which is one of my most prized possessions. If you love film, the F2 is an incredible piece of machinery.

May I use one of your images on my site?

It depends. The images and content on fancyfoodfancy are protected by copyright, so please contact me first for permission. Thank you!

Do you have any culinary training?

Not yet, but maybe one day. My training and inspiration come from the amazing cooks in my family (namely my paternal grandparents, my maternal grandmother, and my Auntie Pam), my love of cooking programs (I live for Saturday mornings on PBS), my twelve-year subscription to Martha Stewart Living courtesy of my Auntie Dianne, cookbooks, magazines, countless establishments in the Bay Area, my food loving friends, and years of practice.

Where do you purchase your hard to find ingredients?

Because I live in the Bay Area, lots of uncommon ingredients are very accessible. I do most of my shopping at Berkeley Bowl Market in Berkeley. I also frequent local farmers markets (the farmers market at the SF Ferry Building really is as great as everyone says it is). I really like Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco for its impressive bulk foods department. I also love The Pasta Shop in Berkeley. Whole Foods is also a great resource.

Why is your blog called fancyfoodfancy?

While I was in the process of creating this blog, I was watching the show Pushing Daisies obsessively. I was in love with the aesthetics of the show and the lead character, who was a pie-maker. One of the shows quirks was its use of alliteration throughout the series, and while I was brainstorming baby names, I had an alliterative name on the tip of my tongue. And then fancyfoodfancy was born. I like the word fancy. And I like things that are a little bit fancy.