I don’t think I’m alone in my opinion that Tartine Bakery is the best bakery I have been to in the United States. Based on the line that forms along the sidewalk 7 days a week, Tartine continues to be a destination in San Francisco. The first time I made the trip here I mistakenly ordered only one item. Not this time. I started with an open-faced croque monsieur made on extra-thick, sesame-crusted country bread with béchamel, gruyere, sun-dried tomatoes, and smoked Niman Ranch ham. I am now a true believer in the open-faced sandwich. My friend had the same with Cowgirl Creamery fromage blanc and smoked turkey. Another friend had a vegetarian version with everything but the meat. We each also chose a dessert to accompany our meal. I had the famous brioche bread pudding topped with fresh cranberries. Or as I call it, “perfection in a bowl.” My friends ordered a frangipane tart and a chocolate hazelnut tart. I tried a little bit of everything and words cannot properly describe the joy I felt after eating. Diets are meant to be broken at Tartine. On our way out the door we grabbed a bag of oatmeal currant cookies with lemon zest, which we devoured after an exhausting day of cross-country skiing in Tahoe. A perfect ending to a perfect day.