After serving locally sourced fare to San Francisco's foodies for over two decades, the renowned Boulettes Larder at the Ferry Building has shut its doors. The beloved eatery, which has been around since the marketplace's rebirth in 2004, closed yesterday after a long and successful run, confiding to fans on social media that they're exploring new ventures while staying true to their culinary roots. "Thank you. You’ve made this journey not just possible—but unforgettable," read a heartfelt message from co-owners Amaryll Schwertner and Lori Regis on the Boulettes Larder's Facebook page.
As per The SF Standard, the co-owners described the decision to close as "a natural and elegant end" to their enterprise. While the future isn't crystal clear, Schwertner wanted to pause for reflection and writing before reigniting her flame for cooking. "And I'm looking forward to it," she added, hinting at a continued pursuit of culinary excellence.
The legacy of Boulettes Larder is marked by its commitment to seasonality and farm-to-table values. Embodying an ethos that rivaled the fervor of food icons like Alice Waters, Schwertner and Regis crafted a daily menu that celebrated California's bountiful produce and artisanal goods. GQ magazine once praised the restaurant's brunch, with critic Alan Richman bestowing the cheeky honorific "Extraterrestrial Organic" on it, admiring the meticulous attention to every bite.
Known as much for its atmosphere as its cuisine, the space's design included an open kitchen and charming details like a communal cherry-wood table adorned with fresh flowers, evoking a homey yet luxurious dining experience. It wasn't just the interior that made an impression; the pair's private dinners attracted notables from various disciplines, leading to memorable encounters with public figures such as Bono and Tadao Ando. Reflecting on a dinner for the Japanese architect, Schwertner shared with The SF Standard, "A week later, I received a letter from his interpreter saying that Mr. Ando had seldom enjoyed a meal in the U.S. more than the one which I had prepared for him that day."
