'Big League Foodie' Canha talks restaurant recs, book plans

SAN FRANCISCO -- Mark Canha is savoring his return to the Bay Area, in more ways than one.

After being acquired from the Tigers at the July 30 Trade Deadline, the Giants outfielder/first baseman is relishing the opportunity to dig into the San Francisco food scene, which he came to love over his seven seasons with the A’s.

Ahead of Players’ Weekend, Canha -- better known as @bigleaguefoodie on Instagram -- chatted with MLB.com about his favorite local restaurants and other tasty topics.

MLB.com: What was the first place you sought out once you got back into town?

Canha: The Mill is kind of a big spot that I like for breakfast. That was my first stop. For me, it’s all about the bread and coffee. And then there are coffee shops that I like. I’m kind of trying a little bit of the stuff that I love that I’ve had before and also some new stuff.

MLB.com: How did growing up in the Bay Area help shape your development into a foodie?

Canha: There’s so many diverse options. We’ve got a lot of different cultures represented in the Bay Area. I think being around that led to me being more adventurous and wanting to dive in and take advantage of the Bay Area for everything that it has available. I’m lucky to live here. It’s an amazing place to try food.

MLB.com: What are some of your favorite restaurants and spots that you recommend to other people when they come in from out of town?

Canha: Oh man, so many. La Ciccia is one of my favorites in Noe Valley. I always recommend The Mill, Tartine. I went to Plow for breakfast. It’s really good. I went for the first time this morning. It was amazing. I’d recommend it to anybody. Stonemill Matcha. Any Mexican place in the Mission. Those are some of my go-tos.

MLB.com: What would you say was the most memorable meal you’ve ever had here?

Canha: I’ve had a lot. Probably like the Michelin-starred restaurants -- and the bread, too. The first time you have a good piece of sourdough bread, you’re just like, ‘Whoa, I had no idea that bread could be this good.’ But Benu, Corey Lee’s restaurant, was the first time I was like, ‘Whoa, this is taking it to a different level.’ It was the same with places like Atelier Crenn. After my rookie year, we were living in San Francisco. When I played for the A’s, for the majority of the time, I was living in the city year-round, so the first offseason, for my wife’s birthday, which is in October, we went to the French Laundry, and that was obviously memorable.

It’s hard to say just one because there’s so many different places where you get wowed here. You’re so spoiled to have so many good things -- casual and fancy and all different kinds of places.

MLB.com: I know Bob Melvin is a big foodie, too -- do you guys ever trade recommendations?

Canha: Oh yeah, all the time. He’s always telling me where he ate. We’re always saying, “Have you been to this place?”

MLB.com: I think I saw that you were working on a food book at one point -- is that still in the works?

Canha: Yeah, for all intents and purposes, it’s done. I just never published it or did anything with it because I don’t really have time. I’m so busy with baseball. I have a book, but I don’t know what it is. It’s basically like descriptions of all the places I’ve eaten in Major League Baseball cities. People travel around, whether they’re following their home team or trying to see all the ballparks. I see it as a guide to eating in Major League Baseball cities.

MLB.com: Is the goal to get it published?

Canha: I don’t know yet. Eventually. I’m holding onto it right now. I’d love to get it published. I’d love to do something with it. I just don’t really know what it is. I have to find a niche little publisher or someone to help me get it out there.

MLB.com: What do you think is the best big league food city?

Canha: I’m biased, but we’re in it right now, I think. New York is obviously awesome. I love Seattle. That’s pretty well documented, how much I love food in Seattle. Miami is great. Chicago is great. Pretty much the big cities that you would expect are the best, I think. But I think San Francisco, just because I’m from here and there’s something about it. There’s so much, and it’s so familiar to me because I lived here so long.