I've never successfully made French onion soup either, didn't manage to get the onions cooked to the right color and texture. It's easy to do badly, I think -- once I had some in a restaurant on Long Island that I nearly choked on because the melted cheese was unchewable. There's a place down the block here that makes a good version, but it's a little salty for me to have too often. Well, now I know what I'll have to go have sometime soon!

San Francisco has good soup, eh? I've never been there, must go someday. They sell cioppino in tubs at a local market. Is that something you like?