Lunch at Park Chow on Sunday was crowded, as can be expected on Father’s Day, and there were infants and toddlers in abundance. We were seated at an outside table. After a bit, we noticed the dogs. Not every diner was accompanied by one, but almost.

Because the short ribs (excellent as usual), held most of my attention, I failed to realize how strange it was to be among so many dogs at a restaurant. There was a dog bowl of water on the patio. A tiny creature came under our table, but turned up its nose at macaroni a previous diner had dropped.

Later, I learned through the power of the internet that Park Chow is a ‘dog-friendly’ spot. And that the outside tables generally go to those with dogs in tow. Which might explain the looks we got from the dachshund/sheltie mix, the bulldog and the spaniel as we were leaving.

But this being San Francisco, no one was drooling.

Photographing herring is not the challenge that photographing Bombay duck turned out to be. Having herring and durian in the fridge at the same time means periodic wafting of odors that might get unpleasant as the temps rise. So far, the higher notes of herring are dominant.

Durian can only be described as hovering in the bass range. If ever there was a food that could walk out of a refrigerator on its own momentum, durian would certainly be it.