Yes, I said it!  Sure I realize that Chez Pannise in Berkeley is the birth place for California Cuisine, (and Berkeley has great restaurants), but in recent years Oakland has moved the real food movement forward. There are many restaurants here that serve locally grown and delicious food.  This weekend was all about the food, [...]

In addition to being a beautiful centerpiece on your dining room table, artichokes are mouthwatering when they are in season.  The other day, I picked up a few local artichokes at Berkeley Bowl West for $1 each and my daughter and I indulged in the savory treat after my tedious cleaning and de-thorning.  (yes, I [...]

Coming in about two weeks is Scream! Sorbet.  This is some of the best sorbet out there.  Super creamy, seasonal flavors and incredibly refreshing.  My favorite flavor is the lime mint.  I have been buying scream sorbet at the farmer’s markets for years and now they are setting up shop at 5030 Telegraph Avenue in the [...]

Recently, I have felt the buzz circling around the East Bay. Foodies  are out weekday and weekend to get their fill of our phenomenal  cuisine.  Last weekend Kermit Lynch had their annual Oyster Bliss,  featuring oyster’s from Monterey Market, food from the former chef of Eccolo, sweets from Cafe Fanny, bread from Acme Bread Co. [...]

Here are a few of my favorite places to grab quality food on the run.  Cafe 15 is in Downtown Oakland at 597 15th Street behind the State building.  This is owned and operated by husband and wife team Lauren and Arash Ghasemi  (Arash was a chef at Eccolo restaurant on 4th Street in Berkeley, [...]

I recently investigated a few more restaurants for you!  Bocanova has now been open for a month in Jack London Square.  I love the dinning room and outdoor seating.  The little gem salad was fantastic and my halibut sandwich with onions, peppers and avocado was very satisfying.  My friend ordered a few items that I [...]

The other week, I attended the Eat Real Fest at Jack London Square.  To kick off the festival there was an ice cream evening.  It was  a 90 degree Friday night, Perfect!  Ice cream for dinner.  In the name of research  I sampled several scoops of creamy goodness.  If I had to pick my [...]

In the 1950’s Giovanni Gianni, (Papa Gianni) moved his family to America and in 1956 opened the first espresso house on the West Coast on Vallejo Street in San Francisco.   Now 50+ years later, a cult following and several Bay Area locations, it is fitting that food mecca, Oakland gets a location.  Last evening [...]

Oakland is often written in the media as a gritty, high crime city to avoid.  Oakland insiders know Oakland as the only city we want to live in.  It is not that we are oblivious to our City’s flaws, but we love the culture, feel completely at ease and understand our potential.  Being the foodie [...]

Last weekend I made a point of getting out and enjoying my community.  Friday morning I headed to Brown Sugar restaurant, a cute soul food eatery on Mandela Parkway in West Oakland operated by chef  proprietor, Tanya Holland. I had a “screaming”, (that means unbelievable, over the top) piece of brown sugar peach coffee cake, [...]