REPOST: my bay area restaurant tour
(artwork: aaron alvarez)
* i am reposting this story because our summer time in california has come to an end. we ate and ate as much as we could. this summer we were forced to explore new spots because cesar, one of our favorites has closed…i am still SLAYED about that. here are some of our new places:
BENCHMARK PIZZA in kensington. the pizza is really yummy but i am obsessed with the farro salad that has mint and melon and feta.
(this is their signature pie)
(i LOVE this farro salad)
DONKEY & GOAT is really a wine bar but they DO have snacks (cheese and charcuterie) and an outdoor grill. my darling friend CW introduced our high school friends to this place where you can gather at tables outside. the wine is lovely and it is terrific for a group!
STARTER BAKERY in rockridge. the sandwiches are incredible but the kouign amann pastries are magical.
(these things are OUTRAGEOUS!)
PETIT CAFE is around the corner from my father’s rehab facility and was where we went for super yummy salads, quiches and melt in your mouth peanut butter cookies. all of the people who work there are so lovely and it was a much needed oasis in the midst of my father’s recovery. PLUS they always gave rosie homemade doggy biscuits.
(the peanut butter cookies will upend your world)
(i’m even tempted by these… rosie LOVES them!)
OUR ORIGINAL FAVORITES:
we are half way through our summer sojourn in california and i am proud to say that we have eaten at (almost) all of our favorite restaurants and even added a couple of new goodies. i try to be super organized about this, like a tactical general, because it just guts me to leave with unfinished business.
here is our gastronomic tour so far:
luca - the DELICIOUS italian place first night!
top order: spaghetti and meatballs with vodka sauce.
cheese board pizza - they only make one kind a day and we really lucked out on day two - feta and lemon and i don’t know what… super tasty.
CORNDOGS
(perfect corndogs)
(this ride was bananas!)
corn dogs at santa cruz beach boardwalk. they are fresh made - you can see them dipping them in the batter. i WILL say we had them right before going on the “fireball” which wasn’t the best idea… should have let lunch settle more before such a spinny, lurchy ride.
(this fish is dreamy)
(the dressing on the midori is tip top)
akemi - japanese for father’s day dinner.
top order for me and dad: miso black cod and midori salad… so GOOD!
china village for dim sum - lucy’s favorite!
top order: “jello shrimp” as lu calls them (steamed shrimp dumplings.)
KIRALA
kirala sushi - more yummy japanese.
top order: i like the simple “childlike” rolls… avocado, california… the kids get crazy things with sauces and eggs and many ingredients.
picante - fresh california mexican food.
top order: open faced tacos with lots of guac on the side.
(the exterior)
(the fried chicken salad - also amazing in the roasted (“flipped”) version!)
NEW - proposition chicken - lucy literally licked her plate!
top order - flipped chicken kale salad (and i don’t even like kale) with mint and lemon parm dressing.
NEW - caffenated coffee co - amazing brunch and BEAUTIFUL outdoor space.
top order: blue grits and pork belly with poached egg
(BEST feeling in this space)
(these guys are my FAVORITE!)
and of course, my favorite restaurant in the whole wide world - cesar. i am heartbroken that they are being pushed out of their space (that they have occupied for nearly THIRTY years) but so hopeful that they will have found a wonderful place to land by next summer. we have been eating here every thursday (only one more left!)
top order: fried potatoes, cucumber gazpacho, little gems salad, filet mignon.
PRAISE JESUS the bar method in berkeley (my favorite exercise class) is still up and running or i would really be in a pickle. it feels so GOOD to go back to class and i even tried THREE pound weights (i have only ever used two pounders) last class for the first time in ten years because i have been getting worried that i might give myself a black eye with my dinner lady arms flying around. i bruise pretty easily. i am hoping that my bar classes are neutralizing all of my bay area dinners! BON APPETIT! x0x