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    Bay Area Food

    Posted by in 29 Aug, 2006   
    • 09/16/06 breakfast at Fellini Restaurant, 1401 University (at Acton), Berkeley. Vegan Benedict: “Scrambled tofu and veggie Canadian bacon on an open-faced English muffin, topped with vegan Hollandaise, and served with house potatoes and vegan sour cream.” And an iced Americano coffee. Delicious food and coffee, generous portions, and great service — as always. Around $12, excluding tip. Afternoon refreshment: Strawberry Aqua Fresca from Flacos at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market. Only $1.
    • 09/15/06 dinner from Love N Haight, 553 Haight Street (at Steiner), San Francisco. “Vegetarian, vegan & meat sandwiches. Drinks and snacks.” I had a yummy vegan, fake chicken sandwich with mustard, vegan mayo, lettuce, sprouts, and red onion on vegan sourdough. $7 excluding tip, which sounds like a lot, but it was a large sandwich. I finished only 3/4 of it.
    • 09/14/06 dinner at Millenium Restaurant, 580 Geary St., San Francisco. Millenium is a real treat — i.e., expensive. I had a non-alcoholic drink, a couple of appetizers, and dessert. Vegan Egg Cream, “Silk Soy & San Pellegrino mixed with House-Made Organic Chocolate Syrup.” Fancy French fries, a.k.a. “Zaatar and Garlic Spiced, hand cut frites” with spicy, creamy “herb-spring garlic aoili.” Zucchini Napoleon, “layers of corn-orange cauliflower salad & lemon-macadamia nut ‘cheese’, basil-garlic oil, sweet pepper ‘cream'” topped by a couple of thin slices of zucchini squash. Sweet Ending, “assorted truffles & house-made cookies” including decadent fudge with walnuts, several thin sliches of perfectly ripe peach, and a few raspberries and blackberries (the fruit, not the wireless palmtop device). And a cup of decaf coffee. About $32.50, excluding tip. Absolutely worth it. Fantastic flavors, beautiful presentation, elegant atmosphere, and excellent service.
    • 09/07/06 goodies from various vendors at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, which convenes at Shattuck and Rose on Thursdays. Tonight’s dinner from Flacos: Frijoles Negros (spicy black beans) and tacquitos with spicy avocado salsa. Taquitos are: “Thick veggie chicken rolled up in a corn tortilla and fried to perfection … can be ordered non-fried.” Tomorrow’s breakfast: Soy omelette from Hodo Soy Beanery: “Thin layers of soy folded together and pan-fried in a sweetened soy sauce.”. Treats from Vital Vittles: Banana walnut bread, chocolate chip and something else (banana? walnut? I’ve forgotten) bread, toasted almond cookies. Flacos, Hodo, and Vital Vittles all have delicious food!

    • 09/03/06 breakfast picked up yesterday from a vendor at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market. Tofu Omlette (vegan). This has, from what I remember (it’s been several years) the texture of an egg omelette. Thankfully, it didn’t smell or taste like eggs. $5 for a single serving. I was really hungry, otherwise this probably could have been 2 servings. I’ll find out the vendor’s name next time.
    • 09/03/06 coffee at Guerilla Cafe, 1607 Shattuck Avenue (cross streets Cedar and Lincoln), Berkeley. I wandered around this morning, trying to find an espresso place I haven’t tried yet. I saw one, but it had a long line. I didn’t feel like waiting, so I kept wandering; of course, I would have gotten my coffee sooner if I’d waited. Geurilla has the best coffee, so far.
    • 09/02/06 the rest of dinner and dessert from Andronico’s Market, 1550 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley. Andronico’s has a good salad bar with plenty of vegan ooptions, including a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. They also have an olive bar. And don’t forget the demi-baguettes and marzipan fruits from their bakery.
    • 09/02/06 lunch and part of dinner from vendors at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market. I bought vegan banana walnut bread for lunch ($2.50); large portion, very tasty, more like a cake. Unfortunately, I didn’t make note of the vendor’s name. I also tried a few samples from an artisan soy products vendor and bought their Smoked Tofu Loaf and the Tofu Omlette (both vegan; saved the omelette for breakfast). I had some of the loaf for dinner. It had a light smoky flavor, with shiitake mushrooms and carrots. $5 for what ended up being 2 servings. I thought I made note of this vendor’s name, but I can’t find them on the ‘Net. I’ll do better with the vendor names next time!
    • 09/02/06 coffee and breakfast at Fellini Restaurant, 1401 University (at Acton), Berkeley. Delicious vegan French toast, served with vegan margarine and maple syrup. Plus a side of vegan bacon. The Americano was average in cost, above average in taste (rated 4) — perfectly roasted, complex flavor.
    • 09/01/06 dinner at Cha-Ya Japanese Cuisine, 1686 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. 100% vegan; sushi and more. I had salad, sushi, beer, and dessert. The Shira Ae salad (#11 on the menu) has “blanched spinach with seasoned lotus root, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, green beans, tofu pouch, and yam cake, served with a tahini-tofu dressing.” The Vegetable Tempura Roll (#35) consists of “a large roll filled with tempura of banana squash, carrots, yam, and green beans (cut into 5 pieces).” Served with wasabi and picked ginger. For dessert, I had the Pear Compote (#53): “Lightly sweetened fresh Bosc pear, served with vanilla flavored organic soy milk and green tea sauce.” Light, with just the right amount of sweetness. The food was delicious. I was disappointed with the Asahi, a Japanese beer; very fizzy, and not much flavor. I would guess it compares to Budweiser — just a guess, because I don’t remember the last time I drank Bud. Total $22, less tip. I highly recommend Cha-Ya.
    • 09/01/06 coffee from Berkeley Espresso, 1900 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley. I know, did I not read my review from the other day? I did laundry this morning, and BE is close to the laundromat. The cost, of course, is the same: About $2.25 (excluding tip). I’ve downgraded the rating to a 2. I added a teaspoon or so of brown sugar and stirred well before I took a sip; the bitterness still came through. I added a packet of granulated white sugar, and the coffee became tolerable.
    • 08/31/06 dinner at Fellini Restaurant, 1401 University (at Acton), Berkeley. Although Fellini isn’t a vegetarian restaurant, they do offer a good selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes. And they cook the vegan items in vegan-only pans. I had one of today’s specials, Fellini Manicotti: “Pasta shells stuffed with herbed tofu, spinach, and roasted garlic. Topped with cheese and choice of pesto or marinara sauce.” A mixed green salad with vinaigrette dressing and a piece of toast brushed with olive oil accompanied the pasta. Delicious. And filling — I ate about half of the manicotti & took the leftovers with me for lunch tomorrow. I also had an Aranciata (sparkling orange) drink. Total for the meal about $16, excluding tip.
    • 08/31/06 coffee from Fertile Grounds, 1796 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley. Flavorful, bitterness-free coffee and friendly service. Cost: $2.15 (excluding tip). Rating: 4.
    • 08/30/06 dinner at Asiana Garden, 1841 Euclid Avenue, Berkeley. Cons: None. Pros: All vegetarian, mostly vegan. Inexpensive. Good-sized portions. Delicious food! Appetizer: Summer Rolls (lettuce, mint, rice noodle, veggie shrimp & pork in fresh rice paper wrapper) with peanut sauce. I walked a lot today, so I was very hungry. If not for that, this would have been twice as many Summer Rolls as I would have needed. Entree: Vietnamese Crepe, with sauteed mushrooms, bean sprouts & other veggies, and veggie “ham.” The food was presented on white plates with green rings; the color provided visual reinforcement of the freshness of the ingredients. Drink: Salted Plum Lemonade with the perfect balance of saltiness and sweetness. Friendly, helpful owner. $14, excluding tip.
    • 08/30/06 sweets from Andronico’s Market, 1550 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley. I found a lovely selection of marzipan fruits in Andronico’s bakery. Delicious! More almondy and less sugary than other marzipan I’ve had.
    • 08/30/06 coffee at Guerilla Cafe, 1607 Shattuck Avenue (cross streets Cedar and Lincoln), Berkeley. Cons: It looks like Guerilla doesn’t have any vegan food. Pros: Opens at 7:00 a.m. Vegetarian breakfast and lunch items. A bit more expensive than Berkeley Espresso and slower than the coffee chains (i.e., Starbucks or Tully’s) — and worth it. Smooth, mellow, flavorful coffee; not at all bitter. Friendly, pleasant staff. Cost: $3 (excluding tip). Rating: 5.
    • 08/29/06 dessert at Naia Gelateria, 2106 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley. When I asked for the smallest dish, the Gelato Guy told me that was the kid’s size. I asked if I could order that size, and he said “no.” So I’m suing them for age discrimination. Just kidding. Tonight I had the Limone (lemon) sorbetto. Delicious, and lighter than the gelato. $3.25 for the picolo (small) size, excluding tip.
    • 08/29/06 dinner at Eat a Pita, 2511 Durant Avenue (near the university, just off of Telegraph), Berkeley. I had the vegetarian special — fried zucchini, hummus & pita, and cucumber-tomato salad, plus a soda. Cons: The zucchini was a tad greasy, and the hummus lacked garlic. Pros: Inexpensive, and it’ll do in a pinch. Approximately $8, excluding tip.
    • 08/29/06 snacks from Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley. Much more than a pharmacy. Elephant carries a small selection of organic produce, a good variety of vegetarian and vegan snack foods, tons of personal care products (shampoo, sunscreen, etc.), natural health care products (of course), and more.
    • 08/29/06 lunch at Cafe Gratitude, 1730 Shattuck Avenue (cross street Virginia), Berkeley. Cons: Small portions, so the prices seem a bit big. And the atmosphere is a bit … too grateful, at least for a dedicated cynic such as myself. Pros: Delicious food. I ordered side dishes: I Am Fun, “2 pieces of live seasoned almond toast”; I Am a Bit Flourishing, “3 live walnut-almond falafels”; and I Am Grateful, a marinated vegetable salad. The salad featured shredded carrots, zucchini, and cabbage with a light, spicy vinaigrette dressing. The falafels looked and tasted like pesto with a touch of red pepper. The small slices of almond toast were somewhat dense and surprisingly filling. I enjoyed all of the dishes. $9 total (minus tip), not bad for lunch in this area.
    • 08/29/06 coffee from Berkeley Espresso, 1900 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley. I’ve taken on the awesome responsibility of sampling as much Bay Area espresso as possible. I’m sampling iced, double, tall Americanos (no soy milk or sweetener) and using a 5 point rating system: 1 = awful; 2 = mediocre; 3 = average (on par with Starbucks); 4 = better than average; 5 = favorably compares to Caffe Fiore and/or Espresso Vivace, tied (in my opinion) for Best Coffee in Seattle. Cost at Berkeley Espresso: About $2.25 (excluding tip). Rating: A solid 3. The coffee started out fairly smooth but a slight bitterness came through. (In my experience, this all too common.)
    • 08/29/06 breakfast groceries from Andronico’s Market, 1550 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley. Andronico’s has a great selection of vegetarian, vegan, and organic foods and other products. I picked up some soy yogurt, soy milk, cereal, and a Forno Demi Baguette. Vegans, be sure to ask about the breads; some contain butter and/or milk.
    • 08/28/06 dessert at Naia Gelateria, 2106 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley. Naia offers a dozen or so vegan gelatos (Italian style ice cream) and sorbettos (fruit, water, & sugar), as well as many gelatos made with cow’s milk. The vegan gelatos are soy-based and exceptionally creamy. So far, I’ve tried the Madagascar Vanilla, Cacao, Scharffen Berger (dark, decadent chocoloate), and pecan, and heartily recommend them all. Con: The “picolo” (small) serving is a lot of gelato, especially right after a meal. I thought I saw smaller dishes, so Naia may have smaller servings. If you go by yourself, go when you’re hungry, or ask for a “smaller than picolo” option. If you go with another person, try sharing a picolo. Pros: Bright & cheery atmosphere, friendly service, delicious gelato & sorbettos, choice of 2 flavors for a picolo serving.
    • 08/28/06 dinner at Vegi Food, 2085 Vine Street, Berkeley. Cash only. I had Spring Rolls (2 for $3) and Gluten Balls with Curry Sauce ($6.25). Vegi Food might be strict Chinese Buddhist, like Bamboo Garden in Seattle — none of the dishes contain garlic or onions. Cons: The Spring Rolls were greasy and they, and the accompanying plum(?) sauce, lacked flavor. The restrooms are outside of the restaurant, around the back. They are also cramped and, while they seemed clean, could use a coat of paint (OK, I was only in the women’s room). Pros: Flavorful curry, good-sized portion, friendly owner, low prices, good selection. I would give them another try.

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