Work It, Berk: July 2021

Friday, July 30, 2021

Work It, San Francisco: Brian

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Spotted at West Coast Craft at Fort Mason Festival Pavilion.

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Thursday, July 29, 2021

Work It, San Francisco: Monika and Una

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Spotted at West Coast Craft at Fort Mason Festival Pavilion.

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Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Work It, San Francisco: Shana Sarin of Trustfund21

You can follow Shana's brand, Trustfund21, on Instagram.

Spotted at West Coast Craft at Fort Mason Festival Pavilion.

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Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Work It, San Francisco: Lauren

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Spotted at West Coast Craft at Fort Mason Festival Pavilion.

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Monday, July 26, 2021

Work It, San Francisco: Eli

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"Spotted" at West Coast Craft at Fort Mason Festival Pavilion.

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Friday, July 23, 2021

Eat in Oakland: Rockridge Cafe

Strawberry Waffle with strawberries, homemade strawberry butter, and maple syrup

Corned Beef Hash made with corned beef, potato, onion, green & red bell peppers, eggs over easy, and a blueberry muffin

Located on College and Lawton in Oakland's Rockridge neighborhood, Rockridge Cafe is one of my favorite brunch spots nearby. They serve all of the breakfast diner hits, along with trendier options for the younger brunch crowd.

On my most recent visit, I tried two new dishes: the Strawberry Waffle and Corned Beef Hash. Topped with fresh strawberries, homemade strawberry butter, and real maple syrup, this is not a waffle to sleep on. It's not overly sweet and is a great option to share with the table. The hash had a surprisingly savory flavor and was served with perfectly made eggs over easy, along with a choice of toast, scone, or muffin. Although I usually go for the blueberry muffin, they did have marionberry jelly at the table—hard to find outside of the fruit's native Portland, OR—making the toast options more appealing.

I've enjoyed the Classic Breakfast Burrito as well as various omelettes previously. If you've visited Rockridge Cafe recently, what do you recommend trying?

Rockridge Cafe

Website | Facebook | Yelp

5492 College Ave., Oakland, CA 94618

Open: Daily 8am - 2pm

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Thursday, July 22, 2021

Eat in Oakland: Smitten Ice Cream

Cookie Dough ice cream

Chocolate Ganache ice cream

I finally visited Smitten Ice Cream, a popular ice cream shop with multiple locations throughout the Bay Area, two weeks ago. They're known for serving small batches of fresh ice cream made with a customized machine that employs liquid nitrogen.

We tried two flavors when we stopped by their Rockridge location on College and Birch: Cookie Dough in a cone and Chocolate Ganache in a cup. Both were smooth in texture and consistency, and did taste specially made. While the chocolate was very, well, chocolaty, the Cookie Dough had good-sized chunks of the namesake ingredient. (I do wish there was more cookie dough though!) Their cones were also quite good—who doesn't like a homemade cone?

If you've visited Smitten Ice Cream, what do you recommend trying?

Smitten Ice Cream

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Yelp

5800 College Ave., Oakland, CA 94618

Open: Daily 1 - 11pm

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Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Eat in Berkeley: Toss Noodle Bar

Thai-Style Hokkien Noodles with Chicken

Hokkien Noodles with Pork in Green Curry

Thai Iced Tea

I've been to Toss Noodle Bar, a casual Asian fusion restaurant located on Shattuck and Kittredge in Downtown Berkeley, countless times, the most recent being a few weeks ago.

Although Toss offers a variety of noodles, sauces, and protein options to choose from, I always order the same thing—the hokkien noodles in a Thai-style sauce with chicken—because it hits the spot. The noodles are the right amount of greasy and spicy, and come with everything I want in a Thai noodle dish, including fresh broccoli, carrots, and fried eggs. Along with my usual order, I tried some of my dining companion's dish: the hokkien noodles with pork in green curry. Although the green curry and pork had a nice flavor, it might have been easier to have them with rice, instead of noodles. I enjoyed the refreshing Thai Iced Tea as well.

If you've visited Toss Noodle Bar recently, what do you recommend trying?

Toss Noodle Bar

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Yelp

2272 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704

Open: Daily 11am - 8:30pm

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Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Eat in San Francisco: Montesacro Pinseria Romana

Maranella Pinsa made with mozzarella, broccolini, spicy pork sausage, and stracciatella di burrata

Ceci e Barbabietole made with chickpeas, beets, mixed greens, pistachio, pickled red onion, and goat cheese

Torta del Ghetto: Roman Ghetto Tart with sheep’s ricotta, chocolate, and wild cherry

I visited Montesacro Pinseria Romana, an Italian restaurant located on Stevenson and 6th in San Francisco's SoMa district, for the first time a few weeks ago. Montesacro specializes in an ancient Roman flatbread called pinsa that's made with a combination of rice, soy, and wheat flour. This was my first time trying pinsa, but it won't be my last.

My dining companion and I ordered the Maranella Pinsa made with mozzarella, broccolini, spicy pork sausage, and stracciatella di burrata. It came with huge chunks of cheese and flavorful sausage, the latter being my requisite pizza topping. I didn't even notice it didn't have sauce. The flatbread itself is worth writing home about. It has an interesting, rustic texture and a heartiness that makes me want more. We also tried the Ceci e Barbabietole beet and chickpea salad made with fresh ingredients and ended the meal with the Torta del Ghetto, a tart made with ricotta, chocolate, and cherry. Overall, this was a fantastic meal I want to repeat soon.

Like their rustic dough and its ancient beginnings, the restaurant itself is a sight to see. It's located in one of SoMa's alleys (what San Franciscans call "streets") and its interior transports you to an old Roman pinseria, or even someone's own kitchen, with its metal seats and wooden tables. If you've visited Montesacro Pinseria Romana before, what do you recommend trying?

Montesacro Pinseria Romana

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Yelp

510 Stevenson St., San Francisco, CA 94103

Open: Sunday - Thursday 5 - 9pm, Friday - Saturday 4 - 9pm

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Monday, July 19, 2021

Eat in Oakland: Lion Dance Cafe

Jackfruit Rendang & Rice made with jackfruit caramelized in coconut spice paste, coconut pandan rice, sambal belacan, fried shallots, peanuts, and cucumbers

Tauhu Goreng Sandwich made with fried Hodo tofu, spicy peanut assam sauce, makrut lime leaf, Thai chili mayo, cilantro, shallots, and cucumbers on a coconut turmeric brioche bun

Sesame & Chicory Salad made with Little Gem lettuce, radish, shiso, sesame and Sichuan peppercorn dressing, ginger-infused fried soybeans, and shaobing croutons

Prawnless Chips

I stopped by Lion Dance Cafe for the first time a few weeks ago with my friend Moriah VanVleet of the dessert blog, butter, sugar, flowers, upon her recommendation. I never heard of this vegan Singaporean restaurant, located on 17th and Franklin in Uptown Oakland, before she mentioned it.

We ordered a few dishes to share: the Jackfruit Rendang & Rice, Tauhu Goreng Sandwich with Prawnless Chips, and Sesame & Chicory Salad. Traditionally featuring beef, the Jackfruit Rendang had jackfruit caramelized in coconut spice paste, coconut pandan rice, sambal belacan, fried shallots, peanuts, and cucumber. The Tauhu Goreng Sandwich came with a huge piece of tofu covered in a spicy peanut assam sauce and served with makrut lime leaf, pickled Thai chili mayo, cilantro, shallot, and cucumber on a coconut turmeric brioche bun. Both dishes can be characterized by their dynamic flavors, ones I've never had before.

The Sesame & Chicory Salad—made with Little Gem lettuce, radish, shiso, sesame and Sichuan peppercorn dressing, ginger-infused fried soybeans, and shaobing croutons—had a great crunchy texture and bitterness I liked. The tofu sandwich was served with Prawnless Chips that were airy and fun to eat. Overall, this was an experience for the books. I don't believe I've had Singaporean food before and was surprised to learn after the meal that the cafe is vegan.

Since they're only open for pick-up now, I'd recommend enjoying your meal a few blocks away on the grass by Lake Merritt. If you've visited Lion Dance Cafe before, what do you recommend trying?

Lion Dance Cafe

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Yelp

380 17th St., Oakland, CA 94612

Open: Wednesday - Saturday 5pm - 8:30pm

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