Work It, Berk

420 W. Grand Ave., Oakland, CA 94612

Open: Monday - Thursday 7am - 9pm, Friday 7am - 10pm, Saturday 7am - 11pm, Sunday 7am - 9pm

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Thursday, June 29, 2023

Eat in Oakland: Michael's Chocolates

Stracciatella gelato

On a warm day in mid-May, my dining companion and I were killing some time before meeting a friend on Grand Avenue. Since ice cream is often the answer, we stopped by Michael's Chocolates for a scoop of gelato. Located on Grand at Elwood, this shop sells artisanal chocolates and a variety of gelato.

We chose a classic flavor: stracciatella. It was quite good, as would be expected from a store specializing in sweets. I remember thinking it was creamy, had the right amount of chocolate, and hit the spot.

The next time we're in the area, I may try one of their fancy chocolates filled with Salted Caramel or Hazelnut Espresso.

Michael's Chocolates

3352 Grand Ave., Oakland, CA 94610

Open: Tuesday 12pm - 6pm, Wednesday - Saturday 12pm - 7pm, Sunday 12pm - 6pm

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Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Eat in Oakland: Fresh Catch Poke

Spicy Tuna Poke Bowl with seaweed salad and imitation crab salad

In late April, my friend and I tried Fresh Catch Poke, a poke food truck based in the Bay Area, for the first time at the Off the Grid food truck event that occurs every Friday at the Oakland Museum of California on 10th and Oak Streets.

I ordered the Spicy Tuna Poke Bowl with seaweed salad and imitation crab salad. Every bit of it was incredible. The tuna was fresh, high-quality, and dressed perfectly in the tangy, mayo-y, salmon roe-covered sauce; the poke was complemented well by both of the salads and sushi-grade rice. This was the perfect elevated food truck meal. I've eaten many a burrito on the sidewalk from a truck, but appreciated being able to order something I could enjoy at one of the many picnic tables set up along 10th Street.

We were not only happy to see that the truck had fantastic food, it also had a short line. (Pro-tip: arrive early so you don't have to wait 30 minutes for the scraps that other food trucks haven't sold out of.) The next time I'm at OMCA on a Friday night, I will definitely order the poke from Fresh Catch Poke again.

Fresh Catch Poke

Open: see website

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Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Eat in San Francisco: Limoncello

The Veggie sandwich made with roasted red bell peppers, portobello mushroom, avocado, roasted eggplant, artichoke hearts, pepperoncini, greens, tomato, pepper, pesto, olive oil, and vinegar

In mid-April, I visited Limoncello, an Italian deli and market located on the corner of Sutter and Franklin in Lower Pac Heights, for the first time while catching up with an old friend.

I ordered The Veggie sandwich, which was made with roasted red bell peppers, portobello mushroom, avocado, roasted eggplant, artichoke hearts, pepperoncini, greens, tomato, pepper, pesto, olive oil, and vinegar. It hit the spot. Although I don't remember every detail, I remember thinking it had all the vegetables and dynamic flavors I like in a hearty sandwich. It was prepared with care, was affordably priced, and we didn't have to wait in a long line to receive our food, which is often the case at popular Italian delis.

I would definitely visit Limoncello if I'm in the area in search of lunch again. Beyond their expansive menu, I'd like to continue exploring their market, which features tons of Italian foods I didn't even know I wanted.

Limoncello

1400 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94109

Open: Sunday - Thursday 9am - 8pm, Friday - Saturday 9am - 9pm

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Monday, June 26, 2023

Eat in Los Angeles: Simpang Asia

Roti Paratha: flaky paratha bread, served with a curry dip

Chicken Sate: grilled chicken skewers, topped with peanut sauce

Laksa: seafood curry noodle soup made with yellow noodles, shrimp, squid, fish ball, tofu, green mussel, bean sprout, cucumber, and cilantro

Nasi Goreng: Indonesian Fried Rice with a choice of meat

Mie Tek Tek: vintage Indonesian street fried noodle made with egg noodles, chicken breast, eggs, cabbage, and Chinese greens

I visited Simpang Asia, a casual Indonesian restaurant in the Palms neighborhood of West Los Angeles, with my family for the first time in early April. Located in a strip mall on the corner of National and National — look it up! It bends at a 90-degree angle here — they serve delicious traditional comfort and street food alike.

We started with two dishes: Roti Paratha, that buttery flatbread I love to dip in the accompanying yellow curry sauce, and Chicken Sate, delicious grilled chicken skewers topped with peanut sauce. For our main courses, my mom enjoyed her Laksa: seafood curry noodle soup made with yellow noodles, shrimp, squid, fish ball, tofu, green mussel, bean sprout, cucumber, and cilantro. My dad liked his Nasi Goreng, which is Indonesian Fried Rice with a choice of meat. I enjoyed my order of Mie Tek Tek — vintage Indonesian street fried noodle made with egg noodles, chicken breast, eggs, cabbage, and Chinese greens. Although I don't remember the specifics, I remember loving every dish and being impressed by how much detail and care they put into everything they made. They also had excellent service, reminiscent of what you might encounter at a fine dining establishment.

I would definitely visit Simpang Asia the next time I'm in the area, perhaps trying the Soto lime-turmeric chicken soup or Char Kway Teow rice noodle dish.

Simpang Asia

10433 National Blvd., Ste. 2, Los Angeles, CA 90034

Open: Daily 11am - 10pm

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Friday, June 23, 2023

Eat in Los Angeles: Laziz Grill

The Combo Kabob made with charbroiled chicken and ground beef skewers, white basmati rice topped with saffron, grilled tomato, onion, and pita bread

I visited Laziz Grill, a casual Persian restaurant on Westwood and Missouri in West Los Angeles, for the first time in early April, while catching up with an old friend. As has been the habit, I try to eat as much Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food as I can when I'm in LA.

I ordered what I usually get at Persian restaurants: the Combo Kabob plate featuring charbroiled chicken and ground beef skewers, white basmati rice with saffron, a grilled tomato, onion, and pita bread. Laziz's kabobs were as good as expected. The meat was well-made and flavorful, while it was complemented by the rice, tomato, and onion well. My friend liked her kabob plate as well as the Tachin rice cake. Their portions are large, so be prepared for leftovers.

The next time I'm in the area, I'll probably order the beef kabobs again, stopping by Mashti Malone's next door for ice cream afterwards.

Laziz Grill

1896 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025

Open: Tuesday - Sunday 11am - 8:45pm

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Thursday, June 22, 2023

Eat in Oakland: Big Dill Kitchen at Oaktown Spice Shop

Sumac & Onion Focaccia and Pistachio Lemon Olive Oil Cake

After missing an earlier pop-up for Big Dill Kitchen, I was excited to see that Helia had another one at Oaktown Spice Shop in early March. Through Big Dill Kitchen, Helia shares the incredible Persian food she makes on Instagram and for sale at events around the Bay Area. Oaktown Spice Shop sells a variety of spices at locations on Grand across from Lake Merritt in Oakland and on Solano in Albany. Stocked with more chili, herb, and salt varieties than you knew existed, it is easily one of the best-smelling stores around.

Helia offered a few baked goods, teas, and carrot jam at her pop-up. I tried both of the baked goods: the Sumac & Onion Focaccia and the Pistachio Lemon Olive Oil Cake. Both were quite good. The bread was better than your usual focaccia, which was made possible by the sumac and onions that added a nice flavor. The olive oil cake was moist and the lemon provided a dynamic flavor, while the pistachio gave it a nice crunch and color on top.

The next time Helia has a pop-up, I'll be sure to try another baked good and the Persian Carrot Jam, which I've heard good things about.

Big Dill Kitchen

Website | Instagram

Open: see Instagram for details

Oaktown Spice Shop

546 Grand Ave., Oakland, CA 94610

Open: Daily 10am - 7pm

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Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Eat in Berkeley: Comal

Tacos made with wood-grilled rock cod, spicy pickled cabbage, and avocado aioli

El Chavo made with blanco tequila, cacao, cardamom, lime, and bitters

Although I've visited Comal Next Door on Grand a few times now, my first and only visit to Comal, their original restaurant on Shattuck between Addison and University in Downtown Berkeley, was in mid-February. I tried it with my two food blogger friends: Moriah and Brenda.

Along with chips and guacamole to share, I ordered a drink to start: El Chavo made with blanco tequila, cacao, cardamom, lime, and bitters. I remember it was clearly made with care and was quite refreshing. For the main course, I had the Tacos made with wood-grilled rock cod, spicy pickled cabbage, and avocado aioli. They were also quite good. Although I don't remember all the specifics, I do remember thinking it was a great place to catch up with friends.

The restaurant is much larger than I thought; it even has a patio in the back. I would definitely stop by for a cocktail or dinner in the future — the tamales, empanadas, and enchiladas in particular sound good.

Comal

2020 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704

Open: Sunday 5:30pm - 9pm, Monday - Wednesday 5:30pm - 9:30pm, Thursday - Saturday 5:30pm - 10:30pm

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Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Eat in Oakland: Soba Ichi

Tamagoyaki: Japanese-style savory omelet

Left: Tsukemono - assorted veggie pickles

Right: Soba-ko Kaarage with Garlic Mayo - chicken thigh fried with buckwheat flour

Tempura Soba: soba noodles in hot soup with assorted tempura

I tried Soba Ichi, a Japanese restaurant specializing in soba noodles on Magnolia off West Grand in West Oakland, for the first time in mid-February with my dining companion and a friend, both of whom had been waiting to visit for a while. Formerly occupied by FuseBOX, a Korean "soju bang" pub-style restaurant, Soba Ichi serves buckwheat noodles either hot or cold as well as many popular side dishes.

We tried a few dishes on our visit. We started with a few appetizers: Tamagoyaki (a Japanese-style savory omelet), Tsukemono (pickled vegetables), and Soba-ko Kaarage fried chicken. We then had the Tempura Soba as our main course: soba noodles in hot soup with assorted tempura. Although I don't remember the specifics, I remember being impressed by the quality of the food, which they clearly put a lot of care into creating. We tried a nice selection of starters to begin with — from the savory omelete to the tangy pickled veggies. Although I prefer Aburaya's fried chicken, Soba Ichi's made with a nice dry rub was still worth trying. The tempura was battered like we like and it was nice to dip the soba noodles in the hot soup.

Soba Ichi is well-reviewed by my friends and food writers I follow alike; as seen with the long line to order, it's clearly popular. I'm not sure I'll return as it's a bit out of my way and I'm not the biggest fan of soba. It was nice to try a more specialized Japanese restaurant and I appreciate the experience we shared in this intimate setting.

Soba Ichi

2311 Magnolia St., Ste. A, Oakland, CA 94607

Open: Wednesday - Sunday 5pm - 9pm

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Monday, June 19, 2023

Eat in Berkeley: Rose Pizzeria

She Wolf pizza made with burrata, tomato sauce, garlic confit, olives, capers, and Sicilian oregano

Spicy Caesar Salad with little gem lettuce, Shared Cultures miso, chili dressing, black pepper, pecorino, and crispy breadcrumbs

I shared an amazing meal with my friend Moriah at Rose Pizzeria, a pizza restaurant located on University and Milvia in Downtown Berkeley, in late January.

Although it was my first time there, I heard amazing things from friends and local food writers. We tried a few things during our visit: some rosé, the Spicy Caesar Salad, the She Wolf pizza, and the Budino for dessert. Everything from the service and atmosphere to the food was incredible. The salad was one of the best Caesar salads I've had; I remember enjoying its dynamic flavor and crunchy texture in particular. The She Wolf pizza — made with burrata, tomato sauce, garlic confit, olives, capers, and Sicilian oregano — was made with fresh ingredients and had a nice medley of flavors. The chocolate budino, which I didn't photograph, was as rich and decadent as expected.

Overall, it was a pleasant experience that I would like to repeat in the future. The next time I stop by, I might try the Old Faithful featuring fennel pork sausage, Mama Lil’s goat horn peppers, green onion, mozzarella, pecorino, tomato sauce, and Sicilian oregano.

Rose Pizzeria

1960 University Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704

Open: Wednesday - Sunday 12pm - 9pm

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Friday, June 16, 2023

Eat in Oakland: Grand Avenue Social Club

Traditional Breakfast: eggs, toast, chicken apple sausage, and home fried potatoes

I stopped by Grand Avenue Social Club, a dinner and brunch restaurant located inside a beautiful craftsman on Grand between Weldon and Davidson, for the first time in late January for brunch.

I ordered the Traditional Breakfast, which came with two eggs, toast, bacon or chicken apple sausage, and hash browns or home fried potatoes. I chose the chicken apple sausage and home fried potatoes. This was everything I want in a hearty brunch meal: equal parts protein and carbs, perfect for catching up with a friend.

Although I don't remember more of the specifics, I remember thinking the restaurant interior was lovely, the ambiance was very homey and comfortable, and the service was friendly. The next time I'm seeking a nearby brunch option, I may try the Corned Beef & Fennel Hash.

Grand Avenue Social Club

3601 Grand Ave., Oakland, CA 94610

Open: Wednesday - Sunday 5pm - 9pm, Saturday - Sunday 10am - 3pm

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Thursday, June 15, 2023

Eat in Santa Monica: Sweet Rose Creamery

Peppermint Patty ice cream

I visited Sweet Rose Creamery, an ice cream shop on Main between Hill and Ashland in Santa Monica, twice in December.

Both times I tried a scoop of the Peppermint Patty, a festive seasonal choice. As a fan of mint and chocolate, I thought this was quite a treat. Their ice cream is clearly made with high-quality ingredients and it's perfect to enjoy on a stroll down Main Street.

Next time I'm in the area, I might go for the Salted Caramel, Bonito Coffee, or Jam on Toast, one of their new flavors for May.

Sweet Rose Creamery

2726 Main St., Santa Monica, CA 90405

Open: Monday - Thursday 3pm - 10pm, Friday - Sunday 12pm – 10pm

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Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Eat in Santa Monica: BIBIBOP Asian Grill

Build Your Own bowl

BIBIBOP Asian Grill is a fast-casual, pan-Asian restaurant with several locations nationally. The one I've visited a few times now is found on the Third Street Promenade at Santa Monica Boulevard in Santa Monica.

They serve a variety of bases that you then top with a protein, veggies, and special sauces. I usually get the purple rice, steak or chicken, and a majority of the veggie options — carrots, kimchi, pickled red cabbage, cucumber, and eggs — topped with the gochujang sauce. It's everything I want in a quick, delicious, varied rice bowl: fresh ingredients, a good sized portion, and delicious sauce to unite the flavors.

I didn't realize until now that they also serve "chef curated" bowls, like the Korean Beef & Noodle, which I may order the next time I'm on the lookout for an affordable meal in the area.

BIBIBOP Asian Grill

1401 3rd St. Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Open: Monday - Thursday 10:30am - 9pm, Friday - Sunday 10:30am - 10pm

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Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Eat in Los Angeles: Apollonia's Pizzeria

Cheese slice

Pepperoni slice

Acapulco Gold slice made with garlic, olive oil, ricotta, mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, oregano, grape tomatoes, arugula, and truffle oil

We stopped by Apollonia's Pizzeria, a pizza shop on Wilshire near La Brea in the Mid-Wilshire neighborhood of Los Angeles, for the first time last December. My dining companion was recommended to this place by friends and was intrigued by photos of their Detroit-style pizza with sky-high cheesy crusts on their Instagram. As fans of this genre of pizza, we knew we had to make the trek when in town.

We ordered a few of the Detroit-style slices on hand: the Cheese, the Pepperoni, and Acapulco Gold. The Cheese and Pepperoni were topped with generous helpings of tomato sauce, basil, and the cheesy crusts we love. The Acapulco Gold slice was made with garlic, olive oil, ricotta, mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, oregano, grape tomatoes, arugula, and truffle oil. Although I don't remember more of the specifics, I do remember enjoying the pizzas we had so longed for on Instagram. (Millennials...)

As is common in LA, their shop is located in a strip mall; it only has room for ordering, standing, and playing a jukebox. The next time I'm in the area, I might try one of their round pizzas, like The Mayor's Mistress (pepperoni, Italian sausage, garlic, Roma tomatoes, and basil) or The Dirty Agent (red onion, Roma tomatoes, and duck and bacon sausage).

Apollonia's Pizzeria

5176 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036

Open: Wednesday - Sunday 12pm - 2:30pm and 5pm - 8pm

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Monday, June 12, 2023

Eat in Los Angeles: nomoo | new american burgers

Single Nomoo burger made with nomoo patty, nomoo sauce, American cheeze, pickles, butter lettuce, onion, and tomato

Nomoo Cheezy-Crunch's tacos made with nomoo taco-spiced beef, avocado ranch salsa, soft and hard corn tortillas, melted cheeze, lettuce, and tomato

My dining companion and I stopped by nomoo | new american burgers, a casual vegan restaurant on Melrose and Gardner, in mid-December for lunch. This was our first time at this all-vegan establishment, which used to be a Johnny Rockets and now serves vegan burgers, chicken sandwiches, and shakes, to name a few items on their menu.

We tried the Single Nomoo burger, the Nomoo Cheezy-Crunch's tacos, and a side of fries. The burger was made with nomoo patty, nomoo sauce, American cheeze, pickles, butter lettuce, onion, and tomato, while the tacos were made with nomoo taco-spiced beef, avocado ranch salsa, soft and hard corn tortillas, melted cheeze, lettuce, and tomato. Both were quite good and clearly made with high-quality ingredients and a lot of attention and care. The burgers were flavorful, while the tacos reminded me of the hard shell tacos we had as a kid — before being introduced to the soft shell ones that have since become standard options at Mexican restaurants and food trucks. We enjoyed our meal in their lovely pastel patio out front. They had great service to boot.

I might try their chick'n sandwich the next time I'm in the Fairfax area around lunchtime.

nomoo | new american burgers

7507 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046

Open: Sunday - Thursday 11:30am - 9pm, Friday - Saturday 11:30am - 11pm

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Friday, June 9, 2023

Eat in Santa Monica: Cafe Demitasse

Ham and Cheese Croissant

White Miso Kouign-Amann

Spinach and Cheese Croissant

Left: Breakfast Burrito

Right: Cappuccinos

Latte and Cappuccino

I visited Cafe Demitasse, a coffee shop located on 3rd and Wilshire in Santa Monica, four times in December, over the course of a couple trips to Los Angeles.

I tried a variety of their pastries during this time: the Ham and Cheese Croissant with a gherkin affixed to the top, one that looks like a spiral I remember really liking but totally forgot the name of, the White Miso Kouign-Amann with a thick syrupy layer presented bottom-up, and the Spinach and Cheese Croissant perfect for splitting. Every pastry was quite a treat and a big reason for the repeat visits. I also really liked the Breakfast Burrito, which came with all the fixins I want — egg, potato, avocado, cheese, and some kind of meat — as well as a few sauces in special pouches. Like their beautiful pastries, their coffee is made with a lot of care and precision. My dining companion and I enjoyed our respective lattes and cappuccinos.

It is very likely I will return to Cafe Demitasse when I'm looking for a caffeinated beverage and an innovative pastry in Santa Monica. Since it seems like their pastry selection changes, I'm not sure what I'll have next, but I know it'll be well-made and photogenic.

Cafe Demitasse