Comment Archives: stories: Special Sections: Taste
Re: “It's Brunch Time!”
This comment was removed because it violates our policy against anonymous comments. It will be reposted if the commenter chooses to use his or her real name.
Re: “Beyond Ketchup”
Nice! We always make our own chutney, so much better!
Re: “Underground Dining Goes Online”
This comment was removed because it violates our policy against anonymous comments. It will be reposted if the commenter chooses to use his or her real name.
Re: “Street Food Grows Up”
SR24's American Kobe-style burger was $11 and came with a side salad. $9 during happy hour (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sr24-oaklan…)
Re: “Street Food Grows Up”
The restaurant formerly at the location of Juhu did try to sell $18 burgers and failed despite trying for what seems like two years.
Re: “What the Staff Eats”
When I worked at Yoshi's in Jack London Square, in addition to some good home-style Japanese dishes and on rare occasion leftover makizushi, we had the best spaghetti! Sometimes with odds and ends of calamari and a bit of hot pepper, you'd think it was made by someone's Sicilian grandmother... mmm... oh, and one time a couple on the busing crew made the world's best pupusas...
Re: “Street Food Grows Up”
This comment was removed because it violates our policy against anonymous comments. It will be reposted if the commenter chooses to use his or her real name.
Re: “Street Food Grows Up”
In Juhu's case, I think some people are remembering the prices when it was a pop-up in San Francisco. The full sized sandwiches were < $10 and seemed bigger than 2 of the current slider sided Pavs; probably the equivalent of the 3 Pav combo @ $13.
That's not to say it's not worth it for the quality and I'm sure cost dynamics have changed with the permanent location.
Re: “Street Food Grows Up”
Valid point about less resistance to 16 buck burgers than 15 dollar noodle plates. And any restaurant that is paying high wages and benefits to full time employees has to charge 25% more than the vast majority of restaurants that don't. Even more if they don't have a full bar.
But the disposable income of young foodies and food oriented older people in Oakland just isn't the same as SF or Palo Alto or Berkeley. People have lots of reasons to live in Oakland. One of them is that it's cheaper than SF and Berkeley.
There are hecka lot of underemployed residents here who can afford a $3 doughnut but not a $15 plate of ramen except on special occasions. That's not racism.
Serving affordable high quality food and paying decent wages/benefits in brick and mortar restaurants is extremely difficult to pull off anywhere. That is one tough business model.
Re: “Underground Dining Goes Online”
Sounds like a great idea and/or fun time! As a proprietor of a soon-to-be brick and mortar restaurant, I can't help but wonder how it's fair competition when these meetings don't have to bother getting all the licenses that a legitimate business, or approval from county health inspectors is fair? All of these business expenses add up to a lot of money and not all restaurants are owned by multinational LLC's with endless pockets. I'm sure that all of the underground dining venue's practice the strictest of health practices, no one wants anyone to get sick, but I can't help but think it puts a lot of us mom-n-pop restaurants at a distinct disadvantage...
Re: “Cold-Smoked Days and Salt-Cured Nights”
Thanks, Andrew.
— Ellen, web editor
Re: “Cold-Smoked Days and Salt-Cured Nights”
website for Chop Bar is incorrect
http://www.oaklandchopbar.com/
Re: “The Gluten-Free Rush”
That's why McDonalds in India has entirely separate facilities for vegetarian and animal product restaurants. Careful Indian vegetarians noticed the slippage. Ultimately McDonalds found they couldn't guarantee lack of contamination in a multi product environment.
Re: “Wine Country, in the City”
The urban winemaker is a terrific idea. On the other hand, the integrated wine producer has better control of the whole process, from farming to winemaking. There are benefits either way. A great urban winemaker will have to partner with a vineyard. The spot grape market is not always a reliable source of quality fruit. But, the urban winemaker can take a hike if he/she doesn't think the quality is good. I own the Ferrington Vineyard in the Anderson Valley, but I have a place in Berkeley, so I am able to experience the good in both worlds.
Re: “Understanding Gluten”
It's been challenging for me to remember which foods contain gluten: I've had gluten-adverse friend over for dinner, and was able to serve her absolutely nothing. Thanks for the tips!
Re: “Understanding Gluten”
Excellent summary of where gluten is hidden. I'll be sharing with our subscribers, thanks!
Chef Perry
hautemealz.com
Re: “Fried Chicken for Days”
Speaking of Orinda, Casa Orinda still has the best traditional fried chicken I've found in the Bay Area. Plus, it comes with mashed potatoes, gravy, and a biscuit with honey. I've been going there since I was a kid (I'm 66 now). Old fashioned and great.
Re: “Fried Chicken for Days”
I prefer the Orinda Grill for fried chicken.
Re: “The Gluten-Free Rush”
@Faith: It's possible that the hospital cafeteria is not completely informed about the diet and cross-contamination issues. For example, they could be feeding you something that's technically gluten-free but because of packaging, processing, or preparation is tainted with gluten -- like grits or oatmeal. Other suspect items include salad dressings, soups, and sauces.
Re: “It's Brunch Time!”
Wow, your food writers are terrible; have any of them ever been to a good brunch restaurant, because I don't see any on this list? It almost seems that they chose ten restaurants at random. As someone who works in the industry I would not put one of these restaurants anywhere near my top ten brunch spots and I have been to six of them.
Dona Tomas is alright, but doesn't scratch my list, Venus was one of the most disappointing brunches I have ever had, Chop Bar belonged on the list three years ago (Lungomare does a much better brunch), but their quality has taken a nose dive (I used to eat there every weekend, but had the worst biscuits and gravy the last time I went), Cock-a-Doodle is just gross, Cactus is thoroughly unpleasant to eat at (unless you enjoy being surrounded by screaming children) and the only reason to ever go to Cafe Biere is for booze. I have not been to Pretty Lady, Grand Tavern, Meal Ticket, or Log Cabin so I will not pass judgement them, but I haven't heard anything good about them either (and quite a few bad things in the case of Grand Tavern).
My list: Flora (best bloody mary and benedict), Brown Sugar (best chicken and waffles), Cosecha (I know they only do brunch on Saturday, but they do the best Mexican brunch), Rick & Ann's (the wait sucks , but the red flannel hash and potato pancakes kick ass), Boot & Shoe/Pizzialo/Camino (all made Bauer's top 100 but were somehow overlooked by ten restaurants that don't come close?!) Aunt Mary's/Bette's Ocean View (not mind blowing, but better than any place mentioned in your list), Bocanova has even upped their brunch game enough in the last year to be considered. I haven't been to Hopscotch or Portal, but I have heard good things about them from people I trust and have wanted to go. You can thank me for compiling a better list than your staff writers, but next time you should pay me for expertise on this particular subject.