Gluttony

Eat Eat Man Woman, and then see a tailor.

Let us be frank: The East Bay is a glutton’s paradise. It’s as though it were specifically engineered to tempt us all to excessive consumption. We’re at the crux of a unique convergence of everything that goes into creating good food: proximity to the ocean and farms that supply us with fresh ingredients, plenty of small companies that make some of the country’s best wines, an embarrassment of coffees and cheeses, a diverse population of ethnic grocery stores and restaurants, plus hordes of wannabe restaurateurs opening right and left. Amazing food is so plentiful here that it’s only the fear of having to be craned out of our homes in a piano box that stops us from overindulging.

In fact, good eats are so plentiful that consuming vast amounts of tasty treats doesn’t even have to be expensive. Consider the Tacos Sinaloa trucks on Oakland’s 22nd Avenue, where for a mere $1.25 a pop you can down an extraordinary number of wonderfully savory carnitas tacos on warm corn tortillas before the friendly staff wonders if they’ll have to 86 you on the pork products.

Or how about the DAIMO Chinese restaurant in Richmond’s Pacific Rim Plaza? With its monstrously long menu and policy of staying open until 3 in the morning, even on weeknights, it’s practically an invitation to indulge in dishes far less familiar than good old sweet and sour. If you do, try the crispy fried tofu with a light dusting of pepper and fried garlic, or the seafood and eggplant clay hotpot. Can’t comment on the fish maw because, frankly, this writer is a culinary wuss. It’s true that portion sizes are downright sensible at Gelateria Naia in downtown Berkeley -- the problem is that it makes the icy Italian confection in such mind-boggling assortment of flavors that you have to keep going back. And back. Because you have to try fior de latte, right? And what’s up with the one flavored like olive oil? Maybe you should give cantaloupe a shot?

Afterward, call up the Berkeley Cleaning & Sewing Center on University Avenue, the friendliest tailor in town, because you’ll need to have your pants taken out a size. They’re very good at not snickering. -- Kara Platoni