Rockridge Neighborhood Food Walking Tour

Last Sunday we spent a glorious Spring day in Oakland's Rockridge Neighborhood on a delicious and informative food walking tour, "Rockridge Neighborhood Heritage Tour," offered by Local Food Adventures. 

Local Food Adventures is a small locally-owned company whose walking tours focus on Oakland, California, neighborhoods.  

I chose the Rockridge tour because Rockridge is one of my favorite Oakland neighborhoods.  Rockridge is one of the first Bay Area neighborhoods Jim and I discovered when we moved to California over 40 years ago.  While Rockridge has become more gentrified since we first discovered it, it has continued to retain its local neighborhood spirit. Rockridge is easy to get to; it's right off Highway 24 and has its own Bart station right in the midst of its bustling business district.

Over the past several years, with so much changing in the Bay Area, we've not gone to Rockridge as often as we used to. I signed up for the tour in hopes of rekindling my love of the neighborhood.

We were not disappointed and are already planning our next visit.

There were just four of us on our three-hour tour: Maureen and Mike from San Jose, who had come from San Jose on Bart from the newly-opened Warm Springs station, and me and Jim, who drove the 14 miles from home and were easily able to find parking in the neighborhood on a Sunday morning. (Note: Rockridge is a busy residential and business district; on other days and at other times of day, parking can be scarce, making Bart and excellent option for getting here.)

We met Debra, our guide, at the Rockridge Library. After introductions and a bit of talk about our favorite foods and food interests, made our first of six stops at A16 restaurant.  A16 is known for its Tuscan pizza.  

We were seated at the counter that surrounds the wood-fired pizza oven.  While we enjoyed some freshly-prepared pieces of frittata, the pizza chef told us a bit about A16, its pizza oven, and Tuscan pizza. Since it takes only 90 seconds to bake a Tuscan-style pizza in the oven's 900 degree heat, we got to watch the pizza being prepared from the stretching out of the dough to it's completion.  We had the Margherita pizza, a classic that is topped with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil and olive oil.  

Before tasting A16's Margherita, I've never been a fan of this simple pizza.  This tasting changed it all for me. It was amazing!

Next stop was Cactus Taqueria. I had eaten at Cactus Taqueria when it first opened in Rockridge, over 20 years ago.  I remember liking it and appreciating that all their meats are antibiotic/hormone free.  Our Crispy Chicken Tacos were filled to overflowing with Mary's chicken, guacamole, cheese, salsa and lettuce.  I love their self-serve salsa bar that features at least half a dozen salsas. Yum! And, of course, I'll be back sooner than 20 years from now.

Next stop was the bustling Rockridge Market Hall Foods, a European-style indoor market with a bakery, a coffee roaster, fresh produce, wine, meats, fish, flowers, packaged fancy foods, prepared foods, pasta, and cheese. Our focus was on the cheese section.

The cheese monger talked with us about cheese and the cheese shop's cheese selections.  We enjoyed two tasty cheeses, each garnished with preserves, also sold at the Market Hall.  

After our cheese tasting, we had some time to explore and shop in the Market Hall.

At this point, about half way through our tour, we took a break from eating and walked through some of the residential parts of Rockridge. We saw many examples of the neighborhood's Arts and Craft style architecture.  Architects Julia Morgan and Bernard Maybeck, working mainly in the first half of the 20th century, designed and influenced the design of many buildings in Rockridge and other parts of Oakland and Berkeley.   

Rockridge's College Avenue Presbyterian Church, constructed in 1917, was designed by Julia Morgan. 

Our next tasting stop was at Ver Brugge Meats and Seafood, an old-style butcher shop and market, complete with hand-lettered signs in the window to advertise the week's specials.

Here we tasted freshly-cooked house-made Whiskey Fennel Chicken Sausage and Pork Bratwurst that were paired with a deli mustard and a horseradish sauce  Both sausages were so tasty that I bought some, and a bottle of the deli mustard,  to take home.

We then went next door is La Farine, a French bakery that has been here since 1977. La Farine's signature pastry is their morning bun. 

Sorry that Jim's mini morning bun is half eaten in this photo; they are so good, it is hard to not devour them immediately.  I left La Farine with more morning buns, scones, and a loaf for bread to enjoy at home.

Our tour ended at Dreyer's Ice Cream. Dreyer's dates back to 1928 when it was founded as Edy's Grand Ice Cream in Oakland by Joseph Edy and William Dreyer.  Edy was a candy maker and Dreyer was an ice cream maker. The top picture is a painting of what the ice cream parlor looked like in times past. Today, Dreyer's is a subsidiary of Nestlé.  

 

Dreyer's Rocky Road ice cream combined both of its founder's talents into one ice cream flavor that remains popular to this day. Rocky Road, introduced in 1929, mixed chocolate, marshmallow and nuts into chocolate ice cream.  Before this time, the only ice cream flavors were vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.  Our tour ended with a scoop of Rocky Road.

In addition to learning more about Rockridge and enjoying generous samples of foods at all six stops, we recieved a map of the area and discount coupons for future visits at most of the places we visited.

Local Foods Adventures other walking tours are the "Grand Lake Cultural Cuisine Tour" and the "Rockridge Ice Cream and Gelato Tour" (great suggest for where to take kids this summer). All tours include food tastings, food demonstrations and some history of the neighborhood  Our guide, Debra, knew Rockridge well and shared her knowledge and love of the neighborhood with us in such a way that we felt like had instantly become part of the neighborhood.

One last note:  I bought my tickets to this tour at a discounted price through an offer by Livingsocial.com.  Over the years, I've taken advantage of many Living Social offers and have saved money and been introduced to new services.  Their offers change constantly and often are from new companies who are seeking a larger market than they can market to on their own. Check them out and sign up for their emailings for the area in which you live. 

Bakesale Betty's

Bakesale Betty, whose real name is Alison Barakat, came to the United States from Australia in 2000. Her love of food led her to restaurant positions in the Bay Area and eventually to her own baked-goods stand at the Danville and Walnut Creek Farmer's Markets.

Betty always wore, and still does wear, a bright blue wig. At her stand, she displayed her baked goods on ironing boards.

She made the best scones, sticky buns, cookies, lemon bars, and other delectables. She married Michael and they continued to work the Farmer's Market together. For many of us, a Sunday morning stop at Bakesale Betty's stand was the highlight of our weekend.

At some point in time, Betty and Michael opened a bakery in the Temescal district of Oakland. The first of their, now three, children arrived and they decided to concentrate their efforts on their shop and no longer have stands at Farmer's Market.

In addition to baked goods of all sorts, they served sandwiches at lunchtime.  The most popular of the sandwiches was the Fried Chicken with Spicy Cole Slaw on a torpedo bun. People flocked to Betty's for the sandwiches...and usually came home with some baked goods as well.

Most recently, Betty and Michael expanded to a second location in downtown Oakland. Now they are closing the downtown spot and consolidating all their operations to the shop in the Temescal.

It's been three years since I last had a Fried Chicken Sandwich at Betty's...not for wanting one, but just time, schedules, and life simply didn't get me over there.

Today, Mary Ann and I, after many years of talking about doing it, finally went for lunch.

Betty's is only open between noon and 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.



We got there at noon and were surprised to see a line that stretched way way down the block. We fed our meter a copious number of quarters and got in line.

Betty and one of her employees were working the line...checking on how many sandwiches each of us was getting and giving us time estimates until we'd reached the door.

At 45 minutes, the exact time Betty told us we'd have to wait, we made it to the counter, got our sandwiches, cups of lemonade, and some cookies to take home. The only other food being sold was Betty's famous Strawberry Shortcake...we should have shared one...I'm now remembering how good her shortcakes were.

Then, it was back out on the sidewalk to sit on stools at one of the many ironing boards that are set up on the sidewalk and which serve as the outdoor seating and eating areas.

Was it worth the wait...I think the look on Mary Ann's face tells it all...OF COURSE IT WAS!!!

And, when we left, there was still a line waiting to get in.

Right now, with Betty's limited hours, they sell only limited amounts of baked goods at this location. They have closed the downtown location but still do baking there. Their web site says they take phone orders each morning from 9:30 until 11:00 a.m. I don't know if these orders are for baked goods or sandwiches.

Their future plans include keeping the Temescal location open, perhaps with longer hours. Another perhaps is that they will offer more food choices for lunch. But nothing is certain. And, for now, that Fried Chicken Sandwich is certainly worth a special trip/detour. Have the Shortcake too...and buy whatever baked goods they have...take them home to enjoy now or freeze for later.

Café Attila: Good Eating in San Ramon

In the last month or so, I read a review of the relatively-new Café Attila in San Ramon. I was intrigued to read that the Café had, for several years, been a pastry shop and had relocated to a larger area. They still are creating their magnificent pastries but, in their new location in San Ramon Square, are also serving a Bistro lunch.

Today, Joanne and I gave Café Attila a try.

It's in a strip mall along a busy commercial street. Parking is easy and our lunch was wonderful.

The lunch menu is small but very tempting. Meals are priced between $9 and $15.

Joanne had the Pork Tenderloin sandwich. Her sandwich was served with housemade cole slaw.



My choice was the Roasted Chicken Gougère...a serving of three cream puffs filled with Chicken Salad.



Both of our meals were absolute perfection.

On my next visit, I plan to try the Pulled Pork with Cornbread and Cole Slaw. I saw this dish and the half Roast Chicken being served at other tables and both looked and smelled amazing. The person who ordered the Roast Chicken took at least half of it home for another meal...servings are very generous.

Because the dessert pastries are so tempting, we decided to share two:

A berry tart



and a Raspberry Chocolate Cake creation.



We loved our entire meal.

A sign in the window says they are getting an alcohol license. Maybe dinner service will follow? If not, Café Attila is worth a trip for lunch, and, of course breakfast and dessert pastries. They are closed Sunday and Monday.

Santa Cruzin'

I got to spend a day in and around Santa Cruz this week with Diane. When Diane lived here many years ago, I'd visit frequently and fell in love with the beaches, restaurants, and the laid back lifestyle.

But now that she's no longer living in California, it is only rarely that I get to visit with her and to go back to some of our favorite Santa Cruz area haunts.

We started our day in Capitola at Gayle's. Gayle's started as a small bakery i 1978 and has thrived and grown into an ever-busy bakery and cafe. We had our early-morning coffees and our favorite pastries, pecan tassies.



Pecan Tassies are bite-sized pecan pies and Gayle's are perfection. I've tried to make them myself and never get the same results.



There are a few shops in the same shopping center as Gayle's. We then spent time exploring them. Three LIttle Birds, a gift shop featuring French gift items, was our favorite of the shops.

Our next stop was in Soquel at Wisteria, which describes itself as an Antiques and Design shop, but it is so much more. It is sort of hidden off a main road and is not the sort of place you would just come upon by accident or while you were wandering around.


The first thing you see is its rambling nursery and gardens.





All the plants and furniture are for sale. The shop itself is a many-roomed house that is packed with home furnishings, gifts, books, and more.



I encourage you to click on the link to Wisteria's web site to get a better view of all it has.

By this time, we were ready for lunch. Our choice was another old favorite, Cafe Sparrow, a country French restuarant in Aptos Village.



We shared the Sparrow Omelet, a unique omelet filled with sautéed chicken livers, bacon, apples, and crème fraiche.



We ended our day back in Santa Cruz where we decided to take in a movie ("The Trip") at the Nickelodeon, the areas arts/independent movie house. To the locals, it's known as "The Nick."

TEA FOR TWO IN LAFAYETTE

Melia and I like to meet from time to time for a cup of tea and an hour to two of conversation.



We meet everywhere from Whole Foods, to Peet's, to one of our homes. We like to try new places.

And now that Tea Culture has been published, I feel I have an obligation to try more and more tea places because people are asking me for recommendations and advice on where to have tea and what kinds of tea to drink.

I had recently read about The French Bakery in Lafayette. It is located in the building that housed Lisa's Tea Treasures, another tea room, several years ago. What intrigued me about The French Bakery is that it sells baked goods as well as serving lunch and afternoon tea. Another intriguing feature is that included in its tea selection are several teas from Mariage Frères, the French tea company whose teas I adore and whose teas are not sold very extensively in the United States, at least not in places near me.

I must preface my description of our visit to The French Bakery by saying that I don't go out for a full afternoon tea service very often, mainly because, the offerings are more than I generally want to eat if I am having dinner that evening. And, at least at local tea houses, the full tea service frequently includes more sweets than I prefer.

So, in anticipation of Melia and my tea visit, I called ahead to The French Bakery to ask if we could simply order a cup of tea with maybe a pastry or two. The person on the phone told us we could do that but then confused me by saying that it was advisable to make a reservation for one of their seatings. I did not reserve, but told Melia that if this did not work out, we could go to one of the nearby cafés where we knew we could order a cup of tea.

When we arrived at The French Bakery on a Friday afternoon at 2 p.m., there was nary a customer in the place. In fact, while we looked at the pastries and some of the tea items on diplay, there wasn't even an employee there to talk to us.

After a few minutes, someone came out to greet us and offered to seat us. This being a warm day, we asked to sit outdoors on the patio rather than at one of the formally-set tables in the several small rooms indoors. We also told her we were just going to order tea and a pastry.

She was agreeable and said it would be just a minute while she set a table for us. Well, rather than the bare lawn furniture that we expected, she covered the outdoor table with a table cloth and set the table with cloth napkins, silverware, and china cups. Still wondering exactly what we had gotten ourselves into, we ordered a pot of Mariage Frères Red Marco Polo tea and a scone for me and a little berry cake for Melia.



Everything was lovely. Our server offered to warm my scone and, for a few dollars extra, serve it with clotted cream, strawberry jam, and lemon curd, each of which was served in a small ramekin.




We lingered over our tea for nearly two hours...a lovely way to relax and visit.

While we were the only customers for tea, we did notice a steady stream of people coming to buy baked goods from the bakery. Owner Lynn Appleton previously operated Pâtisserie Lafayette. At The French Bakery, she has combined her pastry shop with a tea room.

The Bakery serves lunch and afternoon tea/desserts. At the bakery counter there are a few informal tables for those who just stop in for a quick pastry and tea or even coffee. It is open every day but Monday from 11 a.m. (10 a.m. on Saturdays) until 5 p.m.

Dinner and more in the Temescal

The Temescal is an Oakland neighborhood that in recent years has risen from being just another neighborhood to being a culinary destination.

In one short block there is Bakesale Betty, Pizzaiola, and Doña Tomas, all special food places. Across the street is Genova Delicatessen's original location, albeit now expanded and renovated...Genova has two delis in Walnut Creek but got its start in this spot.

I had a gift card to Doña Tomas, a Mexican restaurant that has been on my to-dine list for many years. Tonight was our night to try it. Before heading to dinner, I read some online reviews of Doña Tomas and several complained about noise, small portions,, bad service, and high prices.

Our experience was none of the above. In fact, our dinner was one of the best meals I've had in any Bay Area restaurant and definately the most creative and interesting Mexican meal I have ever had. Doña Tomas makes just about everything it serves fresh at the restaurant. Ingredients are seasonal and mostly from local providers.

We had a choice of being seated on the outdoor back patio or indoors and opted for indoors. We were in a small back dining room that overlooks the patio.



Our room was not at all noisy but, on our way out, we noted that both front indoor dining rooms were very noisy.

After ordering a couple of beers (Pacifico is my current Mexican favorite) and munching on chips sprinkled with cheese and dipped in a dark rich salsa,



we started with a shared order of Sopes de Camarones. The order consisted of three masa cakes topped with fresh shrimp cooked in an achiote marinade, black beans, avocado slices and cilantro. This dish was as beautiful as it was delicious...and very filling too.



Jim's main course was the Tostada con Colache, a crispy tortilla topped with puréed black beans, potatoes, summer squash, corn, tomato and onions. It was garnished with avocado, crema, queso fresco and epazote. It was accompanied by red rice and an arugula and radish salad.



My choice was the Atún con Salsa de Naranja y Chiles, sautéed albacore tuna steak topped with a salsa made with gypsy peppers, red onions, habanero chiles, and orange and lime juices. Also on the place was chunks of watermelon in some kind of sauce and a most amazing Corn & Zucchini Pudding which was more like a corn soufflé. I asked our waiter about the Corn pudding and he said it is only made in summer during the corn season and is very popular. I could go back many times while corn is in season to have more of the pudding, for sure!



Believe me, we were not hungry for dessert but were intrigued by the Pay de Chocolate, Mexican Chocolate Cream Pie in a graham cracker crust. But, we were also intrigued by the Nieve de Yerba Buena con Pastilla de Chocolate, a mint chocolate chip ice cream sundae with Mexican Chocolate sauce. Our waiter told us that he likes them both and often adds the ice cream to his serving of the Pie...and that's what we did. It was worth the indulgence.




About the only thing that Doña Tomas does not make in house is its ice creams and sorbets; they come from Ici in Berkeley, a one location ice cream shop in the Elmwood district where all the ice cream is made daily on site.

Before dinner, we made a quick stop at Bakesale Betty, just as they were closing. We got to know Betty, who is still wearing her blue wig, from our Sunday Farmer's Market where she would don her apron and blue wig and set up her ironing boards to display her baked goods. A few years ago, Betty stopped coming to Farmer's Market because she and her husband opened their shop in the Temescal. Now the ironing boards serve as tables for those who want to enjoy one of Betty's baked items or her famous Fried Chicken Sandwich.




Notice the attentive dog, hopping for a taste of the yummy chicken?

We bought some cookies and banana bread for treats for the coming week.