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.

SOUTHERN MEX IN LAFAYETTE

I get my hair cut next door to El Jarro, a Mexican café in Lafayette, CA. (3563 Mt. Diablo Blvd; 925-283-6639).

In the few years that El Jarro has been open, I often consider timing my hair appointments around lunch here. It was not until today that I finally tried El Jarro.

My stylist recommended the Tilapia Vera Cruz, the manicurists love the Mexican Torta Sandwiches. I was advised to not order burritos, enchiladas or tacos because the specialities of El Jarro are the authentic dishes of Southerm Mexico.

The woman who was having her hair cut after me, arrived for her appointment with Sopas from El Jarro...they looked deliciuos and this is what I ordered...what is offered on the menu gives a choice of Chorizo or Chicken as the main filling. I've been told you can ask for custom creations; the woman at the hair salon had Carnitas on her Sopas.

I decided to order off the menu, choosing the Chorizo. My serving consisted of two fried tortilla shells, each about the size of an English Muffin, filled with Chorizo, shredded lettuce, and Mexican cheese. On the side was sour cream and spicy red sauce. At $7.50 the serving, this was more than enough for one hungry person.

The one thing that I would have liked with my lunch was some Agua Fresca, the Mexican fresh fruit drink. El Jarro does not offer such. Instead I had a glass of orange juice, which was a refreshing balance to my spicy dish, but watermelon or strawberry Agua Fresca would have really hit the spot.

The one Mexican non-alcoholic beverage that they serve is Horchata, a drink made with almonds, rice milk, cinnamon, sugar and lime. Next time that's what I will order.

And, there will be a next time. Looking around the small dining room, I observed that the Tortilla soup was very popular. Also at many tables were the Tortas, sandwiches in thick soft Mexican buns, filled with meat, avocado, cheese and more. A customer near me ordered a single taco with Spicy Chicken.

I will be back in 6 weeks, if not sooner...6 weeks is my next hair appointment.

Oh, El Jarro has an enclosed back patio and a few outdoor seats in front on the side walk. It has private free off street parking in the back too.

OUR NAPA VALLEY NEW YEAR TRADITION

Today we indulged ourselves in another of our New Year Traditions, the Annual Sale at Vanderbilt and Company in St. Helena in the Napa Valley.
We left home a little before 8 a.m., to assure that we'd be there for the 9:30 a.m. opening on this, the first day of the sale. It was a clear but very cold early morning with temperatures in the low 30s...very cold by Northern California standards.

We had an easy drive up which left us with plenty of time to get tea/coffee and pastries at the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company around the corner from Vanderbilt.


We had Louie with us, so all our dining for the day was outdoors. We found a sunny spot on the deck at the Roasting Company and spent a pleasant half hour sipping our drinks with our pastries. It was tea and a Morning Bun for me and coffee and a toasted Bagel with Cream Cheese for Jim. Louie ate scraps from our pastries and sipped water from the communal dog bowl on the deck.



My personal tradition at the Vanderbilt Sale is to be the first one in the store when the doors open. Curiously, this is an extremely civil sale where loyal customers like me do not storm the doors and have fights over merchandise...nothing like one Saks after Christmas Sale where I witnessed well-dressed women fighting on the floor for possession of marked-down purses!





So what's so wonderful about Vanderbilt's Sale?...by the way this is the 24th Annual one. Vanderbilt and Company sells the most beautiful of table top items and other home furnishings such as linens, towels, soaps, and lots of gift items. They have one of the largest selections of Vietri ceramics from Italy that I know of in the Bay Area. The store is friendly and attractive. AND, for the sale, which goes on for a few weeks, lots of items are marked down 50%...remainders, discontinueds, odd pieces...and everything else, including special orders, is 20% off. Of course Louie is welcome here too which means that Jim is not left standing out in the cold. We spent over an hour here and came away with two bags of "stuff," including a marvelous wedding present for some special friends, new cloth napkins and placemats for me, a glass serving plate, and miscellaneous towels and other gift items.

After that, we walked up and down the main street in St. Helena, checking out other favorite shops.

By now it was just about time for lunch and we headed to Yountville for lunch on the patio at Bouchon, one of Chef Thomas Keller's several restaurants in Yountville. Bouchon is Keller's French Brasserie..yes this is the Thomas Keller of French Laundry just up the street.


At noon the temperature was in the 50s and it was delightful sitting outdoors.



Louie had his own bowl of water and also snatched things off our table.






We shared a salad of red and white endive, Roquefort, walnuts, and apples...very tasty, but they forgot the apples.

We both decided on the day's Tartine...an open faced sandwich with Fries. Today's Tartine was braised pork..sort of pulled pork...with pickled onions and pickles. Our server advised us that the serving of Fries is very large and suggested we choose another side dish for one of us. We chose the sautéed Butternut Squash with currants.




We passed on dessert but lingered over coffee, enjoying the beautiful Napa Valley day and chatting with others who were dining on the patio.




For one final stop, we went into the Bouchon Bakery next door to buy a loaf of bread to take home to a neighbor. He's happily enjoying Olive Herb Bread as I write this.




It's a day like this that makes everyone want to live where we do.

Napa Valley...Day Two

Today has been a lovely laid back day.

I forgot to mention yesterday where we stay. It's the Vintage Inn in Yountville. We've been coming here for about 20 years...since they opened and since Yountville was a sleepy village in the southern part of the Napa Valley.

These days, Yountville is a dining destination, thanks to Thomas Keller and the French Laundry. Plus, Keller's other places: Ad Hoc and Bouchon. And his Bouchon Bakery. Add Bistro Jeanty, Hurley's and Redd to the mix and you never have to get in your car to have a great meal, if you are staying in town.

So, our day started with the amazing breakfast that the Vintage Inn serves...since last year, they have added an omelet bar to the repertoire which already includes egg salad, potatoes, fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, cereal, oatmeal, pastries, and much much more...


We both could not resist a made to order omelet...I had peppers, mushrooms, bacon, and mozzarella in mine.

My next stop was Yountville Health & Fitness for a workout. J & L headed for the Hot Tub.

On my way back to the Inn, I stopped to look at the Photo Booth wall by the construction site of the Bardessono Inn & Spa.



Last night was the debut of the wall, a project by San Francisco photographer, Christopher Irion, to photograph residents and workers in communities across the United States. Judging from the proud locals who chatted with me while I looked at the photos, Irion has succeeded in adding to local community pride.

The Bardessono family provided support for this wall and several workers on the site are pictured here as well.It will be on display until sometime in November.

By now, it was getting to be time for lunch...we weren't that starved at noon, but, not wanting to miss a meal, we decided to try the new cafe at Michael Chiarello's new Napa Style at the V Marketplace shops.


This fabuous shop has home furnishings, fancy foods, wines, and lots of good things to eat. We shared a Grilled Eggplant and Zucchini Panini and a side order of Arugula & Corn salad...a perfect light lunch to eat on the outdoor patio.




After lunch we looked at the store a bit more and indulged in the many samples of cheese spreads, salami, and fancy salt. The lovely green metal plates that our food was served on, can be purchased here. And, we really liked the lounge chair for two and maybe one black poodle. I might come back another day to do a tasting of the Chiarello family wines that are only sold here at Napa Style.


Finally, we did get in the car and headed north to Rutherford to taste wine at the new Alpha Omega Winery. Our Vintage Inn concierge tipped us off to Alpha Omega, which is still under construction. We sat outdoors on their patio which overlooks a large pool with fountains and the hills and vineyards beyond...how bucolic.







Several hours later, with some Chardonnay, Cabernet, and late harvest Reisling to take home, we reluctantly left to return to the Inn, in time for afternoon tea.

Dinner tonight was at Bistro Don Giovanni in Napa.





Since its opening several years ago, it's been a local favorite for its rustic Italian food and friendly atmosphere.





As always, the place was packed. We started with Beet Salad and a Peach Salad.






Jim's main dish was the Polpettini, meatballs with beans, tomatoes and onions. My choice was the Fritto Misto of seafood and vegetables. For dessert, we shared Chocolate Chip Mint Ice Cream encased in chocolate. The mint came from the herb garden out front. The meatballs are the owner's mother's recipe.

Another day in paradise.

TOURING & TASTING AT SCHARFFEN BERGER CHOCOLATE

Sister V's California visit was a staycation for me and a vacation for her. With gasoline prices inching towards $5 a gallon daily, sstaycation has become an important part of my vocabulary...it means staying home and visiting attractions close to home. I think many of us will be enjoying summer staycations this year.

We spent an afternoon in Berkeley at the headquarters of Scharffen Berger Chocolate.



We started our visit with lunch in their restaurant, Café Cacao (510/843-6000), then we took a guided tour of the factory (free; reservations required; reserve online or by telephone), and, finally, we did some chocolate tasting and shopping in their Company Store.




Café Cacao serves lunch/brunch daily and dinner on Friday nights. Wonderful chocolate desserts, pastries, and drinks complement the menu of savory dishes. Dogs are welcome to dine with their companions on the café's outdoor patio.




We started with a shared order of Sweet Potato Fries



and followed with the day’s Quiche with Salad for both V and J and Chilaquilles Rancheros for me.




To drink: steaming hot mugs of Scharffen Berger Cocoa...Impossible to resist!




Scharffen Berger’s one-hour tour starts with a presentation about the history of cacao and Scharffen Berger chocolate. The second part of the tour is a walk through the factory and packaging rooms.





The tour ends in the Company Store, where there is more tasting and, of course, the opportunity to shop. From time to time, Scharffen Berger produces a limited edition single-origin chocolate which is only sold here at the store. When you visit, be sure to ask about any special limited edition bars.







Although Scharffen Berger is now part of Hershey Chocolate’s Artisan Confections Company, it continues to
operate independently at this factory, making its chocolate in small batches, using vintage European equipment.


A few notes on tour rules: Not having read the Tour Guidelines carefully, I did not realize that closed-toe shoes must be worn on the tour, for safety reasons. They provided me with a pair of clogs to wear on the tour. Also, everyone is required to cover their hair with a hair net, which they supply.



One of the men on our tour had a beard; not only did he have to wear a hairnet on his head, he also had to wear one over his beard!!!

AL FRESCO BREAKFAST & LUNCH IN BERKELEY

The weather is warm all over the Bay Area today. It is also the last day of J's and my project in Berkeley. This means it is the last day, after 10 weeks, of regular breakfasts and lunches together in the North Berkeley neighborhood that we have adopted.

Taking advantage of the balmy weather, even at 8 a.m., we started out day with Coffee and Beignets at Café Fanny.



Since our waistlines seem to have expanded a bit with all our yummy Berkeley meals, we decided to share a single serving of the Beignets. There are two of these puffy fried dough pastries in a serving. They are served with a ramekin of delicious fruit conserve. No problem sitting at the outdoor tables today; it was warm.

When it came time for lunch, we returned to Café Leila ((1724 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley)), where we enjoyed sandwiches on the outdoor patio.



I had the Amazing Tuna Melt, my favorite, and J chose a Chicken Club. Both good and,







with a light breeze coming across the patio, we enjoyed a relaxing lunch.

One other note, as I write this post, there is a nationwide warning about eating raw tomatoes...seems many have contracted Salmonella poisoning. Just to be on the safe side, Café Leila is not preparing any of its dishes with fresh tomotoes...most sandwiches usually included tomatoes, but not today.

To read more about our Café Fanny and Café Leila experiences, check out blog index for past posts on both of these Berkeley restaurants.