Traveling and eating, two things that go together like peas and carrots. The group of people that I tend to travel with – family and friends – consists mostly of foodies. Exploring the local culinary scene of a city is an immense amount of fun, so I wanted to let you all know about a few places that I encountered on a Bay trip this weekend that just knocked my socks off.
For any of you that have not spent time in Berkeley, you need to make it a destination in your travels. Berkeley is one of the most unique places that you will ever visit. The city does not allow most corporate stores. There are still regional grocery stores, little clothing shops, spectacular music stores, and out of this world restaurants. For lunch my brother, a foodie in his own right, took us to a place called Gregoire Restaurant. We went to the location in North Berkeley, a little building on the side of the street with a few tables outside. When you walk in to order, you are in the kitchen/prep area and the smell of fine gourmet food overtakes your senses. I had the Portobello and pesto sandwich on multi grain bread, and it was awesome. The sides of chickpeas and fries were good, but the deep fried potato puffs were the coup de grace. These lightly whipped mashed potatoes are formed into little balls and then deep fried with a homemade dipping sauce. Going there makes a trip for the day worth it.
The other Berkeley spot to which I would like to give a shout out is La Note. This is a great little French spot and the rich, decadent food is highly regarded. We strolled in for a late breakfast and I was amazed. We tried a few different things on the menu, but first up was a great cup of French Roast Coffee that set the stage for what was to be a memorable feast. The first course was the Tartine Mistral. This was a toasted half-baguette with goat cheese, basil, and roasted peppers. It was a symphony of flavor and just set the pallete for what was to come. For my main course I chose the Cote Nord, two eggs scrambled with cream cheese over toasted levain bread. It was so rich and wonderful, with the cream cheese spread so thick and the eggs scrambled just right. The stewed tomatoes that came on the side made a perfect addition to the myriad of flavors. I give thanks to La Note for opening my eyes to great French food.
As I said, make a trip to Berkeley – even if it is just for a day – while you are in San Francisco. The culture, people, food, and beautiful campus will make it all worth it.
Until Next Time, Keep eating Long Beach.
Cliv