06.20.08
Posted in GoodEats, GoodLife, The Temescal, Downtown, Jack London Square at 3:52 pm by OaklandGoods
No, it’s not ice cream. It’s not even gelato. Scream is the East Bay’s latest frozen delight - and it’s sorbet. Before I go into the delicious, bursting-with-fruit flavors, I need to acknowledge that Scream isn’t technically made in Oakland. However, it’s made on Oakland’s edge, and it’s carried at our farmers markets. On a hot day like today, that’s good enough for me! In fact, Scream’s sorbet makers Nate and Ari buy their fruit and other ingredients at local farmers markets, then process it into the yummy sorbets they bring back to the markets to sell. It’s full circle.
Last weekend I had the good fortune to sample, um, all of Scream’s weekly flavors (they have six each time). I was bowled over by how real they tasted. There’s some indication in the deep colors of the sorbet, but you really have to try it to understand just how much taste can be packed into each tiny spoonful. My favorite was the cherry lime, which was pleasantly tart. I also enjoyed the novelty of the carrot-ginger flavor, which is made without water, so it’s very dense.
Vegans and the lactose averse will love the nut-based flavors, which are rich and fulfilling. In fact, most of the flavors are vegan. Beth, part of the Scream crew, told me that there will be more nut flavors as summer ebbs. For now, grab some strawberry-rhubarb and eat it before it melts!
Find Scream this at Friday’s Old Oakland farmers market or Sunday’s Jack London or Temescal farmers markets.
photos snagged with Beth’s permission from Scream’s flickr stream
http://www.screamsorbet.com
Permalink
06.12.08
Posted in GoodEats, Jack London Square at 12:52 pm by OaklandGoods
A while back, I promised you a post about the amazing delight that is chicken and waffles (but then my friend Mark totally failed to send me the pictures he took of our amazing meal).
For those who are not in the know, chicken and waffles is just what it professes to be - fried chicken and fresh waffles. It sounds pretty good, right? But does it deserve its cult-like following? Probably.
The combination of crispy, savory chicken with syrupy waffles makes for a delightful combination of both interesting textures and salty sweet. My powers of description aren’t really at their best right now, but suffice it to say that the result is delicious.
I ended up eating Oakland’s House of Chicken and Waffles after one of my housemates became obsessed with trying the dish. She rallied about ten people to come over from San Francisco (and you know how hard it is to get people to cross the bridge!) and we headed down to Jack London Square to try this culinary delight. The hype was worth it. HCW is a former Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles, and while I’m not sure how and when the transition to family-owned business was made, I’m not sure I really care. The current incarnation is friendly and personal, family run and decorated with murals and quilts.
And the food was great, too. After all the hype, and after spending a half hour on the Web site considering my order in advance, I was a little worried my meal wouldn’t live up to expectations. But it totally did. But the last bite of chicken, I was happily stuffed and pleased to have had the opportunity to try something new.
House of Chicken and Waffles
444 Embarcadero W.
866.421.1482
*Check the Web site for coupons and special offers.*
image from House of Chicken and Waffles
Permalink
05.23.08
Posted in GoodLife, Piedmont Ave., Jack London Square, Rockridge, East Oakland at 7:07 pm by OaklandGoods
image from Science of Drink
OaklandGoods will be taking a week off to sip mai tais on the beach. You can also get a good islandy feeling by heading to the following places:
*Jamaica - Tropix restaurant has Red Stripe, fried plantains with black bean dip, and the best cornbread in town. (Also, it is not a juice bar. I lived near it for about a year before I realized they serve food.) The back patio, covered in greenery, is one of my favorites on a hot night. 3814 Piedmont Ave. 510.653.2444.
*Thailand - Old Weang Ping Village is a hidden haven. Just east of Mills College, they’re only open for dinner, sometimes sporadically. The food is good - order the sticky rice - but it’s the atmosphere you’re after: a unique combination of lush and funky. If you’re not nearby, it’s worth calling in advance to make sure they’re open. 6217 MacArthur Blvd. 510.430.8771.
*Generic Islandy Atmosphere - The Kona Club, or as I like to call it, The King’s Kona, serves up big fruity drinks in bowls. And who can resist a full menu of tiki drinks? The real reason to come, though, is to see what’s under the hula skirt of the lifesize, hip swiveling doll. 4401 Piedmont Ave. 510.654.7100. For an alternate good Tiki time, try the Conga Lounge, which is supposed to be great, but I’m embarassed to say I’ve never been there.
*The Water - Pop down to Jack London Square and get your butt on a boat. The East Bay Ferry goes to Angel Island, San Francisco, and even to At&T Park on game nights. It’s fun and the fresh air on your face feels great.
Permalink
04.18.08
Posted in GoodEats, Jack London Square, Neighborhood at 11:44 am by OaklandGoods
Looks pretty, right? Looks even prettier full of people and brimming with food and wine. I wrote of Mono’s opening a few weeks back for another Web site I write for, but aside from sampling a spicy dessert, I hadn’t had the privilege of actually having the food. What a privilege it is!
We started our meal with the signature ahi with sesame, shallots, jalapeno granita, and soba noodles. It was fantastic. Generally, I find soba dull and hard to punch up, but the meyer lemon and tuna made the noodles fresh and flavorful. The jalapeno granita added delightful texture and flavor to the cold dish.
We followed the ahi with prawns a la plancha, which were served along a crostini with white bean puree. The garlicky prawns mixed well with cherry tomatoes and an Italian prosecco. I am a prawn snob, and these were the best-cooked I’ve had in a long while.
Next, we tried the clam chowder, a creamy New England variety that wasn’t too fishy. While tasty, it felt a little heavy for the warm night, and while the presentation in an oversized shot glass is lovely, it was hard to sip out the chunky potatoes. If you order this, ask for a spoon.
The soup was followed by a goat cheese and beet salad which was bright and fresh, if a little underdressed.
Next we had the steak special paired with a buttery Rutherford cabernet. The steak was cooked to perfection, deep pink on the inside but a with a hint of char on the outside. My dining companion, Todd, remarked that it was the best steak he’d had in years and I totally agree. Alongside the steak was the most delightful surprise of the meal - a modern chile relleno, stuffed with mashed potatoes and topped with fontina cheese. It was fabulous, with the mild chile flavor bringing out the earthiness of the potatoes.
Finally, we shared the lamb, which was also tender and cooked just right. It’s miso sauce with apples, carrots, and baby bok choy complemented the meat with a pleasing sweetness, that contrasted nicely with our previous meat and potatoes. The lamb was paired with an Argentinian merlot.
A dense butterscotch pot de creme was shared for dessert. It was a perfect, lightly sweet treat to finish off the meal. Todd had a cafe au lait, which was stunning in its presentation.
Mono absolutely exceeded my expectations. They’ve only been serviing dinner for a few weeks, yet the service was smooth and we felt well-cared for. Even more, we noticed that every patron seemed to be receiving personal, friendly attention. The food was a revelation - absolutely the most interesting, best-executed take on global fusion I’ve had for a long time. The fish was fresh, the meat was flavorful, and everything was beautifully presented. All night, diners seemed to be watching the other patrons just to see what pretty plates would be delivered to their neighbors’ tables. I know I did - how else would I know what to order next time?
mono
247 4th st.
510.834.0260
www.monorestaurant.com
Permalink
04.02.08
Posted in GoodEats, Jack London Square at 9:14 am by OaklandGoods
Nicer, and friendlier, neighborhood dining is the inspiration behind Mono, the Jack London square eatery opening tonight for dinner. Executive chef Todd Wilson and his wife, general manager Eloisa Castillo together have experience at some on San Francisco’s best restaurants under their belts. Now they’re set to have one of Oakland’s best, featuring a menu of globally-inspired small plates and an extensive wine list. More details are forthcoming, but for now, check it out at 247 Fourth St.
:(l)
Permalink
12.09.07
Posted in GoodLife, Jack London Square, Old Oakland, West Oakland at 2:38 pm by OaklandGoods
image from www.ibabuzz.com
Friday night, Old Oakland’s Trappist Cafe threw open their doors to an eager crowd of brew enthusiasts. On tap are a wide selection of Belgian ales and some local goodies including beer by Linden Street Brewing. The cafe features more than 120 bottled choices and 15 rotating taps. A complete list of current beer offerings is on the Web site at thetrappist.com.
image from the trappist.com
the trappist cafe & specialty beer bar
510.238.8900
460 8th st.
*
As for the aforementioned Linden Street Brewing, they’re making a beer called Urban People’s Common Lager out of an 1890’s warehouse west of Jack London Square at 95 Linden St. Anybody tried it? (I sampled some this weekend, but I don’t like beer, so my assessment is pretty useless…)
Permalink
11.08.07
Posted in Jack London Square, Events at 1:42 am by OaklandGoods
Have you visited Dashe Cellars yet? If not, this weekend’s Fall Open House is the time to go. In celebration of the first anniversary of their tasting room, they’ll be barrel tasting several of their 2006 wines and a 2007 late harvest Zinfandel. $20 buys a souvenir Riedel glass and a series of samples.
The Dashe Cellars fall open house takes place Sunday, November 11, from noon to 4 p.m.
dashe cellars
55 4th st.
510.452.1800
www.dashecellars.com
Permalink
