Indian food enthusiasts in Berkeley, Albany and El Cerrito have a new go-to in Hamro Aangan, a relatively new Indo-Nepalese restaurant separated from the U.C. campus by several miles of the actual city of Berkeley. A meal here is worth the trip, by bus or by car, for pretty much anyone interested in serious flavor. [...]
Floridians can get surly when it comes to Key Lime Pie. I don’t blame them when bakeries across California serve too-sweet lime pies colored green and label them “Key” on menus. I’ve never tried the real thing, but breakfasts at Lois the Pie Queen have got me thinking: Maybe the best key lime pie in [...]
My latest barbecue columns for Serious Eats focus on America’s regional barbecue sauces and a hunt for the best barbecue pork ribs in Manhattan. A Guide to American Barbecue Sauce Styles Regional Barbecue Sauces Available by Mail-Order The Best Barbecue Pork Ribs in Manhattan Oh, and sandwiches! A Sandwich a Day: Charles’ Grilled Cheese at [...]
I have mixed feelings about D.I.Y. dining. Some of my favorite meals involve hot pots or tabletop charcoal barbecuing, and I once spent over half of my lunches in a year at the same salad bar, exploring all the possible varieties of the turkey breast sandwich. On the other hand, I’ve been eating pho for [...]
Picture a classic Thanksgiving dinner, when an extended family gathers around a mythically long table. Each seat is filled, and each person can look ahead to see a feast atop tablecloth and a close relative or friend. It’s a scene of domesticity and community, something reserved for sit-coms and too-perfect households, rife with interpersonal drama, [...]
Can you name this dining counter? If so, you’ve had the privilege of tasting one of America’s finest burgers. If not, you’ll get your answer below the fold. This is the last of the point-and-eat posts from my holiday in California. I’ve saved what are probably my three favorite meals of the two weeks I [...]
When I tell people I’m going home for the holidays, I mean to say two things: 1. I’ve booked a flight to Los Angeles. 2. Once I’m in Los Angeles, I’ll get the Hell out and make tracks for the East Bay. 3. My appetite is expanding to Homeric proportions. I’ll be the first to [...]
My photo of Jodie’s grits is now part of an iPhone app called “Kiss My Grits!” Icon representation is one small step for man, but one large step for man-grits relations. Many thanks to Ben of Tesly for requesting permission and attributing accordingly on the app page.
No well meaning trip to the reality resistant bubble of Berkeley is complete without a visit to one of its three major restaurant rows. In the city’s southeast corner, bordering the upscale settlements of North Oakland, is Elmwood, home to such neighborhood favorites as Trattoria La Siciliana and Ici. On the northern edge of the [...]
Having been away from the East Bay for over two years now, I’ve realized that there are only three places I have to visit when I make it back to my alma mater. Despite reports that its quality has been steadily going downhill, Lucky House Thai in downtown Berkeley remains on the short list of [...]
