A DAY IN BERKELEY

Sometimes I just have to get out of the City but not so far away that I lose sight of the San Francisco skyline. On days like this I head over to Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto for shoe shopping, shortbread cookies, lunch and a view with roses.

The only thing better than a good piece of chocolate is a great pair of shoes. First stop: EARTHLY GOODS. Don’t let the Eco-Berkeley name fool you. This is no Earth Mama store. Along with a complete line of Eileen Fischer clothes they carry a great line of authentically reproduced vintage shoes from REMIX VINTAGE SHOES Los Angeles. And darn if those cute black and white spectators didn’t have my name on them. With shopping bag tossed over my arm and new shoes on my feet I walked (strutted actually) over to CESAR for lunch. A cool glass of rose wine, some hot fried potato wedges dusted with cumin seed and a small ramekin of salt cod and potato cazuela (a cod and potato spread) were enough to refuel and launch me on my way to more shopping.

Second stop: BLACK OAK BOOKS. These are very clever retailers to place the cookbooks at the entrance. The left wall is packed with used cookbooks, the table in front has new cookbooks. I always check the table first as they manage to get their hands on the smartest, best cookbooks of the moment. This is my chance to support independent bookstores. How do they survive?

Third stop: THE FRENCH HOTEL CAFÉ, 1638 Shattuck Avenue. This is where I sit back with the book I just purchased at Black Oak and drink the very best cappuccino I have ever had ANYWHERE! I do not exaggerate.

Fourth stop: THE CHEESE BOARD COLLECTIVE, 1504 Shattuck Avenue. Worker owned and operated. I skip the cheese today and head straight to the shortbread cookie tray. I love these cookies for two reasons. They are buttery, tender and the ginger version has real heat. They are also big. So I get that little kid feeling of a big ol’ cookie in my hand ready to dip into a glass of cold milk. Double bag these babies as they are so full of  butter the paper bag gets greasy fast.

Fifth stop: The original PEETS at 2124 Vine Street. Opened in 1966 this was Alfred Peet’s first shop in Berkeley. I order whatever the coffee of the day is and head up to the hills.

Last stop: THE BERKELEY ROSE GARDEN. What a view! What roses! Built as a WPA project in the 1930's this is a beautiful place to hang out on a warm Berkeley day. Altered state of consciousness optional.

I always know it is time to leave Berkeley when the third beat up Volvo station wagon covered in bumper stickers makes an illegal u-turn in front of me. 

Comments

[culinary muse]

Perfect! Let me know if you have any more questions about where to go in Berkeley this weekend. The weather should be beautiful.

[Stephanie]

This is something my mom would definitely look forward to. She'll be traveling around the Berkeley area this weekend, and shopaholic that she is, she'll be excited about the different places she can visit.