4 Chez Panisse Alums
Everyone knows Chez Panisse is one of the best restaurants in the bay area, nay country! and that Alice Waters is the leading pioneer in farm to table cooking. But what you may not have realized is that Alice Waters and her nearly 40 year-old restaurant have spun out dozens of notable chefs over the years who have gone on to open restaurants, write cookbooks and even host a Netflix show. Here are four notable east bay spots to check out - including two brand new ones:
FAVA- not straying too far from Chez Panisse, you can find Fava on Vine Street in the former Juice Bar collective space in Berkeley, churning out flavorful mediterranean dishes. They’re open on weekdays for a take-out-only sandwiches and salads from the highest quality ingredients and approachable comfort food that vegetarians and vegans can enjoy, like a warm lentil salad or a corn and squash soup. But the thing for omnivores to get is the braised lamb sandwich - juicy lamb on a freshly made flatbread with a tangy yogurt and cabbage. It will drip off your hands and linger on your mind for days, weeks, really, til you can score your next one. They only make 50 a day, playing hard to get and its working! This place is cute, quick and so, so good.
Bakesale Betty. By golly. Bakesale Betty is an Oakland institution, with fans lining up down the block on Telegraph to get a bite of their impossibly moist and tender fried chicken sandwiches. Alison Barakat apparently spent three years at chez panisse honing her already impressive pastry-making craft before setting out on her own to run this tiny, no frills-but-the-food spot. Bakesale Betty just opened up a new outpost in the Chase Center in SF - which debuted with a handful of beloved local eateries as official vendors. I had a fried chicken sandwich at the Warriors home opener and I’m happy to report that it was just as juicy as the original, but I’m less happy to report that the Warrior curse is real. It took the Red Sox 86 years to reverse theirs, hopefully it doesn’t take Golden State as long to make amends after their departure from their east bay fans in Oakland.
the Lede - whenever I travel I try to seek out unusual places that give a peek into the creative culture of the local community. I always enjoy finding clever conceptual mashups - like this charming educational center in Berlin called Literaturhaus which offers a library, lectures and damn good coffee and breakfast — or Stockholm’s Rosendals Trädgård; a gardener’s dream with its biodynamic indoor/outdoor garden, shop and wood-fired bakery that churns out delightful home-made cardamum buns; and in Oslo there’s the beloved Fuglen, a coffee bar by day, cocktail bar by night that sells Scandinavian vintage furniture.
There aren’t too many spaces like this in the bay area that purposefully bring together creatives and cuisine - but I’m always excited when I find one. Earlier this year North Light opened on Telegraph to offer a curated book and record collection alongside all day dining and cocktails - and just this month - the Lede opened in downtown Oakland across from Swans market. The new restaurant/bar shares a co-working space and podcasting studio through a partnership with Studio to Be with the aim of welcoming creatives, journalists and storytellers into the community. The high-ceilings and brick-walls allow for striking art from local artists out of Creative Growth, a non-profit art studio for artists with disabilities. And there’s an oversized outdoor space with child-friendly seating and an array of succulents to make for a relaxing place to catch up with friends, write and get some work done. Chef and cookbook author Cal Peternell serves up gourmet but approachable dishes like arancini and zucchini onion fritters, or more lavish dishes like a savory and sweet duck confit. I went for lunch last weekend and the food was A+.
The patio at the lede
Art from Creative Growth at the Lede
Last but not least:
Ramen Shop in Rockridge offers major Tokyo vibes and is run by not one, not two, but three Chez Panisse alums. They feature their own unique style of ramen and offer a splendid high ball menu and a solid sake list - plus they have great desserts. This can be tough to get into but its a great spot for a date or a small group dinner. As you know, I love places that feel like you’ve traveled somewhere else, so for me, the ambiance is juuuust about worth the high prices, but if $20+ ramen is too much to swallow, check out this past edition of east bae for other places that feel like Japan.
Some more local news:
Global Coffee chain Blue Bottle is relocating their HQ from Oakland to Sacramento to cut costs.
A new exhibit has opened at the Oakland art museum called No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man. More here.
You may recall the SF —> East Bay edition of east bae where we chronicled the restaurants moving east - but there was one we just missed: Brenda’s Soul Food just opened last month read more on the restaurant here.
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