east bay essentials
Most of you are probably a day or two into your sheltering in place and probably just about ready for some external stimuli — or better yet — someone else’s cooking. At the east bae, we love local businesses. We know that the fabric of a creative, thriving and exciting place to live are the individuals from the community that bring their passion and ideas to life in ways that we can all share in. The shelter in place order will absolutely make this a trying time for our local communities and businesses, so we’ve gone out and found the restaurants that are staying open amid the crisis and suggest you get delivery or go visit them (pick up only, and wash your hands!).
But before we get to that, if you don’t want to go anywhere, here are some local ideas for passing the time at home:
📝Draw: Bay Area artist Wendy MacNaughton (author of Meanwhile in San Francisco) is hosting a free drawing class for kids every day at 10 a.m. PT. Check it out on her instagram here.
👩🍳Cook: Samin Nousrat, Oakland resident, chef and author of Salt Fat Acid Heat (who recently gave an interesting interview to the New Yorker) collaborated with the aforementioned Wendy on her cookbook, which makes it a friendly and approachable way to learn about flavors and food. This is a great cookbook for all levels of cooking experience but it will be especially helpful if this quarantine is your first time fending for yourself in the kitchen.
📚Read: East Bay Booksellers is hoping to keep your love of reading alive while you’re stuck at home; they’re offering free shipping on book orders and are asking customers to buy gift certificates if you can. We know it’s so easy to do that one-click on the monolith - but it just feels so much better to support the locals if you can.
Now onward to places to patronize:
54 Mint - many years ago I worked across the street from the SF location of 54 Mint and spent many a days/nights indulging in their authentic Italian food - freshly baked breads, rich pastas, pizzas and fresh salads. The Walnut Creek location is offering pick up so you can get your fill of their high quality cooking and my personal favorite: calzones.
Hopscotch- this very fun and delicious Oakland spot known for their amazing fried chicken and “American food with a Japanese sensibility” is open for curb side pick up and/or Caviar delivery. They’ll be open til 8 p.m. every night and you can find their full menu here - which includes a special menu called “Burger Relief” (amen!) that features six different types of burgers/sandwiches + salad + chips + drink for $22. They’re also selling wine to go for 25% off bottle price. Visit their site and call 510-788-6217 to place an order.
World Famous Hot Boys- this wildly popular hot chicken spot is thankfully still offering takeout - you can order via their website. They’re regularly sharing updates on their v fun instagram and have opted out of delivery for the time being, so place an order and stop on by.
Boichik bagels - the brand new and beloved college ave spot is still open, just not letting people inside the building. Now is a good time to get your taste of these already famous local bagels - unless the line ends up being even longer since people have to stand six feet apart, it could go for miles. They’re operating cash-free (no germs exchanged) from 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Weds - Sunday. They have ready-to-freeze bagel packs to stock your freezer too.
Lottie’s - in high stress situations ice cream is absolutely essential - I know because I was pregnant once and needed it like never before. Walnut Creek-based Lottie’s is open for pickup 2- 8 p.m. And like many businesses right now, they are selling gift cards as a means to forward invest in future ice cream purchases.
Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement - I don’t know if you’re seeing a pattern here but this is the third fried chicken spot I’ve mentioned. We have many here and I greatly appreciate comfort foods - so hopefully you do too. Minnie Bells is accepting catering orders for next day delivery - so plan ahead and get yourself some of their rosemary friend chicken and mac n cheese to your door (zip codes: 94608,94710,94610,94607, 94606)
Nobolom Bakery will continue to offer their incredible baked goods and greasy but somehow still healthy feeling pizzas Wednesday - Saturday from 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. in Berkeley.
Katy’s Kreek - this cherished Icelandic/American breakfast spot is keeping the doors open for takeout-only in both WC and San Ramon from 8 a.m - 1 p.m.
Xolo - uptown Oakland’s favorite taqueria will remain open for takeout and delivery via Caviar. It seems that all the delivery apps are offering “contact-less” delivery, where the driver will place the bag on your doorstep - so check it out.
Tacos El Patron - is offering free delivery from their Pleasant Hill and SF locations. You can read a deep dive on this flavorful taco spot from a previous edition of east bae.
I assembled this list after hours last night, and was going to give it a clear eyed read before sending out - but first thing this morning Resy’s Bay Area editor Paolo Luchessi sent out a more complete list of SF & East Bay restaurants offering pick up, so be sure to check that out too (he’s a pro!).
And most importantly: while sourcing great restaurants to get food from is a truly blessed problem to have, many people over the coming weeks and months will really need help with food for themselves and their families. Here are two east bay non-profits I urge you to consider supporting during this difficult time. Please let me know if there are others you support that need the help:
Project Open Hand - Provides meals for sick, elderly and vulnerable. They need volunteers in light of this crisis and are continuing to serve the community. They are also accepting donations.
Alameda County Food Bank- Alameda county food bank has set up a crisis line for those in need of food and is taking precautions to protect their community. Please consider volunteering if you are healthy or donating here.
💪🏼And one quick pick me up before we go: Concord-born and Oakland-raised Tom Hanks thankfully has been released from the hospital and is hopefully healed of Covid-19.
Know of other restaurants that could use the patronage? Please send recs!
Have ideas for other ways to help people in need during these uncertain times? Let us know.
And ICYMI - last week’s east bae on places to get outside and socialize distantly