Emily and Linda’s Travel Blog

Back in the 1970s before anyone had heard of California Cuisine or the Slow Food movement, Alice Waters opened Chez Panisse on Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley. Now the area has turned into a foodie Mecca with several restaurants and food shops and a farmer's market once a week.  Today Jo and I went to one of the nearby places - Saul's Deli where they try to walk the line between maintaining the Jewish deli experience and following farm to table principles of fresh food, locally sourced (for a discussion of how complicated it is to maintain the balance, see this link: http://bayarea.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/a-summit-on-the-future-of-the-deli/?_r=0)

We sat down to corn beef on rye, salad, fresh babaganoush and peach pie.  Unfortunately we were so enthused about our food that it was gone before we remembered to take a picture.  But we did pause to take a snap of the pie which was excellent.  Afterwards we hit one of the other pilgrimage spots - the Cheeseboard Cooperative where we sampled several beutiful cheeses including fresh cream cheese, Humboldt Fog, and a young Manchego. We also picked up some high quality olive oil and bread dor tomorrow's culinary adventures.

On the way home from dinner we took a stroll through our little neighborhood.  I'm always struck by the extraordinary variety of plant life here.  When my family first arrived here in the late 60s, my mother said she felt like she'd awoken in some fairytale where the magic seeds got out of control ( no not that kind).  

Thank you to all concerned about our little morning wake up tremor, but we are completely fine, not scared, just taking in the full Californis experience.  Today we went over to the nearby Fourth Street, an area that used to be an indstrial district, but has now been converted to shops, restaurants and galleries.   We had breakfast at Cafe M followed by a wander through the shops. By then we were ready for more of our signature lounging. After restorative naps, we were ready to plan our next adventure. However we spent so long discussing options for dinner and entertainment that we ran out of steam. So we ended up back at the Casa Latina to sample more of their menu.  Pictured are the pollo asado quesadilla and the fish tacos. Both excellent.  

Well, we're getting the full Bay Area experience on this trip. No alarm clock needed today - got a jolt out of bed with a 4.0 earthquake. Not the long scary kind. Just a big jolt as if a truck had slammed into the house.  Then done. Went through the old familar sequence, "What the .... .?" followed by "Oh, I know what that was". Jo and I met in the kitchen for a high five. Linda shuffled out if bed with a quizzical look on her face.  All fine. Just a reminder that we're not in Brooklyn anymore. 

Sunday we met up with my brother Jim and his girlfriend Toni at Toni's house in Albany and had a good visit catching up.  They took us for Korean lunch and then to a play at the Live Oak Theater in Berkeley. One of the actors in the play was a fellow I sang with in High School, Robert Sicular.   Then back to our house in Berkeley just in time to greet our College friend Jo who will be staying with us this week

As some of you know, Linda is quite a talented photographer. However, if you want to know what we saw and where we went, you'd be better to look at my not so expert shots. Linda's interest is largely in the abstract aspects the visual experience. Here she is rowsing from her morning lounging with coffee to capture the essential pattern of light on the drapes. Probably be a great photo, but you see what I mean about the travelog aspect of our trip. 

Saturday was spent mostly settling in to the house and exploring the immediate neighborhood.  It's the typical "flats" (i.e. Not the hills part of Berkeley) hodgepodge of architecture. Some Spanish-themed, some craftsman type, some ugly, unremarkable apartment buildings that have acquired personality via their expressive inhabitants.  Loving the exuberant bougainvillea around the house which is lovely and comfortable.  

Acme Bakery Is only a block Away. Little hole in the wall with sign so you have to be in the know to find it, but that doesnt seem to be a problem - there was quite a line when we visited mid-day.  We had a lovely sit in the outdoor garden of the Laila Cafe while waiting for the house to be ready.  Later we had some really good Mexican food at Casa Latina. No liquor license sadly, but the food made up for it.  Might be the best tamales I've ever had. Linda sampled the panaderia (bakery) part of the establishment afterward  we'll be going back I suspect. 

Uber and its ilk firmly entrenched here. 

One of my favorite blocks in our neighborhood (actually in Cobble Hill)- Verandah Place. Line of mid-nineteenth century buildings which apparently used to have verandahs. Now facing a lovely pocket park. Thimas Wolfe once lived in one of them.