Friday, October 28, 2005

Berkeley bound

One of the best things about moving to a new place is that constant sense of discovery. On weekends we like to take our bikes -- by car, ferry, or BART-- to some new town or neighborhood and spend the day exploring. Last Sunday, we did a Berkeley tour.

There were a few places I'd been eager to visit: Kermit Lynch's wine store, the Cheese Board, Breads of India, and some non-foodie shops and sights. Won't bore you with those.

I had read Ly
nch's excellent wine travelogue Adventures on the Wine Route, purchased two years ago at a tiny wine shop in St. Johnsbury, VT, and I was secretly hoping to get a glimpse of the man, even though I know he lives in France part of the year. Can't believe it took me six months to do this, but it's just such a nuisance to drive to Berkeley on weekends with all the bridge traffic. Now I was prepared: Bike, backpack, and willing legs for the schlepping. Counting down the addresses, I saw the barn-like building up ahead. Turned the corner, holding my breath, and...they're closed Sundays.

Next stop: the Cheese Board, the legendary collective that was there at the beginning of the Berkeley food revolution. A quick search for directions informed us that they, too, are closed on Sundays. See what happens when you give the workers a say? No wine and cheese for the hedonists.

Bravely onward. Now we were hungry. Breads of India, was open, God bless 'em. We ordered tandoori salmon and a vegetable curry (the menu changes daily), plus garlic naan. Wow. I honestly think that fish was the best tandoori I have ever had. Maybe the best salmon I've ever had. The naan lived up to its top billing. Even the raita was great. Plus, everything had that wonderful new-discovery smell. And so the day was saved.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Indian food is good.....MMMMMMMMMMMMM......

Paul,
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Kathleen Callon said...

You are "my kind of people"... BART and Indian food? I'd do just about anything for primo aloo gobi, slathered garlic nan, and spiced mint chutney. Peace and prosperity.

Kat

Oberon said...

.......nothing beats good chicken soup.........i mean thai food.......uh.....mexican, gotta love it.......i lie, i'm a food junky........i love it all.......i'm so weak.

C.S. said...

Thank you so much for the find. I'll be in s.F next week and will visit this place for sure.

Joaquin Mattison said...

Yum. Gotta love Asian food. I'm a Japanese food person. Gotta have some good sushi.

High Power Rocketry said...

Keep the BK CA info coming! I might wind up there one day so I need to be ready! :)

R2000
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Anonymous said...

Where is the pumpkin pie>

Cephalis said...

Have you worked your way down Solano Avenue in North Berkeley/Albany yet? The are several very good restaurants on these few blocks--and Alice Water's Chez Panisse is just a few blocks away.

Tidy Bowl said...

Gee whiz that looks like so much fun!

One question for you... how do you choose a good wine?

Tidy Bowl

Tomomi said...

Love Cheese Board Pizza.

Hey, I am a newly arrived ex-Bostonian too!!!

Liz said...

Ooh, promise me you'll try Kermit Lynch's and the Cheese Board again and write about them!

Breads of India sounds amazing. I'm definitely passing your site on to some friends and family in Cali.

Anonymous said...

Hi Amy!
Listen, I know you are a foodie and all that, but I have to say that VIK'S is really the place to get Indian food in Berkeley. Yes Breads of India is good, but for the most authentic tastes Vik's on Allston and 4th is the way to go. On the weekends they serve a Masala Dosa that will leave your knees weak!

Anonymous said...

I must say that I am not a big fan of Breads of India. Yeah Yeah, the naan is allright, but the food is not that special.
Vik's chaat cafe, Kabana or Udipi Palace are much better choices.

Amy Traverso said...

How exciting! Even better Indian food to be found... We'll try to get to Vik's soon. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Vik's is a great place.