Gourmet "Ghetto"
Last month, I got to experience one of the most well-esteemed restaurants in the world - Chez Panisse in Berkeley, CA. Tucked away in a renovated old apartment house, this restaurant is famous for using only the freshest, organic ingredients and locally grown produce and wow, can you taste it! We dined in the upstairs cafe part of the restaurant (quite a bit cheaper and less formal than the prix fixe menu and plush accommodations downstairs). Our friends Will and Christine gave us a great tour of some of these local food shops as well, including the Cheeseboard - a store with a spectacular collection of cheeses and some well-versed fromagers! We also ducked into La Farine, Yasai Produce Market, and Cole Coffee in Rockridge for some of the tastiest bread, fruit, and coffee I could imagine. What a perfect little retreat! Berekely is truly a place for serious foodies!