I'm a former Brooklyn girl who escaped NY in search of warmer air, year-round produce and a bigger kitchen. I found all of this, and a whole new outlook on food in Berkeley, CA . Contact me at allisonvalo AT gmail.com
Amid the long lines, bewildered staff and a few grouchy attendees, there was some delicious food and good times to be had at The Great American Food and Music Festival, held at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View.
Thanks to foodbuzz.com, Alejandro and I were sporting blue VIP bracelets that gave us front row seats to chef demos, access to the wine tent and as much free food as we could handle. The festival featured top regional cuisine from across the nation, including Buffalo wings from Anchor Bar in Buffalo, pastrami from Katz's in New York, hot dogs from Pink's in Los Angeles, burgers from Burgermeister in San Francisco and more.
Bobby Flay is on the lookout for the best burger in San Francisco. Check out the highlights of the day to see who won...
I went into this with an open mind
and an empty stomach. And while I’ll always have a special place in
my heart for New York, like soft cheese on warm bread I have completely
fused to life on the West Coast.
That said, after hearing over and over
again that Pizzeria Delfina was the best in San Francisco, I knew this
was the place that may stand up to, in my opinion, the preeminent pizza
joint in New York - Lucali. I was wrong. Very wrong…
The Wood Tavern on College Ave. in Rockridge is the quintessential east bay dining experience. A bold seasonal menu, a great wine list, and impeccable service. The last meal I felt this strongly about was that of Chez Panisse, which really surprised me considering the Wood Tavern has only been around for two years. Alejandro and I were celebrating my new job and my birthday, and this meal was not only worthy of the occasion, it blew us away. Now we understand why every time we walk past - even at 3pm on a Tuesday - it's packed. Here's what we ordered:
I thought the tagline on the sign was a little bold, but that was before I bit into the chorizo, cheese and avocado burrito I ordered. I normally don't order chorizo because, let's face it, bad chorizo tastes worse than a week-old hot dog. But this was the exact opposite of that, and probably the best I've ever eaten. This meal just added to an already momentous day, as I just found out a got the job I was pining for, after being unemployed for almost four months. To celebrate, we're going to Wood Tavern in Rockridge - look out for a full review tomorrow.
I know I'm extremely late to jump on the La Taqueria band wagon, but better late than never.
