Simple Pleasures in Oakland

Three reasons why I am crazy for Temescal:

1. Breakfast at Pizzaiolo.

Doughnut hole and morning bun at Pizzaiolo. 

These deadly delights, along with Blue Bottle cappuccino mend all.  (OMG--the morning bun.)

So far, I have every reason to believe that the Pizzaiolo folks really mean it with their hearts.

2. Bakesale Betty's, on the corner.  

At 10:00 AM on a recent Saturday, this place was preparing for the lunchtime invasion of customers   who line up for their fried chicken sandwich.

Fried chicken sandwiches  on tap at Bakeale Betty's.

 I wasn't quite in the mood at 10-in-the-morning so I bought cookies instead: oatmeal raisin and molasses. 

Oatmeal raisin cookie with bits of walnuts.

These are extremely recommended for those who love a soft cookie.  They are pliable in your hands, like a firm dough.  This was especially true of the molasses' cookie.  I found the sweetness of both cookies, and the spiciness of the molasses cookie, to be very pleasant.

Molasses cookie. (Not all of it made it to the photo shoot.)

The service here on this day was as sweet as the cookies. Makes me really want to come back. Very, very soon.

3. La Calaca Loca (no website available at this writing).
La Calaca Loca--is that a kick to say or what. It's the stylish-looking Mexican place on the other side of Pizzaiolo. I haven't been there yet, but it is on my list, especially as I love a Mexican breakfast and this place is open from 9am on weekends. There is a nice outdoor patio in the back, says my knowledgeable foodie insider friend. 

There are plenty more social, political,  cultural and sun-drenched reasons to love this irresistible section of Temescal...as if one needed any more reasons.

Restaurant Notes: Café M

Café M
1799 4th St
Ste F
(between Virginia St & Hearst Ave)
Berkeley, CA 94710

     Poached eggs.  I finished these in just a few bites.  A little salty.  But not at all bad!

On the last day of my Tokyo-cousin's stay in the US, we went to Café M for brunch. It was a rainy Sunday but the uber-yuppy, Fourth Street shopping area was buzzing.  We had to put our name on a waitlist, but were able to be seated within 20 minutes, at around 1pm.  Bette's Oceanview Diner had a 90-minute wait when we'd checked in there. (I wanted to try their soufflé pancakes--darn.) 

I ordered poached eggs with lox and spinach; the cousin had an omlette. 

My mom had a crepe...I think. It looked a bit dry to me around the edges. But she liked it. (I compare my crepes to Coupa's elegant, elastic, buckwheat ones.)  

But the real story at Café M was the banana pancakes, which my cousin and I split. They may not have looked like anything special, but they were. Tender, moist and irresistible, even after my plate of eggs.  

Yum, yum, yum.  Especially on a rainy day.  Who am I kidding. These would be great any day, any time.

The service here was average.  But I don't expect service to be notable at a casual breakfast/lunch place like this.  

Café M has large windows on one side and was full until we left around 2pm.  It fit the bill.

Venus Restaurant

2327 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 540-5950
venusrestaurant.net

Reviewed 12/30/2009

I love the planets in Berkeley: Jupiter for its live music and pizza, and Venus for its breakfast.

Venus is the place to go for eggs.

Mine were beautifully poached (I ordered Venus Benedict) and my friend's were over-easy. Top ratings from the two of us.

My hollandaise sauce was luscious but light.

The coffee was forgettable, but in the spirit of the holiday season, I'll forgive them that.

Service was efficient and friendly.

Apparently others agree that this place is good--it was hopping at 10AM on a weekday between Christmas and New Year's.

Good thing Venus is not too far away.

Zazie

French
941 Cole St
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 564-5332
zaziesf.com

Reviewed 8/30/2009

Cute little neighborhood restaurant with Édith Piaf crooning in the background. It sports a bit of a worn look.

I went on a bright and gorgeous weekday morning when simple pleasures in the city were abundant.

The food was tasty in an uncomplicated way. I had the poached egg with smoked salmon, capers and home fries. Mmm Hollandaise sauce! Mmmm home fries! There were roasted WHOLE garlic cloves mixed in with the potatoes. I was eating them like candy.

Imagine how I smelled later. Hmmmmm...

But I have had better cappuccino.

Nonetheless my server was a sweetheart and I was quite taken by how Zazie complements the residential neighborhood. Score!