Burma Superstar Lotus Root Chips: I ate at Burma Superstar in Richmond 6 years ago, so I instantly recognized their branding when I saw this bag of lotus chips on the shelves at Berkeley Bowl. Thinly sliced lotus root is deep fried and lightly tossed with nori, cayenne, and sesame. Oil saturates the rings, leaving your fingers coated in a thin layer of grease and speckles of seaweed. No serving size indicated on the packaging, but they lasted two days at work. 3.5/5.0
berkeleybowl veggie recommended burmasuperstar lotus root chips 3.5
Pop Art Nori Sesame Popcorn: Sprinkled with bits of nori, this unique popcorn faithfully replicates the taste of seaweed strips in a Western form factor. With a minimal palate of ingredients, the product delivers a clear and distinct flavor. Texturally, they aren't the fluffiest or lightest popcorn I've had, but they are tasty and worth trying. 3.5/5.0
recommended popart nori sesame popcorn 3.5 berkeleybowl
Jean-Philippe Patisserie Raspberry Tart: This multi-layered tart has a shortbread base, raspberry "jam," pistachio cream, almond nougatine, and fresh raspberries, topped with tubular shavings of white chocolate. At $8, it comes at a Vegas price tag, but it's easily sharable. Its best attribute is the mix of textures, from the almond crisp to the soft nougat. The raspberries were also remarkably fresh. A bit sweet for my taste, but the layer of raspberry jam does add some tartness. 3.5/5.0
dessert lasvegas berries pistachio jeanphilippepatisserie raspberry tart 3.5 recommended
Trader Joe's Mesquite smoked seasoned almonds: I don't typically snack on nuts but they're just about the only snack that my dad eats. On my last visit home, my mom purchased these seasoned almonds from Trader Joe's, and I found them to be surprisingly tasty. They feature a prominent smoky flavor that's more like a campfire than sweet barbecue chips – and I mean that in a positive way. While I would never purchase this snack myself given the overwhelming size of the bag, this would be a great snack for sharing. 3.5/5.0
recommended nuts traderjoes mesquite smoked seasoned almonds 3.5
Trader Joe's Salted Caramel Coconut Cookies: Smaller and less rich than Samoas, these chewy coconut cookies can be purchased outside of Girls Scout Cookie season. The salted caramel contributes to the texture but it not seasoned as much as I would expect for a salted caramel. Slightly larger than a quarter, they are snackable and good for portion control. 3.5/5.0
recommended traderjoes salted caramel coconut cookies 3.5
Amande Peach Cultured Almondmilk: On appearance, this vegan yogurt looks familiar, with a peach-colored hue and cubes of peach fruit throughout. When you take your first spoonful, though, you'll immediately sense this is a different product, with a consistency much thinner than normal (I would describe it as resembling a thin soup). The taste is also distinct but will be familiar if you enjoy drinking almond milk: it's nutty and rich. Flavor-wise, I actually liked the combination of almond milk with peaches, though the te... (read more) 3.5/5.0
yogurt berkeleybowl recommended amande peach cultured almondmilk 3.5