Tea Hut Jasmine milk tea with boba: It’s kind of outrageous how saturated quality bubble tea shops are in the Bay Area. We’ve all become accustomed with fine-tuning our drinks to our exact specifications - with numerous toppings, sugar levels, and even the amount of ice, down to a percent. With the range of available options, tea shops are resorting to other ways of distinguishing themselves beyond ingredients, turning to the beverage’s vehicle itself: the humble cup. Here at Tea Hut, a small bubble tea shop right next to b. P... (read more) 4.0/5.0
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Monterey Market Fresh-squeezed blood orange juice: I’ve always been curious about the fresh squeezed juice at Monterey Market in Berkeley and decided to take advantage of potentially my last opportunity to try it. Unsurprisingly, the blood orange juice has a wonderfully refreshing sweet citrus flavor. Most of the pulp has been taken out, but it has just enough to remind you of just how fresh it is. A bit pricy, at $5 for a 32oz container, but you definitely get what you pay for! 4.0/5.0
berkeley bloodorange citrus drinks montereymarket fresh-squeezed blood orange juice 4.0 recommended
Cheeseboard Chocolate Things: Representative of the ingredient-focus mindset of California cuisine more generally, this lightly sweetened roll is rich and buttery in flavor but also fluffy and light in texture. Good quality chocolate chunks throughout. Very classic and delicious - I can easily imagine it any patisserie in Paris. A great value at just $3. Purchased from the iconic Cheeseboard bakery on Berkeley. 4.0/5.0
recommended bread bakery berkeley brioche cheeseboard chocolate things 4.0
Lotus Foods Sriracha Arare Rice Crackers: I sometimes feel guilty when I purchase the Western version of classic asian snacks, made with likely responsibly sourced ingredients and marketed with minimalist, sans-serif packaging. But having had Lotus Food’s Arare rice crackers in the past, I had a sense that the difference in quality would be worthwhile, and it was. Black, red, and yellow rice crackers in a variety of shapes, from stars to squares, have a clear sheen from a chili-flavored glaze. They’re satisfying crunchy, and the hea... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended berkeleybowl asian ricecrackers lotusfoods sriracha arare rice crackers 4.0
Brothers Freeze-dried fruit crisps Fuji apples with cinnamon: Freeze dried fruit is a modern-day convenience, a space-age snack that has trickled down to everyday consumption. I find that certain types of fruit benefit from the resulting crispy and brittle texture more than others; soft berries seem to lose their sweetness while their tartness levels receive a boost, but fruits like mangoes are transformed into portable, snackable spears with a condensed tropical flavor. These Fuji apple crisps from Brothers are an example of a successful freeze-dried ... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended fruit freezedried brothers freeze-dried crisps fuji apples cinnamon 4.0
Cheeseboard Bialy: I’m tying to reduce my carb intake (which has drastically reduced snacking). But one morning, I woke up to find I didn’t have running water in my apartment and, giving up on low-carb life for a bit, I went to Cheeseboard for breakfast. I always find the savory breads at this Berkeley institution are better than their sweet baked goods. This bialy was especially satisfying after not having any bread for a while. Tasting strongly of garlic and sprinkled with poppy seeds, the round bread has a ... (read more) 4.0/5.0
bread berkeley onion bakery baked cheeseboard bialy 4.0 recommended