Straus Family Creamery Organic Plain Nonfat Yogurt: What exactly is European-style yogurt? Having seen this labeling on Trader Joe's and now Strauss Family Creamery yogurt, I decided to investigate, discovering conflicting claims that Trader Joe's European-style yogurt just may come from Straus Family Creamery. Regardless, these sources did not clarify what is meant by European-style, but I can say that it's more runny than regular yogurt, yet still fully solid (not watery). The flavor is also pleasantly tart and easily balanced with just ... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended yogurt straus berkeleybowl strausfamilycreamery organic plain nonfat 4.0
Summerdown Mint Chocolate Peppermint Creams: I bought these chocolates from the English-focused Chelsea Market shop Chelsea Market Baskets as a holiday present. They're kind of like peppermint patties on steroids, with a very satisfying, thick dark chocolate shell and potent mint filling, slightly chewy and somewhat viscous. It's made using English Black Mitcham peppermint, and you can taste the quality. It cost a little over $10 for a box of 16 pieces, easily enough to share. 4.0/5.0
chocolates chelseamarketbaskets british darkchocolate mint summerdownmint chocolate peppermint creams 4.0
Sun Fruits Apple Juice: In the basement of the swanky Tokyo Midtown department store is a speciality fruit shop called Sun Fruits, the type of shop where sumo oranges (dekopan) are individually wrapped in a form-fitting web of styrofoam and boxes of pale white strawberries go for 8,000¥ ($73 USD). The one item I felt I could afford, and also I was most interested in trying, was a bottle of what I presumed to be a barely-pink fruit soda, which cost $3.50. It turns out that it was a bottle of apple juice, with frui... (read more) 4.0/5.0
exceptional drinks applejuice tokyo japan sunfruits apple juice 4.0 japanese
Sweet Belly Desserts Rosie Milk Tea Soft Serve: Sweet Belly Desserts is a small shop around the corner from the 19th Street Oakland BART station. They have a rotating menu of seasonal soft serve flavors as well as mini donuts with housemade glazes and dips. I ordered just the softserve, without any toppings, which cost a little more than $5. This particular flavor is an excellent tribute to floral milk teas, capturing the herbal yet creamy essence of black milk tea along with an aromatic rose flavor. And it wasn't too sweet! Textuall... (read more) 4.0/5.0
oakland softserve icecream sweetbellydesserts rosie milk tea soft serve 4.0 recommended
Sweet Blossom rose petal soda: A light and refreshing drink, floral aftertaste is sweet and not overpowering 4.0/5.0
recommended drinks sweetblossom rose petal soda 4.0
Sweetheart Cafe Taiwan Style Milk Tea with Boba: This hole-in-the-wall on Durant in Berkeley features a small counter overflowing with asian snacks and walls plastered with laminated drink menus (items listed in Chinese followed by English). The first time I stopped by shortly after it opened its doors for the day, I was informed that the boba had not yet been delivered from Oakland, where they have a sister cafe. Returning several weeks later on an impulse at around 11pm (they are open past midnight on the weekends), I opted for their T... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended drinks bubbletea boba sweetheartcafe taiwan style milk tea 4.0