Trader Joe's Organic Sparkling Lemon and Strawberry Apple Cider Vinegar Drink: I really enjoyed the ginger and lemon apple cider vinegar beverage I previously purchased from Trader Joe's, which is a fairly classic flavor combination as far as shrubs go. This strawberry lemon version is a little more unique and was equally refreshing – the berry flavor is tart and sweet, and overall the drink is well balanced. I was very sad to see that these drinks may now be out of season at TJs but I hope you get to try it if you come across it on the shelves. 4.0/5.0
recommended drinks traderjoes organic sparkling lemon strawberry apple cider vinegar drink 4.0
Tsukishimaya Imagawayaki waffle dessert: In my neighborhood in Tokyo, there's a very small to-go stall selling a traditional Japanese dessert called Imagawayaki, which is a wheel-shaped waffle/pancake with red-bean filling. Here, you can purchase a custard version as well, each for just over a dollar, and they're made fresh right in front of you with a heavy-duty cast-iron mold. I really enjoyed the crispy coating and slightly chewy interior. The pancake itself had a nice wheat flavor, which was pleasantly surprising because I e... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended desserts azabujuban japanese tsukishimaya imagawayaki waffle dessert 4.0
Uchi Cafe Sakura Dacquoise ice cream sandwich: I am going to be discharged from the hospital tomorrow so I got an ice cream sandwich from the Lawson convenience store to celebrate. This is a Sakura ice cream sandwich that's meant to resemble a French pastry (Dacquoise); it consists of sakura-flavored ice cream with a thin layer of strawberry jam sandwiched between two flaky biscuits that have a crumbly costing almost like a glazed sugar cookie. I had the dessert about 10 minutes after getting it from the freezer, which seemed like the pe... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended icecream japanese lawson icecreamsandwich dessert ichicafe sakura dacquoise ice cream sandwich 4.0
Udi's Original Granola: Seriously good mix of oats, banana chips, walnuts, & more. Healthy superfood. 4.0/5.0
recommended banana walnut nuts oats udis original granola 4.0
Udi's cranberry almond granola bars: Substantial snack with great chewy texture, good balance of sweet and tart. Very flavorful, amazing as a gluten-free snack. 4.0/5.0
granolabars granola cranberry almond recommended udis bars 4.0
Uji Pineapple softserve in small taiyaki cone: Two exciting updates on the Uji-front (my favorite soft serve spot in Berkeley): they now have "small" sized taiyaki cones, which are ideal (you still get a ton of soft serve, and it's about $5), and the new seasonal flavor is pineapple. The taiyaki cone is as good as ever - a fish-shaped waffle that's crispy on the outside and soft and chewy inside, with a surprise of red bean plugging the bottom. It's the ideal serving vehicle that holds up especially well compared to regular cones (it d... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended icecream berkeley japanese uji pineapple softserve in small taiyaki cone 4.0 ujitime