Bernie's Best Organic Autumn's Best Apple Cider: I live very close to Cheeseboard in Berkeley and hadn't had their pizza since I moved in. On a whim back from running errands, and noticing there was a shorter line than normal, I stopped by this popular spot to re-taste the pizza I found exceptional five years earlier. To accompany the pizza, I grabbed an apple cider I hadn't seen before from their drinks fridge: Bernie's Best. The drink lists no nutrition facts, only that the cider is made fresh with apples from Pomo Tierra Orchards in Yo... (read more) 5.0/5.0
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Sophia's Greek Pantry Honey Greek Yogurt: Sophia's Greek Pantry is a Greek grocery store in Belmont that sells homemade yogurt in a variety of flavors, including ouzo, coffee, and your typical assortment of fruit options (e.g., strawberry banana, blueberry). You can find the yogurt at the back of the store, where it's sold in small, medium, or large containers. The quality and consistency of the yogurt is phenomenal: thick, creamy, and smooth. After looking up information about its ingredients online, I was surprised to find that... (read more) 5.0/5.0
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il laboratorio del gelato sorbet and gelato: I've known about this spot for some time because many restaurants in NYC offer their ice cream, but I never had the opportunity to give it a try until now. Located directly next to Katz's, the place has a bit of a clinical science lab vibe, with chemical abbreviations for each flavor and minimalist furnishings. The shop has a distinctly neutral scent. I think it's because there are no toppings, which I appreciated. It's really solely about the gelato here. I shared four different flavors, a... (read more) 5.0/5.0
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Mansi calamansi drink: Kalamansi is citrus fruit indigenous to the Philippines that's a cross between an orange and a kumquat. Mansi, a juice flavored with kalamansi, is remarkably refreshing, with a fantastic citrus flavor whose sharpness is balanced by a bit of honey. The website for the brand lists all sorts of health benefits for the fruit, from reduced acne to better digestive health. Regardless of whether any of this is true, the drink is one of the most memorable I've had, and something I would be happy to ... (read more) 5.0/5.0
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Food Should Taste Good roasted red pepper brown rice crackers: This snack had done the impossible--make brown rice taste good! A rare case where a snack cracker holds its own without any dip. In fact, to pair it with a dip would mask two characteristics that make it essentially perfect. First, the red pepper and sesame flavor is pronounced, and the cracker is already perfectly seasoned. Second, the texture of the cracker is ideal: super crispy, yet just thick enough to still be substantial. This hardly ever happens, but I am at a loss at what could make... (read more) 5.0/5.0
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Minamoto Kitchoan white peach mochi: As close to mochi perfection as I've experienced. Beautiful and thoughtful packaging. Each mochi is wrapped to resemble a peach, and the mochi itself has a textured coating to mimic the fuzziness of the fruit. Filling to mochi exterior ratio is very high. Interior paste is a vivid pink color and tastes of sweet peach. A very special treat. 5.0/5.0
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