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
Berkeley Bowl Coconut Fig Organic Chunks of Energy: Purchased from the bulk section at Berkeley Bowl, the "organic chunks of energy" are dense cubes consisting of ground figs, oats, and nuts (almonds, I believe) with a strong coconut flavor. I brought them to work with me to see how effective they would be at helping me get through my post-lunch pre-dinner hunger pangs. I did notice that my stomach growled less and that I seemed to be able to focus better – and the box lasted me over a week, which I believe is enough time to work again any ... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended berkeleybowl coconut fig organic chunks of energy 3.5
Berkeley Bowl Southwest Snack Mix: I've gotten into the bad habit of going to Berkeley Bowl when I'm hungry, which means I'll usually stop by the bulk aisles and find something to munch on while I shop. The last time this happened, I picked up their Southwest Snack mix, which contains snacks I would never purchase on their own like corn nuts, multigrain tortilla chips, and seasoned cashews. The fully flavored snack is generously spiced, with a decent amount of heat and a little bit of smokiness. The best parts are the corn... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended berkeleybowl cornnuts nuts peanuts cashews tortillachips crackers cheddar southwest snack mix 3.5
Berkeley Bowl Mini Animal Crackers: The usual suspects all make appearances: camels, dogs, horses, and other minimalist but immediately identifiable shapes. They are much cuter than your typical animal crackers, and also much less sweet, resembling european biscuits. Bite sized pieces make for easy snacking. Great value. 3.5/5.0
berkeleybowl recommended mini animal crackers 3.5
Berkeley Bowl Pumpkin Ice Cream: Actually from Loard's Ice Cream, a chain based in Oakland, the Berkeley Bowl Pumpkin Ice Cream is sherbert orange with specks of brown throughout. If you let it sit out at room temperature, it takes on a whipped consistency almost like whipped cream cheese (I prefer this to the otherwise firmer, more dense texture). Sweet but endearingly so, like a dessert made with far too much cream but with a lot of love. 3.5/5.0
recommended berkeleybowl pumpkin cream 3.5 icecream
Biena Habanero Chickpea Snacks: Protein-rich dried chickpea snack with a dry spice coating consisting of tomato, onion, and garlic powder, cumin, and habanero pepper (it's not spicy but well spiced). Messy to eat out of the bag as it's crumbly and quickly coats your fingers. Instead, these crunchy bits are a fantastic addition to a salad, adding enough flavor to make dressing unnecessary. That's exactly what I did when there were only crumbs left at the bottom of the bag, and what I would do if I were to purchase this s... (read more) 3.5/5.0
biena habanero chickpea 3.5 berkeleybowl