Secret Scoop Thai Gelato Thai Iced Tea and Roasted Coconut Gelato: Just a few paces away from the Trader Joe's in Berkeley is a small ice cream shop specializing in Thai-inspired flavors ("Thai Gelato" refers to the unique flavors rather than a specific style of making gelato). Their curated set of gelato and sorbets range from chocolate lemongrass to soursop, originals you're unlikely to find elsewhere, even in a diverse, food-minded community like Berkeley. The Thai iced tea gelato is easily the best I've had; it's very lightly sweetened and tastes stro... (read more) 4.5/5.0
icecream sweets desserts berkeley exceptional secretscoopthaigelato thai iced tea roasted coconut gelato 4.5
Petitpot Salted Caramel Pot De Creme: Since I found this jar in the yogurt aisle, I picked it up on sale expecting it was yogurt and only discovered that it was pudding when I got home. By now, I have a bit of an allergic reaction when I see "California cuisine" on packaging, which essentially translates to organic ingredients, high marketing / branding expenditures, and consequently high prices. But I am guilty of purchasing it, and I blame that on the cute mascot. The dessert itself is made of simple ingredients: milk, crea... (read more) 3.0/5.0
desserts pudding berkeleybowl petitpot salted caramel pot de creme 3.0
Yama Moto Yama Hot'N Spicy Teriyaki Nori Roasted Seaweed: This snack and brand is a staple in Asian grocery stores, and I ate it countless times growing up (though usually in the single-serving plastic packages, rather than the resealable container). This is the first time, though, that I've had the spicy version, which on first take is seemingly mild but quickly escalates to surprisingly high levels. Not as crispy as many of the Korean takes on seaweed crisps, which I've grown to prefer. 3.0/5.0
japanese yamamotoyama hot'n spicy teriyaki nori roasted seaweed 3.0
Peeled Snacks Southwest Spice Peas Please Snack: If you think about it, pea snacks are pretty weird, a compost mix of ground grains and vegetables reconstituted and shaped to resemble their original form. Imagine if corn chips looked like baby corn, or if potato puffs were shaped like fingerlings. Nonetheless, this organic take on pea snacks is pretty indistinguishable from others I've tried, with the same light texture, yet fried, oily aftertaste that leaves your fingers as greasy as if you just ate potato chips. The Southwest flavor has ... (read more) 2.5/5.0
organic vegetables berkeleybowl peeledsnacks southwest spice peas please snack 2.5
Humphry Slocombe Fromage Blanc with Strawberry Ice Cream: Classic cheesecake flavor - with more cheese than strawberry (and thus, aptly named). Rich enough to make you dehydrated. Slightly icy in texture rather than smooth. If this were my first exposure to Humphrey Slocombe, I would think it was overrated and probably wouldn't return. But since I've had better there, I know there are other flavors worth seeking. 3.0/5.0
icecream sanfrancisco cheesecake humphryslocombe fromage blanc strawberry ice cream 3.0
Asha Tea Milk tea with boba: Though I've been to Asha many times, I've previously opted for their fruit teas every time since they tend to be very good. This time, I decided to give the classic black milk tea with boba a try. Personally, I find that Asha's boba, though housemade, lacks the firmness and pliancy that I prefer from a more substantial tapioca. The milk tea itself is both herbal and creamy. A solid, classic take, though it doesn't reach the same heights as their herbal fruit teas. 3.0/5.0
drinks boba milktea bubbletea ashatea milk tea 3.0