Tartine Manufactory Pepperoni Biscuit: Buttery and savory, this crumbly biscuit has small dices of pepperoni throughout that add just enough seasoning. Required braving the notorious lines at this out-of-the-way warehouse that is the home to the newest Tartine establishment. Nonetheless, given the quality of this biscuit, I would come back again to sample more. 3.5/5.0
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Meiji Tofu Soy Milk: On my last trip to LA, my top priority was getting to try tofu from Meiji Tofu, a small shop in Gardena that specializes in hand-made tofu. I learned about Meiji Tofu from discovering that many restaurants in LA use its product. Unfortunately, after arriving at the shop at 10:30am on Sunday morning, we found they had sold out (they open at 8:30) and were thus closed for the day. Luckily, several Japanese grocery stores in the area stock their tofu and soy milk, so we quickly drove to Maru... (read more) 3.0/5.0
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Cowgirl Creamery Strawberry Lemonade: Despite working just a five minute walk from the Ferry Building, I hardly ever go to the central tourist spot. But on a rare day when I didn't bring lunch to work and was indecisive about where to eat, I decided the Ferry Building left open the greatest range of options, despite its San-Franciscan price tag. I felt guilty spending $15 on a sandwich and drink at Cowgirl Creamery, imaging the multiple meals I could cook for the same cost, but at least the sandwich was tasty, and the drink wa... (read more) 3.5/5.0
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Sliver Ginger Mint Lemonade: Sliver is the Cheeseboard knockoff started by Cheeseboard alums, serving essentially the same exact product (even down to the same green salsa) minus the lines, and with the added benefit of proximity to campus (at least for Berkeley students). Which is to say that the owners made a smart business move, though it seem unfair and disloyal to say the least. As far as the pizza goes, I have no comment, for both Cheeseboard and Sliver. But I was impressed with their Ginger Mint Lemonade, whic... (read more) 3.5/5.0
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Trader Joe's Raises the Bar Chewy Granola Bar: Oats mixed with grains and seeds like quinoa and amaranth, bound together with a maple-syrup flavored glaze, produce a varied textural experience that's more familiar than interesting, especially if you've ever eaten one of many like it that now saturate the healthy-snack food aisle. These chewy granola bars are clearly Trader Joe's response to Kind bars, in which the company succeeds through sheer mimicry and value pricing. Nonetheless, they are tasty enough and filling, making them a sol... (read more) 3.0/5.0
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Wiz Bang Bar Smith Teamaker Big Hibsicicle Sherbert: In the Pine Street Market, an indoor food hall in downtown Portland, is a soft serve and sundae bar named Wiz Bang from Salt & Straw, the ever-popular ice cream shop that has branched outside of the city to several LA and San Francisco locations. Central to Salt & Straw's success is their ability to strike a chord between the familiar and unexpected, with comforting flavors that are also intriguing and sometimes daring. The soft serve that I ordered, the Smith teamaker big hibiscicle sherber... (read more) 4.0/5.0
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