Winter Escape: Back To The Bay Area

I've had enough of the white stuff and freezing temps for a while. Jeff has been home for a full three weeks and its been fab to celebrate the holidays, hang with lots of friends, stay cozy in the loft and just chill for a while, but he has to start working back at UC Berkeley next week and thankfully, I'm going with him. Fresh apple turnovers and all sorts of prego craving worthy treats await me in the gourmet ghetto, which until November I hadn't spent much time in..when I lived in SF I went to Chez Panisse once but never really checked out the neighborhood and really wish I had - its one of the best in the country, esp for a foodie/porker like me.

I was too busy with events to post any pics from my trip there in November, so here are a few from the fabulous Berkeley farmers market in the gourmet ghetto where I sampled the juiciest, most amazing pear I've ever had from local Frog Hollow farm...

 

 

 

 

 

 

..and here are a few from the gourmet ghetto including the famed Chez Panisse where Alice Waters started "California Cuisine" using fresh, organic ingredients from local farms to make incredible food, the original Peet's coffee and my favorite pizza shop at the Cheeseboard Collective - a cheese shop and pizza cafe where they offer one type of pizza each day. There is a line out the door at all times to get a slice - which of course I did - and its well worth the wait. You can sip a glass of vino with your 'za and listen to live Brazilian jazz, even during the day while dining al fresco. Loves.