Comments on: Oakland Blogger Showdown: Living in the O vs. A Better Oakland

By: Noah

Noah — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:39:05 +0000

Awaken has simply the best iced coffee I’ve ever had. And I’ve tried a lot of different iced coffees. I also don’t think it’s even that hip. I just like the atmosphere.

Oh, and Becks, let me know if you want me to do an attack ad against A Better Oakland to help you win the election! I heard V Smoothe pals around with terrorists!

By: Coolhand Luke

Coolhand Luke — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:40:05 +0000

Congrats Becks and V on the run off! Ima try to give yall a run for your money next year, lol.

Im glad you are giving Kev Choice some shine. I’ve been talking him up a lot on 38thNotes but I want word to travel faster!! Check out this link to download his latest mixtape “The Bailout.” http://www.38thnotes.com/2009/04/why-bay-needs-to-support-kev-choice.html

Also all this talk about The Temescal reminds me that it is featured in the July 2009 issue of Sunset magazine! It was sparked an interesting debate on development vs gentrification over at http://www.38thNotes.com. Might want to check it out.

But again, congrats Becks!

By: Becks

Becks — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:24:18 +0000

I sadly have not made it to Burma Superstar yet. I tried to go a couple weeks after they opened, but there were about 20 people waiting outside to get in so I went to Barlata instead. I’ll have to make it over there sometime soon.

By: Karen Hester

Karen Hester — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:20:43 +0000

Becks you are so right about the Temescal market as it’s hard to find organic produce like they have at the Pinnacle stand–HUGE heads of lettuce for $1 and I’m oh so partial to the lovely woman who sells her homemade pot pies. I always know lots of friends there and the vibe is great. Just wish more folks would walk and bike as opposed to having to have the huge parking lot for cars.

And thanks for the plug re: Temescal Street Fair. I have no objectivity on that one since I’ve been organizing it for its 6 years but we do try and make it a community organizing event as well as just a good comfortable time for the neighbors and their kids.

Also, glad to see Burma Superstar nomintaed for best Thai/Burmese food. I still adore Nan Yang on College but Burma is so very fresh to have right in the heart of the Temescal. I have gone there at least once a week since they opened and feel like it has me in its cult-like grasp.

And choosing between you and V Smoothie–well I had to just flip a coin…

By: erocking

erocking — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:09:00 +0000

Barlata has the most authentic Spanish-style tapas I’ve had in the Bay Area. Braised ox tail, cured white anchovies, stuffed squid in ink, etc. And they have cava! Reminds me a lot of long lunches in Madrid. I highly recommend this place.

By: artemis

artemis — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:39:31 +0000

I’m with you on the Temescal market! We actually live much closer to Grand Lake (walkable, whereas Temescal would be a stretch at two miles) but still bike to Temescal most weeks. I just like the vibe there better, and love running into lots of friends there (which oddly rarely happens at Grand Lake, even though we have plenty of friends who shop there regularly too). Blue Bottle and the proximity to Hardy Dog Park seal the deal.

Also—not only is Flora not new, but it won best new restaurant (and best cocktails) in *last* year’s EB Express Readers’ Poll!

By: Chris Kidd

Chris Kidd — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:35:23 +0000

I voted “anyone but Uhuru”

By: Sean Sullivan

Sean Sullivan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:34:36 +0000

Hey thanks for the shout out! I think voting for V Smoothe as the best community organizer is the best solomonic way of handling this dilemma. In the mean time vote for ME!

Sean Sullivan

By: Becks

Becks — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:59:19 +0000

You think Barlata is over hyped?! Wow – I don’t think we’ll ever be able to have a meal together, as our tastes are apparently exactly opposite. The food at Barlata is delicious and very reasonably priced. I’ve also been very happy with the wine, and I finally had a couple of their desserts last time I went and was blown away.

I really can’t fight you on the coffee, as I’m not a big coffee drinker and am not super picky. I can understand where you’re coming from though, since I’m just as picky when it comes to tea. I like the coffee at Crema and used to go there frequently before Awaken opened.

By: das88

das88 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:54:23 +0000

ok, I’ll agree with you on Flora not being new. I also agree that Vegan Soul Kitchen is fantastic (I sent my veggy-sister-in-law a copy).

I like going to SideBar. Menu is good, room is nice, they take their cocktails seriously. The food, though, just disappoints. In fact, the only bigger disappointment in over-hyped new restaurants is Barlata.

Still, I digress. What we really need to be discussing is coffee. Awaken is similar to Brown Sugar Kitchen and a host of other places in the belief that a French press somehow magically creates a wonderful cup of coffee. In reality, a French press imposes a larger burden on the coffee maker in terms of grind, water temperature, and pressing. Awaken lacks the skills and brews up a cup of sludge. Ironically, Flora does a really nice French Press.

The best cup of joe, though, in the DTO is a block away at Crema.

By: Crimson

Crimson — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:42:00 +0000

“Help stop Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food from winning. I love Pollan, but that was by far his worst book.”

Michael Pollan used to be rad. But now he has become the very thing he rails against: an intellectual monoculture, churning out the same thing over and over for mass consumption.

I’m pretty proud of that little observation.

By: Becks

Becks — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:37:49 +0000

Flora’s not new! Also, for vegetarians like me, it totally sucks. I’ve entirely stopped eating there and only go in for cocktails, though that’s difficult, since it’s so damn crowded. I’ve yet to try Camno, but I *love* Sidebar.

Awaken’s coffee sucks? I’ve never, ever heard someone claim that. I actually don’t drink much coffee (I go there for the chai and vegan donuts), but my friends who do drink coffee say it is some of the best you can find in Oakland. I don’t like Awaken because it’s “hip and cool”. I like their vision for a community space, which unfortunately has not yet been completely realized, and their focus on sustainability. I also like it for the same reason I like the Temescal Farmers Market – I’ve gotten to know the staff well and often run into people I know there.

By: das88

das88 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:27:25 +0000

Becks,

I just don’t get it on the political front, I’m agree with you on most everything. Food-wise, though, it is all mixed-up.

For best new restaurant, voting for SideBar above Flora and Camino seems wild and fantastical. I realize Awaken is all cool and hip, but the big problem is that their coffee sucks.

I have to say the big thing about the survey that almost had me quitting in disgust was seeing Uhuru nominated for best furniture store.

By: Becks

Becks — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:54:16 +0000

Yeah, I like those categories. Just curious though, since you frequent many markets, which one should win the “most attractive young vendors” award?

By: Kevin Cook

Kevin Cook — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:49:33 +0000

Becks,

I hear ya, the best market for most people is the one nearest their house. I pretty much can’t bear most of the clientele at the Berkeley markets, but the selection and quality there still gets me to ride my bike past the Grand Lake market every Saturday in order to brave the Berkeley crowds. The category should really be broken down into several subcategories:

Best produce
Least obnoxious crowds
most attractive young vendors
least annoying buskers