Berkeley Wanderings Pt. 4

Today, after more or less lying in bed and working on a clinical report for the International Human Rights Clinic for the last two days straight, I decided to go on a walk.

My walk took me down Cedar where I passed by many a uniquely Berkeley home, including the rainbow home that I remembered from my childhood!

I lived on McGee when I was 5 or so and this house was my favorite

After about a mile, I got to a big street and on the street corner was a line. What was everyone lining up for?

I skipped the line and went straight to the window

Was too enthralled by all the amazing looking bread, but did remember to get a picture of the sign!

 I love acme bread and seriously considered getting a $17 whole pan de mie and making bunny chow--something I haven't had since South Africa! It's basically a whole loaf of bread with the inside somewhat scooped out and curry filled in (under $2 at the Indian fast food hall near where I used to work in Cape Town, mm... but I digress).

I have driven (well, mostly been driven) by this street many times, but walking down the street revealed many interesting shops I had missed while sitting in the car.

Unsurprisingly I stumble into a dark, brick building and it turns out to be a wine import shop!
No tastings for me, this time. 

Not too far down the street is a shop that sells wine and beer making equipment

They also have stuff for you to make CHEESE!
If I didn't live so close to cheeseboard (and if I had a lot more time on my hands) I might have given it a whirl

Did I buy this or did I not? Either way, that's none of your cheese wax! Heh, heh, heh.

There were really cool, sharp things in here.
There were also signs everywhere saying not to touch because the oil from my hands would dull the blades!

 I walked into almost every other shop walking down this street and so it took me nearly an hour to get to my actual destination--Tokyo Fish Market! Once at the market I got to work buying the most delicious (and cheap) things I could find for dinner. That included: grilled salmon skin ($1.60 for deliciously grilled goodness??), frozen edamame (only $2 for a giant bag versus $2 for a tiny box of non-frozen ones; I was giddy from my penny pinching cleverness), a small thing of ikura (ok, this was pricy, but I do love ikura), some toasted seaweed ($1 and doubles as a snack later, mm), and quail eggs (they're so cute! Only $2! How can I resist?). Finally satisfied with my purchases I caught a bus home, trying not to crush the little quail eggs along the way.

Man that quail egg yolk was a pain to isolate and then place inside my wrap.
I made 3 of these before giving up--delicious nonetheless.

Overall a great success! And it all came together so nice and happily in my belly.

Berkeley Wanderings pt. 3

On Wednesday I had no class and decided to spend my afternoon taking a leisurely walk to Solano Ave. My sun-starved eyes were in shock from the brightness outside but I managed to discover a few interesting things regardless.

There were a lot of toy/game stores along the way. It took all my restraint not to wander into each of them.

Maybe I can ride one of these tricycles to burning man

I found the sister cellar to the North Berkeley wine shop that I frequent. Took a look around the shop, definitely more expensive than the North Berkeley one.

There was a wine bar in there that I passed up for the time being...

Eventually I found my way to a middle eastern deli. Everything looked delicious but I settled on buying a bottle of tahini (for my babaganoush) and four falafel balls (that quickly became three) for dinner.

Tasty little corner shop

Nice hot falafel ball? Yes please. 

On the walk back I gave in and decided to try a flight at Solano cellars. The red flight of the week was themed on "must" weight--a concept that was new to me. The higher the must weight, the higher the alcohol content.

The Melville was really good. Didn't get much reading done on my novel though.

There was a wine rep present who was trying to sell wines to the cellar.
They got to try at least 5 pours of wines and spit all of them out and then poured out the dregs.
Nooo! I'll be the wine receptacle. 

The shop owners were quite nice and the female one definitely warmed up to me after I bought a bottle. The concept of different weekly wine flights is fun though and although it is a 30 minute walk from my place it is only a 5 minute bus ride. Maybe I'll bring some friends next time and share the discoveries of my wandering.

In other news--I've settled on a summer job for 2015! I'm staying in the bay, and days like yesterday only served to reaffirm this decision.