FOOD: Zut! on Fourth in Berkeley

I like to go to the MAC store in Berkeley, then stroll the shops on Fourth Street with my mom.  On our most recent trip, I noticed Zut! a few doors down from MAC and stopped to read the menu posted outside. That was a couple months ago, but I told myself I wanted to come back and try it out. So, yesterday a friend asked me to dinner. He gave me the option of PF Changs or the Elephant Bar... Ummm. I don't "do" chain restaurants. Not unless I have no other option. Sue me. I'm from the SF Bay Area. (Oakland to be exact!) There are a mazillion dining options in the area. Those spots use frozen food, tons of salt and often have ridiculous waits to be seated. So I went into my memory bank of restaurants in the Emeryville area and quickly made a reservation at Zut!

Turns out we didn't need a reservation. We were greeted and shown to our table immediately when we walked in. We chose a corner table in an open air room off the patio, only one other table in the room was occupied. It felt like we owned the place! I'm sure it is much busier on weekends. With Indian Summer in full effect, the evening temperature was pleasant... So pleasant that I didn't realize the retractable roof over the dining room was open! Very nice touch.

Sadly, I was so into conversing, eating my food and drinking my champagne that I completely forgot to take #FoodPorn pics for you!! I circled everything we ordered on the menus below. The cuisine is Mediterranean-esque. Two different employees told us the Brussel Sprouts appetizer is their most popular item, so we gave them a shot. Everything we had was delicious! And service was perfect. Ask for Kate. ;)

Zut!

1820 Fourth Street

Berkeley, CA 94710

510.644.0444

http://zutonfourth.com/

PICS: Oakland's Eat Real 2011

Mikey and I went over to Jack London Square for the Eat Real Festival on Saturday. I ate, ran into friends and snapped a few pics. Enjoy! :)

Waiting on cupcakes. :)

Mikey got a lemon cupcake.

Lines were epic but not painful.

Cholita Linda. I believe she's the owner.

Menu

Fish on the left. Carnitas on the right.

Yummm...

I'm greedy. Sue me.

Got my mason jar!!

Yvonne had hers from last year!!

New Oakland Girl shirt. ;)

Performers at the Farmer's Market.

Indoor Famer's Market.



The kids.



My trainer Lisa and girlfriend for the day. lol

Didn't get to try them but I heard the Pork Belly was delish.

Pork Belly.

Buy Fresh. Buy Local. :)

PICS: Brad Pitt At Oakland's Moneyball Premiere

9/19/2011 at Oakland's Paramount Theater.

He's so gorgeous.

EVENT: Oakland Eat Real Festival 2011



Greedies Unite! Oakland's Eat Real Festival returns this weekend, Sep 23-25, MUCH to my delight. And to the delight of my greedy counterparts as well.  Last year's festival was a BLAST. The festival is basically a bunch of food trucks set up throughout Jack London Square, along with a couple of music stages, and cooking/farming demonstrations sprinkled here and there. I ate, drank, enjoyed the sun, heard good music, ran into some old friends and made some new ones! Perfect.

 I was just sad I got there too late to get an Eat Real mason jar glass that the wine was being served in. I did however still end up with a lot of wine to drink. Thank you to friends who generously shared their extra drink tickets. (I'm a lush. FYI.) Wine and tickets were available for purchase near the old Barnes & Noble (RIP). I'm sure the set-up will be similar this year.

Mason Jar

Last year the event was in August, and with the date push back this year, I'm super anxious for this year's festival!  2010 was my first time attending and I went with my son, my friend and her little girl.  The kids may have had more fun than we did! lol When we first arrived the lines at all the trucks were pretty long. (I believe we went on Sunday afternoon.) Plenty of items were sold out at various trucks but there was still plenty to taste. We first grabbed a few sliders, that were DELICIOUS. I don't remember the names of the trucks and restaurants that were set up but hopefully they'll all return this year. Next, we got a few glasses of wine (have to have wine) then walked over and got veggie and dessert empanadas, also DELICIOUS. Looking forward to seeing that truck again as well! We also had dim sum, tacos (I think? Don't quote me.) And the kids had ice cream toward the end of the day, I had to stop, I was stuffed.



Random people enjoying their food.





Good things going on in my city. Take BART, Bus, Ferry, Bike, Drive & Park or Walk. The weather is supposed to be awesome.

What: Eat Real Fest 2011

Where: Oakland - Jack London Square

When: Sep 23-25, 2011

Friday: 1a-8p

Saturday: 11a-8p

Sunday: 11a-7p

Cost: No Entry Fee

http://eatrealfest.com/

I'll probably go on Saturday. Save some food for me! ;)

A Few Pics From David Stuckey

I have a friend named David Stuckey who works at USA Today in DC, he's a writer, blogger, photographer, etc. Very cool dude. We compare him to "Darius Lovehall" Larenz Tate's character in Love Jones. A "renaissance man".  lol Anyway, I was browsing his blog stuckeythewriter.blogspot.com and decided to snatch a few of my favorite pics to share with you. He won't mind. :) (He blogged them, he didn't shoot them. lol)  Check him out.



Aaliyah. RIP.




Badu. Love this look.




Mos. Common. Cute. Fine.




Pharrell. NERD.




Kim K. Unusual for David.




Esperanza Spalding. We're lucky to have her.




Welp!




Agreed. I love mine loud.




Me.




My BFF Kaee who introduced me to David. And David.



LUST: Louis Vuitton ALMA

I have a birthday coming up you know...

EVENT: MY BIRTHDAY BOWLING PARTY

Let's just put it out there. I'm not that great at bowling. However, I ALWAYS have fun when I go! Which is not often. Credit for the fun goes to my best friends and their neverending nonsense. (And alcohol)

I didn't really feel like doing anything over the top this year (read: squeeze into a tiny dress and sky high heels. I'll do that later.) but still wanted to celebrate, so I thought, HEY WHY NOT BOWLING?! (Ok maybe I didn't think it in all caps but, whatever.) SO, Friday night, September 16th. Five days before my REAL birthday (real friends don't get it twisted). We're bowling at Southshore Lanes in Alameda. 7:45pm. To celebrate my being alive!  Ok thanks. Please RSVP.