A fantastic mushroom pizza at Rose Pizzeria in Berkeley.
After enjoying a splendid musical production of “The Lunchbox” at the Berkeley Rep, based on one of my favorite films of the same name, I did the only logical thing afterward:
I stuffed myself silly with pizza.
After all, it was only a short stroll away from the theater to Rose Pizzeria, which the New York Times named in 2024 as one of “The Best Pizzas in America.”
Owners, married couple Gerad Gobel and Alexis Rorabaugh, also opened a second location this spring, this one in San Francisco.
The entrance.
The original Berkeley location is tiny, so it pays to make a reservation in advance if you can. Otherwise, you’re in for a wait.
All scratch-made, and ready in about half an hour.
Just like with fashion, when it comes to cooking, less often makes for a bigger impact.
I’ve long been a fan of Jamie Oliver for his attitude that cooking shouldn’t be a big deal. Over the years, he’s shown that a handful or so of ingredients plus a modest amount of time is all that’s required to put together a truly winning dish.
Now, he’s turned that same philosophy on the backyard grill with his newest cookbook, “Grill: Easy Grilling, Big Flavor” (Appetite), of which I received a review copy
The British chef offers up 90 recipes that won’t tax the budget, dexterity or comprehension of any home cook.These are simple — some might even consider basic — recipes that are sure to get the summer backyard festivities going.
Fire up the grill for everything from “Grilled Fish Tacos & Stone Fruit Salsa,” “Charred Squash & Tahini Chickpea Salad,” and “Arrabiata Chicken Drumsticks” to “Fruity Pork Chops & Grilled Potatoes” and “Shrimp Toast Burgers.”
Like the rest of the recipes in this book, “Shrimp Skewers & Ajoblanco Sauce” doesn’t require any heavy lifting.
When you’re lucky enough to hold in your hands a perfect specimen of a croissant, made with the finest butter into shatteringly crisp, ethereal layers, say from San Francisco’s Arsicault, do NOT do anything to it. Just enjoy as is. Slowly. Deliberately. Dreamily.
Other times, when the croissant happens to be more mundane, say from Costco, where a package of a dozen can be had for a bargain-basement price of 50 cents per pastry, then by all means, play with your food.
Specifically, by making “Croissant Toasts.”
This fun, summery recipe calls for flattening those croissants, searing them in a pan, then blanketing them with whipped ricotta and juicy, burst cherry tomatoes.
It’s like everyday ricotta toast — but pimped out.
This fanciful recipe is from “Ohana Style” (Clarkson Potter), of which I received a review copy.
The beautiful tableau of canapes that open the meal at Vicinity.
Just opened in February, Vicinity in Los Gatos may not have a Michelin star just yet.
But there is surely one in its future after already earning a Michelin recommendation this year.
This ambitious fine-dining restaurant was opened by an equally ambitious couple: husband and wife, Mike and Denise Thornberry. He is a senior director at Apple. She was executive vice president of global sales for Beats by Dr. Dre.
Neither had ever worked at a restaurant before, let alone owned one until they debuted the 90-seat Tasting House bistro in Los Gatos in 2021, followed by its adjacent 10-seat champagne bar last year.
Vicinity is remarkable for a number of reasons, as I found when I was invited in as a guest last week.
It’s a restaurant within a restaurant, tucked inside Tasting House. You check in at the same host stand before being escorted to a back corner of the bistro, where dark drapes are parted to reveal a door to Vicinity’s intimate dining room.
How small? It’s all of four tables. And it typically serves a maximum of only 12 diners each evening.
Vicinity is all of four tables, and tucked inside the Tasting House restaurant.The seasonal complimentary aperitif made with yellow watermelon juice, limequat, and goat cheese.
Vicinity is led by Executive Chef Julian Silvera, who not only oversees this tasting menu-only restaurant, but also the bistro and champagne bar menus, as well as Friday and Saturday afternoon tea service. He somehow pulls all of this off with a kitchen team of only five. And yes, that includes himself.
The simple joy of lemongrass tofu over fluffy rice.
When my husband is traveling or out with his guy friends, I like nothing more than a very simple, very quick dinner at home that will leave me nourished and ready to tuck into a good book for hours on afterward.
I’m talking tofu, rice, and veggies.
On first thought, that trio may seem way too boring or virtuous.
But I promise: It is homey, comforting, and will leave you content.
“Lemongrass Tofu” is an example of that, with firm tofu marinated in minced lemongrass, honey, soy sauce, chili pepper, and turmeric before getting quickly sauteed in a pan for dinner in no time flat.
