Oakland Grown

THE BUZZ

Coi branches out with Plum in Oakland
Paolo Lucchesi, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sometimes, opportunity can arise from the unlikeliest of situations. Faced with unavoidable delays at his upcoming Jack London Square spot Bracina, yet with the infrastructure already in place, Coi chef/owner Daniel Patterson has decided to open a second Oakland restaurant in the interim.

Chronicle critics pick favorite dishes
Stacy Finz, Chronicle Staff Writer
Anyone who says that eating for a living isn't all it's cracked up to be has some serious issues with the truth.

Restaurants name themselves after roadways
Don Sanchez, KGO-TV
SR24 in Oakland picked a more local namesake to reflect its American comfort food menu..

James Syhabout Believes in Always Being a Commis
Jay Barmann, Grubb Street
Yesterday marked a vindication of sorts for chef James Syhabout, the studied and highly talented young chef at Oakland's ten-month-old Commis. Being named one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs for 2010 is just the kind of boost a chef needs in a week in which he was also left off of Michael Bauer's compendium of best restaurants. And this accolade also comes in a year during which Syhabout brought the biggest foodie honor to the non-Berkeley East Bay by winning Oakland's first Michelin star.

Why Chinatown's Produce Is So Cheap
Alissa Figueroa, East Bay Express
An inside look at one of Oakland's thriving micro-economies and why its produce is so affordable.

Novella Carpenter: The urban farmer
Twilight Greenaway, Culinate
Most urban farmers confine their agricultural efforts to vegetables, fruit, and the occasional egg-laying chicken. But on her small plot in Oakland, California, Novella Carpenter has raised bees, goats, rabbits, geese, and turkey, among other fauna.

Trueburger, Oakland
Stacy Finz, The San Francisco Chronicle
Ever since Shake Shack came onto the scene in New York City, restaurateurs have been trying to imitate the hamburger joint's winning approach - quality food for a cheap price. Trueburger in Oakland seems to have the formula down pat.

Can local food jump-start the economy?
Jane Black, The Washington Post
Gourmands have long embraced local food because it's the right thing to do. But a new report says consumers should view local food enterprises as profitable startups that are key to economic growth and recovery.

Oakland gets a taste of New York at Uncle Dougie's
Angela Woodall, The Oakland Tribune
Douglas Leong has had a hand in everything from shoe leather to selling cakes. But opening a hero sandwich shop in downtown Oakland sounds like an unlikely venture even for a veteran businessman - until he tells you the story about Uncle Jerry and growing up in New York City.

SFist Drinks: The Fleur de Pepin at Era Art Bar in Oakland
SFist
Era Art Bar and Lounge is a truly beautiful and HUGE new cocktail venue that just opened a few weeks ago on Grand & Broadway in Oakland about four blocks from the Fox Theater.

Oakland's new Liege lounge purrs with velvety decor
Angela Woodall, The Oakland Tribune
I ran with the devil and liked it. But absinthe is no joke. I am referring to the cocktail "Runnin' with the Devil" that is one of 10 signature drinks at the Liege Spirits Lounge, which opened Wednesday night on Ninth Street.

Using Local Chocolate and Spring Violets
Serena Bartlett, The Examiner
That lonely bag of chocolate powder is often ignored when you've got a sweet tooth, left on the shelf while the chocolate bar provides instant gratification. But this time, try leaving the candy bars behind and using powdered cocoa from the Oakland neighborhood to make a delicious Devil's Food Cake.

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