Edible Excursions // Berkley's Gourmet Ghetto

Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto is your one-stop for quality eats and local favorites. The area is pleasant to walk around, with lots of outdoor seating to enjoy your meals. Food is what the Gourmet Ghetto is all about, here farm-to-table philosophy shines! This area is known for sourcing their ingredients from local farms and keeping sustainable practices top priority. Come with me on Edible Excursions Gourmet Ghetto walking food tour. We got to try some sandwiches, cheers with some coffee and wine, taste some chocolate and many more! We were so full after, yes there are nine different stops. 

STOP ONE // SAUL’S DELI

We gathered in one of the few Berkeley parklets in front of Saul’s Deli. Here we got to taste half of a pastrami sandwich and three different types of crunchy pickles! Our tour guide talked about the Jewish cuisine and we got to sip on refreshing celery soda, the perfect pairing to our yummy sandwiches! We also learned that they use Acme bread, a local favorite in the bay area. 

STOP TWO // JUICE BAR COLLECTIVE

Our next stop was Juice Bar Collective, a tiny juice and baked goods shop that used to be the home of the famous Cheeseboard Collective. Our tour guide used to work there so she was very knowledgeable and passionate about the place. Here we got to taste their green juice which had organic kale, apple, banana and orange juice! A super healthy way to start the tour. This place is mainly a take-out since the storefront is small, but the juices and smoothies are perfect to take while you’re on the go! Other guests on the tour vouched for their amazing pies too!  

STOP THREE // PEET’S COFFEE

It’s interesting that one of our stops is actually a chain. What makes this Peet’s special though is that it’s the very first establishment! It was built in 1966 and all the other stores were modeled after it. In the back area, they have a small museum showing Peet’s products throughout the years. Here we got to taste some dark roast coffee from a french press and chocolate covered cherries! There was also a large map showing where coffee beans come from. 

STOP FOUR // SOOP

Our next stop was set in a little food court with a zen garden in the back. We stopped by Soop, a place that serves artisan soup and changes their menu weekly! We got to try a cup of vegan red lentil coconut and lemongrass soup while talking to the head chef. It’s perfect for the cold weather in NorCal.

STOP FIVE // ALEGIO CHOCOLATE

We walked over to Alegio for a chocolate tasting! We learned about the process of harvesting cocoa beans and making chocolate. We then got to taste different level of cocoa in chocolate. They advised not to chew the pieces, but to slowly let it melt in your mouth so you can taste all the flavor profiles and bitterness. There was a good amount of sampling and we left with great information about chocolate! They also have packaged chocolates that would make perfect gifts for family and friends.

STOP SIX // GREGOIRE’S

Next, we walked over to Gregoire’s, a converted garage known for their yummy potato puffs! There is limited seating inside on a bar facing the kitchen, it’s very welcoming and feels very homey. We got a full order of potato puffs for the group with aioli dipping sauce, they were so addicting, one was definitely not enough. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, absolutely magical. 

STOP SEVEN // THE LOCAL BUTCHER SHOP

Our next stop was The Local Butcher Shop. Here they sell top quality, fresh, and local meat.  We all got to taste half of their Sando of the Day which was Magruder Ranch Roast Beef with roast onion, pickled mushrooms, arugula, pecorino crisps, aioli, and of course, Acme bread. It was absolutely delicious bite after bite. One of the owners came out to talk about their company and what their meat is all about!

STOP EIGHT // CHEESEBOARD PIZZERIA

 

One of the most popular eateries in Gourmet Ghetto is Cheeseboard Pizzeria. The line was out the door! They change their pizza daily so when you visit you can only try one flavor. The best part is that they only create vegetarian pizzas, so it caters to everyone. We ordered a whole corn pizza for our tour group. The thin crust was perfect! Who knew corn and cheese was such an amazing combo. 

STOP NINE // VINTAGE BERKELEY

Our last stop was a little wine shop. Here we got to taste some wine and browse their bottles for sale. Each wine had tags where you can read about where the wine came from and other information. The wine was crisp and refreshing a perfect way to end the tour. We all cheered and said our goodbyes.

---

Thank you to our wonderful tour guide, Rebecca! Don’t forget to book an Edible Excursions tour for your next San Francisco trip, schedule located here.

Edible Excursions // Mission 24th Street Tour

Mission and 24th Street in San Francisco is the epicenter for Latin businesses. While gourmet shops and eateries are opening up near this district, you still have the traditional family businesses that have customers keep coming back for more. This area is also filled with vibrant murals expressing the local culture and vibes of Mission. On our tour, we got to view and learn about these paintings and the artist. Join me on Edible Excursion’s Mission 24th Street tour, where we tasted yummy sandwiches, the best Mexican food and a cone of ice cream! 

STOP ONE // WISE SONS

Our first stop was Wise Sons, a Jewish deli that became well known for their pastrami sandwiches! We sat on a long bench outside the shop while we waited for our food. The interior has a wall filled with portraits of all the family and friends that have supported Wise Sons throughout the years. The place feels welcoming and warm which reflects into the food they serve. We got to sample half of the pastrami sandwich, the bread was absolutely perfect and I drizzled their house-mustard to add even more flavor. We also got to taste some tangy pickles and washed it down with a cream celery soda. Usually, the lines are out the doors, so that’s when you know their food is good!

STOP TWO // D’MAIZE

Next, we walked down 24th street and hopped into D’Maize. They had a beautiful outdoor space in the back which is apparently rare for San Francisco. Chef Luis came out to talk to the tour group about how they started and about the food they make. While he shared his story, we got to try their pupusa! It’s a small portion, but they are packed with yummy ingredients and fresh off the griddle. We got to taste their tamarind agua fresca, which was super refreshing. D’Maize is well known for their catering service! 

STOP THREE // LA PALMA MEXICATESSEN

Our next stop was La Palma, a small place known for their masa. We got to see behind the scenes where they turned their fresh corn into masa which then can be used for tamales, tortillas and other things. There we got to try a tamale with a side of house-made tortilla chips and salsa! The food here at this Mexicatessen is absolutely amazing. If I lived here I’d be a regular tortilla customer! 

STOP FOUR // EL FAROLITO

Next on our walking tour was El Farolito, one of the best spots in Mission to get an al pastor taco! Filled with yellow benches and an old-school jukebox playing latin tunes, this hole in the wall is authentic from it’s interior to the food. We got to taste their al pastor taco and a cup of horchata. Their food is on the spicy side, just a warning for those who can’t really handle the heat. The horchata is a perfect pairing with the taco, which is tasty even with some spice!

STOP FIVE // HUMPHRY SLOCOMBE

A bay area favorite, Humphry Slocombe is known for their innovative ice cream flavors and incredible taste. Once we entered the cute little parlor, we all fell in line to try some ice cream. Our tour guide, suggested we sample as many flavors as we wanted! Once we fell in love with one, we were able to get it in a full-size cone or cup. I tried the Secret Breakfast, which is Bourbon and corn flakes and Andy had the corn flavor, Diebencorn. Even in cold San Francisco weather, our whole group enjoyed their ice cream with smiles on their face!
 

---

Thank you, Lisa for being an amazing and knowledgeable tour guide! Don't forget to book your Edible Excursion Food Tour when you visit San Francisco next!

For more information about their tours, click here.

San Francisco in September

Our flight was delayed, but we finally landed at SFO on Friday night. We took an Uber to our hotel and ordered some food using Uber eats! The Lauren Inn is a perfect boutique Joie de Vie hotel, situated in the quiet Presidio neighborhood. Check in was a breeze and they still had cookies available when we arrived late at night. Our room was on the second floor and we had a beautiful city view. It was clean, the furniture was modern (they have marble!) and the beds are so comfortable. I had the best sleep after walking around the city all day!

FOOD TOUR

San Francisco is a melting pot of cultures. We got to experience Edible Excursion’s Japantown Tour with our amazing tour guide, Alice. In the span of 3 hours, we walked around Japantown learning about the history and culture of the district. We stopped at several restaurants to taste some popular dishes. Seven stops later, our stomachs were full and happy. We got to eat bowls of steaming ramen and swirls of green tea soft serve ice cream. If you want to read more about the tour, here is my recap blog post. 

CABLE CARS

After our food tour, we Ubered to the Cable Car Museum. It’s funny that we’ve been to San Francisco so many times, but never really understood how the famous cable cars work. At the Cable Car Museum, you can watch the giant wheels turn the cables that run through the city streets. It’s a quick visit if you want to dive into SF history and nerd out on mechanical engineering! The best part is that admission is free and it takes less than half an hour to go through the whole thing.

Since we were heading to Union Square right after, we decided to take a cable car to complete our museum experience. It cost $7 to hop on and off and you get a souvenir ticket. All the seats were taken on our car, but I got to stand on the side and hold on to the railing! I didn’t realize how thrilling it was to ride so close to the edge, especially going down the steep San Francisco hills. 

UNION SQUARE

We hopped off the cable car and explored Union Square. If you have time to shop, this area of the city is filled with big brand stores. We walked around and popped into The Lark, a small bar near Union Square, to try their specialty drinks.

We were getting hungry, so it was time to head over to Sushiritto on Kearny. We got to sit down with Peter, the owner of Sushirrito, and talk about the story of the restaurant and what’s to come. We decided to try some new rolls, since we always order the same thing, and cheered with some sake. Sushiritto is a San Francisco gem, and if you need a foodie reason to come visit, here you go. Their ingredients are top quality and once you taste them, you’ll understand why customers keep coming back for more!

After our dinner, we decided to get some Boba Guys, only a few minutes away. I definitely recommend getting the Matcha Latte with boba! Their boba balls are absolutely perfect and sweet, but you can customize your drink however you want. With boba in hand, we ventured off to Chinatown to do some window shopping and photoshoots. Pro Tip: if you want some picture perfect spots, go to the street with all the lanterns, there shouldn’t be many cars driving through, and the colorful staircase with food names painted on each step.

FILLMORE STREET 

Woke up bright and early to walk to Fillmore street from our hotel. Only 10 minutes away, we ate at this cute breakfast spot called Jane. There we had a super healthy breakfast and yummy lattes to start off our day right. My favorites were the Dragonfruit Smoothie Bowl and the Egg White Sandwich. I loved their to-go coffee cup designs, especially the blue floral print. 

After breakfast, it was time to check out and rent a car to drive to Livermore for Amber and Duy’s wedding. We had an amazing time in San Francisco, there’s always something new to do every time we visit.