Each week, we share some favorite recent bites, the dishes and snacks and baked goods that didn’t find their way into a full review. Want the list a few days earlier? Sign up for our free newsletter, Bite Curious.
I had some family in town that had a hankering for clam chowder in a bread bowl, specifically from Boudin Bakery on the Wharf. The chowder was exactly as I imagined: creamy, distractingly fishy and flecked with chewy bits of clam. The bread was soft, if a bit dry, on the inside, while the exterior maintained a chewy skin. Although I can’t recommend the food, watching a gaggle of children gnaw on the ends of the edible bowls like caterpillars almost made the thing worth it. Sadly, the bakery was out of animal-shaped breads — no crocodiles, crabs or bears.
Gara in Berkeley rivals some of my favorite Vietnamese coffee shops in San Jose. The space is decorated with clay tones and warm lighting, and it attracts an audience of students, locals walking their dogs and Instagramable coffee enthusiasts. I went with an iced coffee topped with a layer of salted cream, which balanced the bolder roast profile typical of Vietnamese coffee. You can add foam flavored with pandan, ube or matcha to any drink.
I checked out Pupuseria Rosita, a truck stationed next to a liquor store, which I heard is a favorite of chefs. The revuelta pupusa (chicharron, beans and cheese) was serviceable, with thick coins of a cheese skirt attached on top, but, like accompanying curtido, it had an overwhelming nacho cheese-like note — I suspect from the addition of pickled jalapeno. The superior option was the loroco with cheese, but the pupusas were split at the edge. I’d say Rosita is a solid option but the Bay Area is spoiled with great pupusas.
Pupuseria Rosita. 1335 E 17th St., Oakland. 510-692-5822
Dining and Cooking