friday five
five area stories of note:
iykyk: chef nora haron's kopi bar & bakery opens tomorrow (!) at bampfa in berkeley, featuring pastries, coffee drinks and savory dishes with flavors from indonesia and singapore. (kopi bar website; instagram)
an intimate profile of check, please! bay area's host and convivial champion for 20 years, leslie sbrocco. (sfgate)
coyote media (and local children's illustrator shawn harris) are big fans of berkeley's state flour pizza. (coyote, for subscribers)
sideshow kitchen launches second (faster, bolder) location on the emeryville-oakland border with sideshow express. (instagram)
tonight!: eat before haunting at el cerrito's sushi matsu. (instagram)
spooooky fall produce at the monterey market and berkeley bowl west, including buddha's hand, warty goblin pumpkins and cayenne pepper bouquets. photos berkeley eats.
surprise bonus: the new york times athletic section just published cal football players' berkeley recs; the berkeley bowl (above) is included. (ny times)
ps scary times – oakland's monster pho and puerto rican street cuisine among first to announce help for children of SNAP families losing benefits due to the gov't shutdown. (san francisco chronicle; more details on instagram for both spots.) others stepping up, such as chef green with discounts for SNAP cardholders throughout november; wahpepah's kitchen treating SNAP-family kids and the elderly, details in link.
want to help? please support these and other generous local food businesses. or donate to the alameda county food bank or the berkeley food pantry.
happy halloween everyone.
october 31, 2025 🎃 (more specials for kids; coming soon to oakland)