North Berkeley sweet spot The Xocolate Bar has luscious treats that make us weak-kneed, from lavender marshmallow pillows to dried raspberry figs, as well as insanely gorgeous vegan truffles (and spectacular gelato, if you visit the store). Chocolatiers Malena Lopez-Maggi and Clive Brown are also known for their amazing sculpture pieces, many of which tend towards the erotic. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (and from now on), they'll donate 20% of sales of their Titty Titty Bon Bons ("dark chocolate champagne titties") to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The Xocolate Bar is located at 1709 Solano Ave. (at Ensenada), Berkeley. —Tamara Palmer
We're happy to be the beneficiaries of a treat from Executive Chef Parke Ulrich of Waterbar, who has gifted us with a really personal recipe. Inspired by his daughter, Emma's Favorite Salad is the restaurant's signature salad and blends apples, endive, radish and celery with aged Gouda toast for a cheesy, healthy crunch. —Tamara Palmer
World Veg Festival Weekend
San Francisco County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park
October 5, 2008
Notes and Photos by Tamara Palmer
San Francisco Vegetarian Society and In Defense of Animals took over the San Francisco County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park for World Veg Festival Weekend. The two-day event brought a plethora of vegan and vegetarian food, fashion and sympathetic causes that added up to the components of a cruelty-free lifestyle.
Vegans have long gotten a bad rap for bad cooking. But the art and the bar has been raised in recent years, and this was a great place to taste that.
