Coming up with a list of exactly 100 top restaurants out of the over 1700 in the Chronicle's review database must necessarily involve some tough choices, probably even some arbitrary ones. The first steps, however, seem simple. You'd start the list with the eight four-star places, and then add the 21 that have three-and-a-half stars. The hard part would be choosing among the remaining restaurants to fill out the list.
Which raises the question, why is this year's list missing five of the Chron's three-and-a-half-star restaurants?
Leaving out Erna's Elderberry House makes sense, since it's not in the Bay Area. Since Chez Panisse is on the list, maybe Chez Panisse Cafe doesn't need to be on there, too. Silks and Dry Creek Kitchen (Healdsburg) got new chefs de cuisine late last year, and Bauer hasn't published updates since.
Name: Strawberry Cocoa Berries
Brand: Rubicon Bakery
Origin: Richmond
Found at: Faletti Foods (1275 Fell)
Cost: $4.99
Ingredients: Guittard chocolate, cane sugar, water, dried egg whites, freeze dried strawberries, natural strawberry flavor, natural color, sodium bicarbonate, citric acid.
Why I bought it: I wanted to support a locally-made product that looked delicious. Rubicon Bakery is part of a non-profit company that's invested in the community. The tag line of "90 calories for five bites" was also intriguing.
Tasting notes: A great way to spend 90 calories, these are crunchy, sweet, and thoroughly addicting.
Would I buy it again? Most definitely
What other blogs/sites thought of it: "Amazingly yummy" and even "decadent," declares Yummy Diet Food.
