Venus and the Casual-Cali dining trend
In foodie talk, Berkeley is synonymous with Chez Panisse: there’s hardly a writing of Bay Area cuisine without the mentioning of Alice Waters and her propriety. But as attractive as the local and sustainable idea sounds, places like Chez Panisse are clearly not in the accessible range for everyone’s weekly, or even monthly, savour. If it’s not what the locals regularly eat, how can it represent the local cuisine? The common Berkelers don’t make one month reservation to eat at a cafe, they instead would rather make a line on the sidewalk, waiting to be seated in 25 minutes or so-told by waiters with tattoos and spiky hair. Such casualness, though paired with obvious reduce in taste innovation and price, defines the Berkeley dining spectrum, with the holes in the wall like Razan’s Organic Kitchen and Gregoire at the cheaper end, to more comfortable sit-downs like Herbivore and Venus at the other.
I call it a sit-down because Venus is barely bigger than a classroom, and diners are spaced more snugly than students on exam day. Its rectangular base holds a kitchen-cashier combination and roughly 40 seats – an ok amount for lunch and dinner but not enough for the mornings. I’ve seen lines, and been in one myself, standing outside the door even on weekdays. The mornings here are cold, but Venus’s breakfasts are good.
Venus's scramble eggs with calabrese sausage , spinach and mushroom, with roasted potato and toasts - $11.00
Omelets and scrambled eggs are the main categories, with typical Californian blendings like chicken-and-apple sausage, fresh berries and chocolate chips in pancakes, and thick, fat, buttery French toasts accompanied by melons and oranges.
A Venus daily special - apple French toasts and sausage, to be dressed in blackberry syrup - $12.50
If you feel guilty about taking time to savor your toasts while others are shivering outside waiting to slip through that door, lunch proves a more comfortable choice. To boost, the hosts give you both the breakfast and lunch menus if you arrive around noon. The specials of the day are printed items with a simple twist, like my chicken salad with a load of watermelon cubes mixed in.
A Venus daily special - watermelon salad with grilled chicken breast and feta cheese - $13.00
The ingredients aren’t clamorous and the mixing isn’t adventurous, but such daily specials are nonetheless a refreshing attempt to harmonize flavors: sweet watermelon to temper tangy feta and vinaigrette, teeth-sinking jello crunch of the grilled chicken to pair with airy crustiness of newly baked bread. It isn’t the best salad I’ve ever had, but it bursts a mouthful of Casual-Cali aroma(*): healthy food can have attractive taste.
The atmosphere, too, is characteristic. Jazzy 60’s records reluctantly slip words one by one off the speaker like water dripping from a roof after some heavy rain. College students twirl their straws over a quiet chat by the windows. An old man with a cane and weak feet drags his steps to the table, clouding himself with a Degas’ look while waiting for his soup. Lone diners in spectacles spend an entire morning flipping through the news, occasionally take a bite of sandwich and a sip of coffee. Couples in their late fifties laugh and talk without constraint. Everyone is comfortable. It’s a noisy place, but oddly it’s full of solitude.
Venus restaurant, in some aspect, is just like their panna cotta: rich and smooth, with the occasional fresh and tart berries to boost.
Dessert at Venus - panna cotta with fresh berries - $8.00
Eating local and sustainable means spending unsustainably, or eating expensive in plain terms. Sure, breakfast for two or lunch plus dessert will rip you off about 25 dollars sans tip. But when the bill doesn’t absurdly boast $50 or more a person, the taste, the portion and the good feeling of eating healthy and local justify the self-indulgence. I guess.
Address: Venus Restaurant
2327 Shattuck Avenue,
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 540-5950
(*): This definition is made only on comparison with the cuisines of other states in America, as the fusion and local trend is by no means particular to California, but a growing fashion in high-end restaurants around the world.
Soda Slim
1Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch as I found it for him smile Therefore let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch! “Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine.” by Sir Arthur Eddington.
2Very good written story. It will be supportive to anyone who utilizes it, including me. Keep up the good work – can’r wait to read more posts.
3After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
4I have learn several just right stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how so much effort you place to make such a fantastic informative web site.
5Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Extremely helpful info specially the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was looking for this certain info for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.
6This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your excellent post. Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks!
7I would like to express thanks to the writer for bailing me out of this type of matter. Because of scouting throughout the internet and meeting ideas which are not beneficial, I figured my life was over. Being alive without the presence of strategies to the issues you have solved by means of your entire posting is a critical case, and those that would have negatively affected my career if I had not come across your web site. Your own personal expertise and kindness in touching all areas was helpful. I am not sure what I would have done if I had not discovered such a solution like this. I can also at this point look ahead to my future. Thanks very much for the expert and effective help. I will not hesitate to refer the blog to anyone who requires guidelines about this subject matter.
8I and my guys appeared to be viewing the excellent tricks found on your web page and then unexpectedly got a terrible suspicion I had not expressed respect to the web site owner for them. These people happened to be totally glad to see them and have absolutely been enjoying those things. Appreciation for being really helpful and also for getting these kinds of marvelous information most people are really wanting to discover. Our sincere apologies for not expressing appreciation to earlier.
9Pretty great post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing in your rss feed and I’m hoping you write again soon!
10I do believe all of the ideas you have presented on your post. They’re really convincing and can definitely work. Nonetheless, the posts are too quick for novices. May just you please lengthen them a little from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.
11Its good as your other blog posts : D, regards for posting. “As experience widens, one begins to see how much upon a level all human things are.” by Joseph Farrell.
12This actually answered my downside, thank you!
13I’ve been browsing on-line greater than 3 hours nowadays, yet I never discovered any interesting article like yours. It is beautiful price enough for me. Personally, if all site owners and bloggers made just right content material as you probably did, the web can be a lot more helpful than ever before.
14Hi my friend! I want to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include approximately all important infos. I would like to see more posts like this.
15I like this blog its a master peace ! Glad I found this on google .
16I’ll immediately seize your rss feed as I can’t find your email subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly allow me know so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
17That is very fascinating, You are an overly skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and look ahead to in the hunt for extra of your fantastic post. Additionally, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
18Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your site is so cool. I am impressed by the details that you have on this web site. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for more articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched everywhere and just could not come across. What a perfect website.
19I think this is one of the most vital info for me. And i am glad reading your article. But wanna remark on some general things, The website style is perfect, the articles is really nice :D. Good job, cheers
20My partner and I stumbled over here coming from a different website and thought I might check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to looking over your web page repeatedly.
21I got what you mean , thankyou for putting up.Woh I am glad to find this website through google.
22Some truly select blog posts on this internet site, saved to my bookmarks.
23Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
24Only a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw great design. “Treat the other man’s faith gently it is all he has to believe with.” by Athenus.
25Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I will definitely comeback.
26Hey! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having difficulty finding one? Thanks a lot!
27Thanks so much for providing individuals with remarkably pleasant possiblity to read from this site. It is often so sweet and as well , stuffed with fun for me personally and my office co-workers to visit the blog minimum three times every week to find out the fresh items you have got. And indeed, I’m also certainly fascinated with the sensational information you serve. Some two tips in this article are certainly the best we have ever had.
28Hi there, I found your blog via Google even as looking for a related subject, your site came up, it appears to be like great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
29Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.
30We stumbled over here different web page and thought I might as well check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward to exploring your web page again.
31I really like your writing style, wonderful information, regards for putting up :D. “Every moment of one’s existence one is growing into more or retreating into less.” by Norman Mailer.
32You have mentioned very interesting details ! ps decent internet site.
33Thanks for every other informative web site. Where else may I am getting that kind of info written in such an ideal method? I’ve a undertaking that I am simply now running on, and I’ve been at the look out for such information.
34I delight in, result in I discovered just what I used to be taking a look for. You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
35Aw, this was a really nice post. In concept I would like to put in writing like this additionally – taking time and actual effort to make a very good article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and in no way appear to get something done.
36I have learn several good stuff here. Definitely value bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how so much attempt you set to create this sort of fantastic informative website.
37