As if oil and
gas prices weren't enough, now the heavy rains and cold weather in northern California have made fruits and vegetables expensive. Lettuces are
at an all-time high, and it's difficult to find many things that are normally abundant in springtime.
In restaurants, there's gourmet salad at Mixt Greens and a new Japanese vegan restaurant, Cha-Ya, in Berkeley. Hanazen is the closest thing to sushi houses in Japan, and the Inside Scoop reports that Upper Noe has more Italian restaurants, Budo will re-open as Cuvee Napa with the move of former chef James McDevitt to New York, Home restaurants is undergoing staff changes, and Le Colonial has a new menu.
Recipes this week include: Turkey Trattoria Meatballs and Turkey Pineapple Salad to help stay thin, Avocado and Tofu Salad, Rhubarb Strawberry and Hibiscus Fruit Soup, and Japanese okonomiyaki.
Olivia Wu revisits Shanghai.

Broke Stars: 11 Celebrities Who Went Bankrupt
Social Security Is Failing Even Faster Than We Thought
Man Says Starbucks Discriminated Against Him Because He Has Half An Arm
Chris Brown, Grammys 2012: Embattled Singer Slams Critics
Ford's clever Sports Illustrated Swimsuit ad features phantom model
Trace Adkins Reunites With College Crush, 30 Years Later
Van Gogh's Starry Night modded into beautiful interactive light and sound show (video)
'Hooker Teacher' Forced To Resign, Now Can't Find Work
Adele Five-Year Break? Singer Plans to Focus on Relationship, Write 'Happy Record'
Nick Cannon Hospitalized: Star Reveals New Serious Health Condition





4-28-2006 @8:00AM Nicole Weston said... Cha-ya isn't new to Berkeley. It's been there for at least 5 years. The article mentions that a new one is opening in the Mission District. It's a great restaurant!
Reply
4-28-2006 @12:43PM Marc said... A slight correction to the SF Chronicle's note about Cha-ya's opening in San Francisco:
Even before Cha-ya opens, SF vegans looking for vegetarian Japanese food only needed to go to the Crocker Galleria near Market and Post, not all the way across the Bay. Medicine Eat Station ( http://medicinerestaurant.com/ ) serves wonderful vegan Japanese food based on the temple cooking traditions (a.k.a. shojin ryori).
Reply