Vik's Chaat Corner

You can live in Berkeley for years and not know about Vik's, because the only way to find it is for someone to bring you there. It started out as a warehouse on the very west, industrial part of Berkeley. It still has that warehouse feel to it today, but no one cares because they came here for the food.



My favorite way to enjoy Vik's is to go with a couple of friends so that we can order one of almost everything on their chaat menu. These small snacks are packed full of authentic flavors and spices, and be warned, they are spicy! When going alone, my standard favorite is the Samosa Cholle (two crusty patries stuffed with green peas, potato, and garbonzo beans, covered in a spicy garbanzo chutney). Although lately I've been going for the much lighter Dahi Batata Puri - crisp puffed puris, filled with potatoes and garbanzos, covered with yogurt and tamarind. The yogurt and tamarind provide a cool, sweet couterpart to the other spicy dishes.



Vik's Chaat Corner is located at 724 Allston Way, and is open Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-6pm.

La Farine

La Farine makes the best croissants this side of the Atlantic! This bakery may be famous for it's morning buns (pastry rolled in brown sugar and cinnamon), but when I make the drive to Berkeley, it's for the croissant - flakey and buttery, this simple pastry is crispy on the outside, full of pure butter flavor, without being greasy or soggy. Other decadent patries include the chocolatine, frangipane, and brioche.
















My next favorite item is the fresh fuit tart. Start with a buttery, flakey crust, add a creamy, smooth vanilla bean custard that's not too heavy, and top it off with the season's best fruit. Beautifully arranged, these tarts and tartlettes as are much of a joy to look at as they are to eat!

If you're a fan of almond paste, I have to mention the frangipane tart - usually made with baked plums or nectarines, it's a tart that combines custard and almost paste. Yum!

La Farine also makes an astonishing array of breads, cookies, and cakes. Located at 1820 Solano Ave.