Friday, February 19, 2010
Bowling
I used to frequent the Berkeley Bowl supermarket -- when I lived within walking distance of the place. Once I moved and had to drive there, I realized why it had won the nickname "Berkeley Brawl" and decided the parking lot was reason enough to permanently cross the place off my list of favorite stores.

However, in 2009, the always-crowded Bowl opened a new branch, Berkeley Bowl West. It's located about two blocks away from my auto repair shop, Art's Automotive. I am fiercely loyal to Art's. Do you ever worry that your mechanic is trying to make as much money off you as possible by telling you that your car requires unnecessary repairs? Here is how you choose a great auto shop: pick one that's so busy, they want to get you in and out of there as quickly as possible. Art's will never cheat you, because they have too darn many customers. There's a long line of Best of the East Bay award plaques on the wall. Art's is awesome.

Anyway, while I was waiting for an oil change this morning, I wandered over to the new Bowl, and -- my God, the place is astonishing. I used to think the Whole Foods in Oakland was the ne plus ultra of East Bay food stores, but the Bowl makes it look like a 7-11.

Going into supermarkets is a bit of a hobby for me. Whenever I'm in a foreign country, or even just an unfamiliar city, I always make a point of checking out the local grocery store -- perhaps it's something I picked up from my dad, who does the same thing. I just like seeing the local brands and taking a look at the prepared foods and bakery items, even if I don't buy anything. So I've been in a lot of supermarkets. But I'm here to tell you, I have never seen anything like the Berkeley Bowl West. The only place I can think of comparing it to is the mighty Zabar's in New York. (Nothing will ever beat Zabar's, if for no other reason than that the Bowl doesn't carry black and white cookies.)

The Bowl is huge. It's probably as big as my local Safeway, which is pretty massive. But what will really make your eyes pop is the Bowl's produce department. I wandered through it, thinking "Wow, this is big!" and then I realized I'd only seen half of it (it's divided into conventional and organic produce). If you need any kind of obscure root or mushroom, this is the place to find it. (Check out some photos here.)

The Bowl carries at least a dozen different kinds of capers. There is a section of U.K. foods, in case you have a sudden craving for a Yorkie Bar or mincemeat pie filling, and an impressive Asian selection. The bakery has a zillion calories' worth of pretty cakes. In fact, the only thing that the Bowl lacks is a really great prepared foods section -- I'd still have to give Whole Foods Oakland the edge there. (The Berkeley W.F. is too puny.) The Bowl is primarily for the adventurous home cook, the person who really needs to track down a chirimoya in order to make some obscure recipe.

I wasn't intending to buy anything (hah!) -- I thought I'd go hang out in the cafe while I waited, but I never even made it there, since I was too transfixed by the supermarket itself. Naturally, I wound up with a full basket of items, including:

Spicy handmade corn tortillas from Sonoma's Primavera
Organic baby arugula and some pitted Kalamata olives from the olive bar so I can make this recipe
An outrageously delicious morning bun from Semifreddi's
A tub of La Cascada house salsa
A package of Almondina biscotti
Inari-zushi from the sushi bar

Happily, at 10 AM, the Bowl was not at all crowded, and there were many empty parking spaces available. There's no need to brawl -- the new Bowl has room for all.
posted by 125records @ 4:51 PM  
4 Comments:
  • At 11:07 AM, Blogger Janet A said…

    Oh yes the new Bowl is great. And a parking garage. That makes it perfect.

     
  • At 1:12 PM, Blogger yellojkt said…

    I've been waiting two years for a Wegman's to open in Columbia. The chain moved into the DC/Baltimore area about five years ago and it has everything.

     
  • At 4:59 AM, Blogger Amy said…

    A dozen different kinds of capers? Don't let Doug hear that, or he may leave me for the West Coast!

     
  • At 10:56 AM, Blogger vallerose said…

    The new Bowl is hands down my favorite place for groceries. And the prices, unlike at Whole Foods, are very reasonable. I now take out of town visitors there as a new attraction. At the hot food section I love the walnuts, and shrimp dish. We might need to thank the Americans with Disabilites Act for the wide isles, but there is no doubt that it's a pleasure to shop there. I am on the verge of becoming boring on the subject.

     
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