Monday, August 23, 2010

Gregoire Restaurant, Berkeley, CA


Many years ago in San Francisco I worked at the now closed Amelio's restaurant in North Beach. It was then what is now known as "old school French" and we cooked all the classics. During this time I met and developed a friendship with a young guy from Paris, France (we were all much younger then) who came to our restaurant to work.
His name was Gregoire Jacquet and we worked together for a fun and crazy year or two before I quit and put everything I owned into storage before setting off to Explore Australia and Asia. I have since kept in touch and I try to make it to one of his popular restaurants whenever I get the chance. He has two restaurants now with the original tiny location in Berkeley, and a second and bigger location opened a few years later in Oakland. The Berkeley location is very small and serves all of its food in nice to-go containers. There is limited seating with a few tables in front. The food is amazing and it's all made from scratch on site using the best natural and organic ingredients. Quality sandwiches and entrees such as "Orecchiette pasta with WillieBird smoked Chicken and Artichokes" or "Sauteed Dutch Valley Veal Scaloppini with Porcini Sauce" with a average price of $14.50! What ever you get, make sure a order of potato puffs is part of it, they are getting a cult status now and the kids really love the crunchy fried crust with the soft cheesy filling. Check out either location for great meal and be sure to say "hi" to Gregoire for me.
Berkeley 510-883-1893
Oakland 510-547-3444
Photo note: Potato puffs with garlic Aioli, Heirloom Tomato and Mozzarella with Crostini

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