Category Archives: Gourmet Ghetto

Dairy-Free Junk Food Files: Phil’s Potato Tots

Posted on March 11, 2013 by bakingnotwriting

I was reading an article about Chez Panisse’s fire because it was a big part of my life growing up, when I spotted an ad on the side of the blog page for a place called Phil’s Sliders. Actually, what … Continue reading →

Posted in Burgers, dairy-free junk food, Gourmet Ghetto, Potatoes, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Real bagels in Berkeley?

Posted on July 15, 2012 by bakingnotwriting

Ah, New York in the ’80s. Crack vials everywhere, dog shit glazing the sidewalks, signs on car windshields: “Door open. Please don’t break window.” And bagels, real chewy, hard-crusted New York bagels that ripped your dental work out. I guess … Continue reading →

Posted in Breakfast, Gourmet Ghetto | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Vegan Lasagna with Daiya Cheese and Crimini Mushrooms

Posted on July 21, 2011 by bakingnotwriting

I saved some tomato sauce from the purple carrot soup and bought my first bag of Daiya cheese in order to make  another vegan lasagna. It was quite different with the Daiya, which Mattie of Veganbaking.net finds a little “mayonnaise-y” … Continue reading →

Posted in Baking, Casserole, Gourmet Ghetto, Italian food, Lactose-free, Lasagna, Vegan | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Vegan Lasagna Take Two: A Spring Affair

Posted on April 6, 2011 by bakingnotwriting

I was taken with these wee cute organic zucchini in the market, plus Wichita Sims found a casserole I used to make lasagna in all the time when she re-organized my cupboards, so I was inspired to do another variation … Continue reading →

Posted in Baking, Casserole, Gourmet Ghetto, Italian food, Lactose-free, Lasagna, Vegan | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Farmer’s Market in the Gourmet Ghetto

Posted on April 1, 2011 by bakingnotwriting

The Gourmet Ghetto, the North Berkeley neighborhood where I grew up, wasn’t the first spot to get a Farmer’s Market in Berkeley, in fact, our Farmer’s Market (Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m.) was one of the most recent to … Continue reading →

Posted in Gourmet Ghetto, Lactose-free, Vegan | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Vegan Lasagna Can Be Beautiful

Posted on March 4, 2011 by bakingnotwriting

I might have mentioned that I am intolerant of lactose — even when it comes from sheep and goats. I also adore Italian food, unfortunately, because it is one of the most cheese-centric of all cuisines. Therefore, I have had … Continue reading →

Posted in Baking, Casserole, Family recipes, Gourmet Ghetto, Italian food, Lactose-free, Lasagna, Vegan | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Stone Fruit Scones

Posted on February 13, 2011 by bakingnotwriting

My Dad always used to call them “stone fruits” which didn’t make sense to me when I was small. Of course it refers to the fact that they have pits that take up a large proportion of the center of … Continue reading →

Posted in Baking, Bisquick, Gourmet Ghetto, Lactose-free, scones | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Who’s Afraid of A Vegan Cookie?

Posted on January 29, 2011 by bakingnotwriting

I am. I will be blunt, baking without eggs baffles and alarms me. I feel the need of the whole sticky, rising, burnishing, yummy thing eggs do to batter. But cookies are my wheelhouse — the first thing I ever … Continue reading →

Posted in Baking, Chocolate, Cookies, Gluten-free, Gourmet Ghetto, Lactose-free, Vegan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Growing Up in the Gourmet Ghetto

Posted on January 26, 2011 by bakingnotwriting

Before Chez Panisse, when I was a little girl, there were places in our North Berkeley neighborhood such as Lenny the Butcher (see my last post), Pig-by-the-Tail Charcuterie, which sold the most amazing cookies (in addition to the French-style cold … Continue reading →

Posted in Baking, Bread, French food, Gourmet Ghetto | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments