New Berkeley Bowl open!

For those who don't live in the bay area and think that all of us who live here are crazy about fresh- organic food and locally grown YOU ARE 100% correct! This is one of the added reasons that I personally live here- I am just crazy for great food- both buying the best local foods and eating out in some of the best restaurants.

One of the best places to shop over the bridge is in Berkeley (in the east bay) called the Berkeley Bowl (no it's not a bowling alley- which is what I thought when I moved here a few years ago).

The Berkeley Bowl has a new location that just opened and boy oh boy did I have a blast this afternoon after our tradition of brunch at Sally's house after the Alameda flea market today. This new location opened up a block away from Sally's and it is going to change the neighborhood forever! After brunch we all walked over and I filled my cart with all kinds of great fruits and vegetables.

There are so many different varieties of things and things you have never seen before- the aisles go on and on. It can be overwhelming- check out all of the options.
I am not sure how big this location but the other location that they have is 40,000 square feet with 8,000 just for produce (the claim on their website that it is the largest in the bay area and also locally grown).
Check out the new Berkeley Bowl at 920 Heinz Avenue which is near Ashby Street.

I don't live near- but I can see this as a whole new tradition to brunch "after the flea market at Sally's"...

My new Murano glasses toasting farewell to wine...

Well- let's not be too DRAMATIC here...

I wanted to share the beautiful handblown glasses that I found in Venice at this charming little store. I normally would think that these glasses were too "fru fru" but maybe it was being in Venice and finding these in the clear glass that really made me smile.
I always pack a little tote bag at the bottom of my suitcase just for these reasons-as I hand carried 6 of these back on the plane.

The reason for the farewell toast? I am not drinking for the month of June! (GASP- and a silence came over the crowd!)- yes- me- I know SHOCKING to some of you who know that I really enjoy my wine. But I decided to do this as a goal when I came back from Venice- so now I am setting the goal for the month of June. I am not doing this for any real reason other than really to loose a few pounds (did a little carbo loading in Italy) as well as to clean and purify my body. I am so accustomed to having a few glasses of wine with dinner every night- that I think that taking a little break will do me some good. Clean my body up!

So I toast my farewell glass of wine (for the month of June- let's not get carried away here!) in my beautiful new glasses!

Cheers!