“I Must Eat This” was the subject line of an email from a friend of mine in Los Angeles. It was referring to a meal inspired by the Sanrio character Gudetama at the Japanese restaurants called Curry House. According to Wikipedia, Gudetama was introduced by Sanrio in 2013 and is a gender neutral character that...
This past Thursday was the grand opening of Gott’s Roadside in Downtown Walnut Creek. The opening marked Gott’s sixth location in the Bay Area, but the first to move into the East Bay. I had a special invite on Tuesday to check it all out. I was already familiar with Gott’s. I actually remember it...
I had the pleasure of having dinner at Nico’s 1508 in Berkeley a few months ago. With competing priorities, I hadn’t gotten a chance to write about that experience until now. However, I think it speaks volumes about a meal when many of the dishes I had a while back are still memorable. We started...
It’s been an extremely busy Fall for me where I decided on a short hiatus from blogging. I began feeling like it was more of a chore than it was enjoyable. Last week, I took a week off of work believing I needed to recharge. What would reenergize me besides a vacation? I wanted to...
Ippudo Berkeley opened up in late July and I posted a blog about my friend’s experience on opening day. People waited three hours to get a bowl of ramen at Ippudo. After almost two months since opening, lines can still get quite long especially with school in session. Here’s my account of a recent visit...
There is an up and coming neighborhood in North Oakland called Paradise Park that sits on the borders of Oakland, Emeryville, and Berkeley. I am familiar with the area because I drive through it twice a week when I take my nephews to school at Oakland Military Institute. A new cafe that shares its name...
I recently met my BFF at Angel Fish in Alameda for dinner. Sushi is always a good choice on a hot day and Alameda is usually a bit cooler as well. My BFF has been a regular at Angel Fish for almost two decades. Every time I have dined at Angel Fish, I have enjoyed...
People may recall Giovanni’s as an old school Italian restaurant that had been in business in Downtown Berkeley since 1961. In 2015, it closed its doors after a major fire caused serious damage. Today the restaurant has reopened as Gio’s Pizza & Bocce, playing homage to the former restaurant. As you enter the front of...
I just returned from a weekend in Yosemite National Park, a crown jewel of California. Just a four hour drive from the Bay Area, it’s another reason I love where I live. On Thursday, my friend and I both entered the lottery to get a permit to hike Half Dome on Saturday. At midnight, I...
Last week my family decided they wanted to go out to dinner. There was a lot of debate over what to eat. My mom had been in the mood for Japanese food lately and hadn’t gotten her fix. I was thinking Laotian or Thai food. My sister in law had suggested a restaurant in Alameda...
Line at FYUB Yesterday was a momentous occasion. I was excited to witness the return of Chef Nora Haron to Oakland for a pop-up bakery. It’s been about a year since Chef Nora closed her cafe Drip Line in West Oakland and I’ve been sad ever since. She brought unique Singapore flavors to the food...
Ever since watching Crazy Rich Asians, I can’t stop wrapping potstickers! I have made these for family, friends, and coworkers, and they all love them. I don’t bother making the wrappers from scratch as it takes up too much time. Also, I grew up eating dumplings and I have never in my life seen anyone...
A friend of mine introduced me to a Filipino bun called “señorita bread.” She gave me a sampling of the rolls and my first reaction was “it’s alright.” It wasn’t very memorable. I didn’t understand her excitement about them. A couple of weeks ago, my friend and I were at a strip mall in Newark...
On 21st Avenue and Foothill Boulevard in East Oakland, you will find Cambodian Street Food. At this family run small kitchen, the community at large can pick up delicious, culturally diverse Cambodian or Khmer food at an affordable price. I visited Cambodian Street Food twice last week for lunch, each time with a different friend. ...
Are you afraid of the Covid-19 virus? Being a healthy individual in my forties, I am not afraid. I have been going about my business and eating out. I have also been promoting eating out to support local businesses including Chinatown. But after the new State regulations in California that Governor Gavin Newsom announced today...
When it comes to Thanksgiving leftovers, I always have turkey congee or turkey “jook” on my mind. Congee or “jook” is a Cantonese dish where rice is cooked down with liquid to form a thick porridge consistency. It is usually a breakfast or brunch item. Congee can take a few hours to make in a...
Cam Huong, the popular Vietnamese deli in Oakland Chinatown closed last Fall. I counted on this place for quick, inexpensive, and satisfying take out food. I know a lot of my friends were pretty sad when it closed its Chinatown deli, even though the larger Cam Huong, located about a mile away remained. Cam Anh...
Saté Kampar Last month I took a quick trip to Philadelphia. In addition to going back to Michael Solomonov’s restaurant Zahav, I looked forward to eating Malaysian food at Saté Kampar. Saté Kampar wasn’t even on the list to go until I noticed some well known Bay Area food people that I admire and follow...
Dennis Villafranca is the Jeepney Guy. He started his Filipino catering and pop-up business over seven years ago. Last August, Dennis made a permanent home for the Jeepney Guy inside 7th West, a bar and event space located in West Oakland. Although I have yet to check out the nightlife at 7th West for drinks,...
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About Me
Hello, my name is Lisa Lau. Welcome to my new website 510foodie.com. I was born and raised in the Bay Area. I am passionate about food and am here to share my food adventures with you.
I’ve been blogging about food for almost ten years. I am a contributing writer for localwise.com where my blog post Top Five Bowls of Noodle Soup in Oakland went viral. In 2018, I was a guest writer for Berkeleyside where I wrote the featured article A Filipino Food Movement is Sweeping the East Bay.
My friends and family enjoy my cooking so new to the site is “Recipe of the month.”
I hope you enjoy the site!
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