Press Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oakland: The Epicenter of California’s Hot Cuisine Scene

1/27/2010 - OCVB Media Contact
Manette Belliveau, President
Oakland CVB
510-839-0526
manette@oaklandcvb.com
www.oaklandcvb.com

Oakland, CA: The Epicenter of California’s Hot Cuisine Scene - Once known primarily for its proximity to San Francisco, Oakland is now at the epicenter of California’s latest food movement. The new leaders include Oakland locals such as Anya Fernald, founder of the phenomenally successful Eat Real Festival and James Syhabout, whose Oakland restaurant Commis garnered a Michelin star only four months after opening. Other celebrated chefs who made their names in San Francisco and Berkeley have opened – and are opening – restaurants in Oakland.

New restaurant rows are now located throughout the city, including Uptown near the Fox Theatre, Jack London Square in and nearby the new Jack London Market and in a variety of residential districts, joining established favorites. While the price tags and food styles vary, most kitchens are dedicated to using fresh, sustainable and local ingredients – sold at price points that are bargains compared to San Francisco. Visitors coming to Oakland find not only options for dining out, but also an opportunity to see how foods are made. Visitors can watch the roasting at Blue Bottle Coffee, learn the nuances of teas at Numi Teas, take a baking class at Miette Patisserie and watch artisan tofu being made at Hodo Soy. Food events include weekly Farmers Markets year round and neighborhood and ethnic street festivals.

# # #