Berkeley without shadow

Dining Downtown

by Ivana Goldstein

Berkeley is considered to be “the food capital of the world” because of its diversity of cuisine and rich selection of innovative and locally grown goods. Berkeley is one of the supporters of the Slow Food Movement, which encourages local, organic, environmentally sustainable farms, fair trade and preservation of cultural heritage.

Alice Waters, local restaurateur and an International Governor of Slow Food, helped start Berkeley’s “food revolution” in the early 1970’s. Waters visited Paris and fell in love with the way Parisians ate. She introduced Parisian style cooking to her hometown, and helped bring about Berkeley’s obsession with great food.

However, it is important to note that Downtown Berkeley offers many different kinds of dining options—from hamburgers to grilled quail, from delicious take-out at “The Brazil Café” to fancy dinners at “Downtown Restaurant.” In addition to the over 100 casual restaurants Downtown Berkeley offers, it also boasts a renowned farmers’ market for those who like to prepare their own culinary delights.

Bon Appétit!