Lafayette (East Bay), California

MAPPING THE DAY

A RoadTrip to the Bay Area of California is often spent in San Francisco, the Wine Country and the rugged Pacific coastline.  However, we have found many worthwhile diversions and gastronomic delights in the East Bay.   After all, the American pioneer of sustainable and local cuisine, Alice Waters, is located in Berkeley, just east of Oakland.

From the city, take the Bay Bridge (80) east toward Oakland.  A stop is Berkeley is wonderful, but then hop on Hwy 24 and travel through the Caldecott Tunnel.  One of the first little towns off the highway is Lafayette.  Local charm and an abundance of wonderful restaurants make the trip worthwhile.

 LOCAL STORY

Business travel took me to Lafayette two or three times per month for more than a year.  I would leave from Orange County in the early morning, fly to Oakland International, rent a car and drive to the quaint little town.  After morning meetings, our team would often head to lunch at a local restaurant called Pizza Antica.

VIEW FROM THE TABLE

The sophisticated, but unpretentious atmosphere is highlighted by a commanding wood bar loaded with superb wines and a wood-burning pizza oven.  The dining room is charged every day with spirited diners, energetic staff and the aroma of the wood-fired pizza.  The pizza is thin and crackery.  Try the heirloom potato, caramelized onion and white truffle oil pizza.  It is so memorable.

On the seasonal menu each Fall, Pizza Antica features a Warm Brussels Sprouts Salad.  It is surprising, hearty and amazing.  It sounds crazy and is definitely time-consuming to prepare the ingredients, but it is all worth it.  We have experimented to replicate it and here’s our version:

EAT YOUR BRUSSELS SPROUTS SALAD

[button link=”http://roadtripflavors.com/recipe/eat-your-brussels-sprouts-salad/” type=”big” color=”green” newwindow=”yes”] RECIPE[/button]