Rachael Ray in... Oakland?!?! (or, my entry for Dine & Dish #4, Part 1)
Sarah & Sam came up with a brilliant theme for this month's Dine & Dish: Play Rachael Ray for a day, and eat 3 squares plus snacks for under $40.
It's so brilliant, in fact, that I felt compelled to do TWO versions. Part 1 (which you're currently reading) focuses on Oakland, while Part 2 (coming Monday) focuses on San Francisco.
Per the instructions, my spend does NOT factor in tips (which, I suppose, is better than Ms. Ray's perpetual undertipping to keep to her budget). Anyway, without further ado...
My first stop was La Farine in the Rockridge District. A luscious chocolatine only set me back $1.95, but this tasty pastry has enough weight to keep me full until lunch. I added a cup of hot tea, bringing my total breakfast spend to $3.50.
Lunchtime found me in Chinatown where I headed straight for Cam Huong on Webster Street for a banh mi sandwich. For $2.25, I got a crusty & delicious french roll, loaded with grilled pork (though there are several options), lettuce, picked onions & carrots, cilantro and jalapenos.
Across the street is the Sweet Booth, where I picked up a Vietnamese Iced Coffee with Pearls -- look, ma, it's a drink & dessert in one! Total cost for lunch? $5.50.
Left with $31.00 for dinner (which in these parts will go rather far) I had several options. Would it by Huynh for more Vietnamese? Or perhaps barbeque at Everett & Jones?
No, a hamburger ($9.50) and pint of Maredsous ($6) at Luka's was calling my name. Amazingly, I even had enough left over for dessert ($6) -- a luscious chocolate cake, oozing with flavor and deep, dark chocolatey goodness.
My total damage for the day? Just under $33.00. It just goes to show: plan wisely and do your research and $40 can go a very, very long way!
La Farine Bakery
6323 College Avenue
510.654.0338
Cam Huong
920 Webster Street
510.444.8800
Sweet Booth
388 9th Street
510.893.3633
Luka's Taproom
2221 Broadway
510.451.4677
Technorati Tags: Food | Food & Drink | Budget | Oakland
