Simply J Life

Bakesale Betty Mosaic, originally uploaded by in2jazz.

Delectable baked goodies from Bakesale Betty located at 51st Street and Telegraph Avenue in Oakland. I usually stop in there and get some of their really yummy banana bread. They have all kinds of bake goodness. Stop on by.

Friday Dinner @ Blackberry Bistro, originally uploaded by in2jazz.

Blackberry Bistro on Park Boulevard in Oakland is now serving Friday night dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. I had a very delicious grilled double thick pork loin, creamy polenta sautéed winter greens and roasted fig jus. Starters included sweet pepper bisque with chives, baby organic greens with balsamic vinaigrette, and shrimp scatter with garlic & bayou gumbo gravy. Entrées include bayou gumbo with fresh Dungeness crab, andoullie sausage, shrimp & blackened chicken served with a heap of steamed rice, fresh spinach fettuccine with slow cooked chicken, roasted tomato sauce, basil & fresh ricotta cheese, grilled mahi mahi over crispy corn cake with black beans salsa fresca & lime beurre blanc, and the very tasty Bistro Burger.

Self-portrait @ Bakesale Betty, originally uploaded by in2jazz.

This was fun. I took this photo while I was waiting to get a couple of slices of their yummy banana bread. Bakesale Betty is located on the corner of 51st Street and Telegraph Avenue in Oakland.
It actually looks like I am standing behind the counter when I am actually in front of the counter. Yes, believe it or not, as much as I love to bake, I occasionally go out for baked goods, especially if they are good. It also gives me new baking ideas. Recently, I met a lady at a friend’s dinner party who asked me if I ever thought about having my own bakery. At the time, I told her no, but the idea has been swirling around in my head for the past few weeks. I am not sure that I am ready for my own business but I do plan on talking to a couple of restaurant owner’s to learn more about the business. I will keep myself open to the possibilities.

Dessert Goodness #2, originally uploaded by in2jazz.

These are photos from the 4th Annual Festival of Desserts and other holiday baking. Over 40 people stopped by for dessert during the course of the evening and I still had leftovers. Everyone had a great time and I am already thinking about this year’s festival. I did learn something important along the way. The “bake cake now and glaze later” approach will have you glazing and frosting cakes all evening.
The desserts included the following:

• Pecan Tarts
• Heath Bar Chocolate Brownies
• Cranberry Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies w/Nuts
• Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• McNannygocious Pound Cake
• Egg Nog Pound Cake
• 7 Up Cake
• Chocolate Brownies
• Lunchroom Butter Cookies
• Sweet Potato Pie
• Chocolate Egg Nog Rum Cake
• Egg Nog Rum Cake
• Lemon Pound Cake
• Hershey’s Chocolate Swirl Chip Cookies
• Red Velvet Cake

Blackberry Bistro, originally uploaded by in2jazz.

This is a mosaic of all the photos that I have taken at Blackberry Bistro.

Tuesday Lunch Special @ Blackberry Bistro, originally uploaded by in2jazz.

Salmon on a bed of honey glazed noodles with an assortment of vegetables. This very tasty!

Burger Meister, originally uploaded by in2jazz.

A guilty pleasure but I do not put a pound of cholesterol in my arteries too often. The bacon cheeseburger here is very tasty. The shake are great here but I was good and did not have one this day.

Three Crispy Steak Tacos, originally uploaded by in2jazz.

Here we have my guilty pleasure at Cactus Taqueria – three crispy steak tacos. I have ordered these or the crispy chicken tacos so many times that I have asked “have you tried anything else on the menu?” I guess I am a creature of habit.