A family friend of ours Tony Salguero, is the head chef at the amazing French bistro on Lakeshore Avenue, Michel Bistro.  My husband and I had an amazing time catching up with family, having some delicious cocktails and mouthwatering French food. I sat down at the bar and ordered a Gainsbarre, whiskey, honey, lemon and verbena which was refreshing with that whiskey kick that I love. The sweet hostess sat us down, and we were in for a real treat. We started out with the soup of the day, cream of cauliflower with pickled cauliflower and salsa verde and it was one of the tastiest soups I have ever tried.  Then we sampled the bison tartare with quail egg and grilled baguette. Everything was fresh and perfectly prepared.  Next, We tried bone marrow for the first time, it was rich and flavorful with a hint of lemon. and the roasted garlic gave it an amazing sweet flavor. For our entree, Roger and I shared the lamb burger with aged cheddar, peppercress and aoili, which we think was the star of the meal. It was cooked on point medium rare, the bun was fresh with the perfect ratio to meat, and the house made pickle added a yummy crunch.  Throughout dinner my sommelier Father-in-law picked French wines from the extensive wine list to complement our meal. We loved the modern decor and dining experience ,and decided to celebrate our first wedding anniversary here on July 20th. If you get the chance, this place will not disappoint… Bon Appetit!

Tony and Roger (grainy iphone photo;)GainsbarreSoup du Jour: Cauliflower with Salsa VerdeBison TartareBone Marrow with Roasted garlicLAMB BURGER! Yummmmmm

I have been hearing about James and the Giant Cupcake for a long time and had yet to try it.  I was in charge of dessert  for a dinner party with a couple friends last night so I decided to make the trip over to North Oakland.  This place is quite the little gem! The cupcakes are displayed in cute clear cake trays with handmade signs and they even have vegan and gluten free options.  There were at least 20 options because it was Saturday (they have a daily menu of offerings on their website) so it was a hard decision.  I brought home Salted Caramel (with fresh sea salt that she added when boxing it up), Maple Bacon (with real bacon topping), Red Velvet (my go to cupcake) and Peppermint Patty (with a little chocolate peppermint on top).  All of the cupcakes were delectable, but I absolutely loved the Maple Bacon!  If you are in the mood for a cupcake in the Oakland, give this little cupcakery a try!!