I’ve had this draft waiting patiently for two weeks patiently, hoping that one of these days the right words would finally accompany these final CA photos. I’m typing from my new home, the third already this year, back on the East Coast in Gloucester. I spent a lovely 4 1/2 months living and working in Berkeley, CA, and am so happy I did.

The internship at Chez Panisse was nothing short of amazing and an incredible learning experience, something I will always remember and am so grateful to have had the opportunity to do. The produce, the talent, the attention to detail, the taste…it was wonderful. I have a big stack of all my menu notes and look forward to sorting through them and organizing the many lessons and recipes I learned.

I also spent two months working with the lovely crew at Bartavelle Coffee and Wine Bar. The first time I went there for coffee and a bite, I knew it was going to become my go-to place for a treat, a chat, you name it. Such a fun job, and man, do I miss their coffee and food! The savory porridge, Persian breakfast, avocado toast, the cortado. Yum yum yum.

I met so many wonderful people and formed some great friendships. A peripatetic whirlwind, I was building a little life in Berkeley. It felt comfortable, I had my routine, my friends, the places I liked to go for this or that. I think my favorite weekend had to be when I crammed a trip to Santa Cruz, Monterey, Big Sur, and a visit to Scribe Winery in Sonoma in three days. Epic California coastline along Highway 1…I’m obsessed with the jaw-dropping, ever-changing landscape in Big Sur. Photos from that trip here.

I thought about writing and posting a guide to places to eat, good day trips etc, but that’d be so…time-consuming. I’d rather just release this two-week old draft into the wild world of published blog posts.

Until next time!

bartavelle berkeley california chez panisse chez panisse internship travel