Oakland Bites

Prepare yourselves: You are never going to look at your chili cook-off the same way again. With a tagline of “Bread. Butter. Cheese. Victory,” The second annual Norcal Grilled Cheese Invitational hits San Francisco’s Dolores Park on Saturday, doling out free grilled cheese sandwiches and trophies to the ultimate grilled cheese champions. Though registration for contest participants is closed, you too can stop in to taste, vote and help crown the ultimate grilled cheese chef. The GCI has three categories…

I figured I would start my first official post with an homage to an Oakland classic and one of the greatest sandwiches in the history of the world: the fried chicken sandwich at Bake Sale Betty’s. For a sandwich lover with a general fear of mayonnaise and “special sauce” of any kind, this is one item I can order without any caveats. Mine came out steaming. The combination of a soft white roll, crispy chicken and lemon-dressed cabbage and green…

Welcome to Oakland Bites, the new blog on all things food in Oakland, and the rest of the Bay. Together, we’ll chat about favorite meals, restaurant openings — and closings — cheap eats, farmers markets, food festivals, go-to meals — and anything else that catches your fancy. Given that most of our wallets are a little bit lighter these days, I also want to hear about your destinations for blue plate specials, cheap groceries, and even what you’re packing in…