Hi Everyone!
Happy Thursday! I'm off to Denver but earlier this week I had the opportunity to head to Oakland.
So, I'll admit – I don't get to Oakland as much as I'd like to. It's a bummer because there's so much good energy in the East Bay. From the Fox Theater to Trouble Coffee, so many gems exist in the city and the surrounding areas. Jack's Oyster Bar and Bocanova are two standouts that must be explored.
Located on the water, Jack's Oyster Bar features an impressive raw bar and offers oysters both from the West and East Coast. Talk about variety! We started off with Oysters, Maine Lobsters Rolls (INSANE!), and my personal favorite – Charred Octopus.
You guys, I thought I had an adventurous palette. But when you look at an octopus on a plate, well...it's a bit more daunting. Luckily, Jack's does octopus right. With rainbow carrots and potatoes, the octopus was perfectly charred and a beautiful sight to see. I'm still dreaming of it!
Right next door is Bocanova, a Pan-American grill that focuses on local ingredients and beautiful atmosphere. Executive Chef (of both Jacks and Bocanova), Rick Hackett combines Central and South American culinary sensibilities to the restaurant and his passion for serving high-quality food shows.
We started off with the Rock Cod Ceviche – a medley of piquillo peppers, smoked calabrian chile, red onion, avocado, and cilantro. Yessssssss. We then sunk our teeth into this delicious swordfish that was almost to beautiful to eat.
We finished off the meal with a Pisco Sour (hell yeah!) and Warm Chocolate Bread Pudding. Seriously – chocolate and carbs, ya'll. What more could you want?
So, you know those spots where people from out of town ask you, "Where should I go to eat?" Well, I can gladly say my arsenal of places has gotten a little longer with the help of Jack's and Bocanova.
If you're in the East Bay, definitely check it out!
Cheers!