DOWNTOWN LOCAVORE New, as of yesterday, to Center Street’s “restaurant row”: the Green Earth Café & Bakery, which offers a “Local Organic Vegan Ethical Sustainable (L.O.V.E.S.)” menu using the principles of macrobiotics. Owners Barbara Johnston-Brown and Ciren Zhuoga are serving salads, soups, sandwiches, wraps, unigiri, burritos, tacos, and desserts — including cookies, cakes, pies and puddings — with a focus on organic produce from local farmers and vendors. Johnston-Brown has run a catering company, teaches cooking classes for kids and adults, works as a private chef and has apprenticed as a pastry chef. Zhuoga, who is originally from Tibet, is cook and kitchen manager of Treasure Island Job Corps serving 1,100 meals three times per day. She has cooked at Manzanita Restaurant in Oakland where she specializes in weekend brunch menus. The café is at 2124 Center Street, next door to the Oasis Grill.
ARTISTIC COLLABORATION After a nine year run, the Fourth Street Studio at 1717 D Fourth Street will close its doors on Jan. 29th. Run by Gera Hasse, who does mixed media and china painting, the studio was both an art gallery and shared studio space for dozens of artists. Hasse, who has run various galleries for 25 years, is shutting the doors so she can write a book about her experiences, focus on her own art, and spend more time with her grandchildren. The gallery is holding a closing sale.
WINERY SETTLES After almost two years of being an itinerant winery, Urbano Cellars has found a permanent home in west Berkeley’s burgeoning “drinks district”, and it officially opened its doors on January 7th. Urbano is producing its award-winning wines there, as well as operating a tasting room which is open Saturday & Sunday, 1-5 pm and by appointment. A Grand Re-Opening Gala is planned for Saturday, February 4th. Urbano Cellars is at 2323 Suite B, 4th Street, between Channing Way and Bancroft.
Shop Talk is our regular column in which we post updates on Berkeley businesses — openings, closings, new directions, relaunches, relocations. If you’re a Berkeley business with news, or a Berkeleysider who has spotted a change in your neighborhood or on your travels, shoot us an email with the details. Read previous Shop Talk columns here.
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