The plan was that the streets of Temescal would be bustling with people Tuesday evening as the neighborhood hosted its first ever culinary crawl. If you were going to join the party – you need to put your plans on hold.
With the weather forecast predicting heavy rain and winds, the Taste of Temescal has been pushed out by a week to Tuesday, October 20. But other than the date, everything else stays the same.
The brainchild of the executive director of the Temescal Telegraph Business Improvement District,Darlene Rios Drapkin, the event should be a foodie’s delight. The restaurants on Telegraph between 40thand 51st streets will be giving out “tastings,” there will be a raffle which promises, amongst other things, $100 gift certificates to a restaurant of the winner’s choice, and there will be music from different parts of the world.
About 21 restaurants have signed up to participate, and they include buzzed about restaurants like Barlata and Pizzaiolo, ethnic food destinations like Sura and Asmara, and neighborhood hangouts like Bare Naked Burgers, Lanesplitter, and the Mixing Bowl.
It wasn’t that long ago that this stretch of Temescal did not have any glitzy restaurants or the long lines of hungry people that are almost a given at Telegraph and 51st. In the afternoons, they’re waiting for the fried chicken at Bake Sale Betty, and in the evenings, it’s the pizza at Pizzaiolo and the Mexican entrees at Dona Tomas.
Ms. Drapkin remembers that it all started with Temescal Café (which changed owners last year and became the Mixing Bowl) as a popular gathering place. “Then Doma Tomas came in. That attracted Bake Sale Betty,” says Ms. Drapkin. “The restaurant row has now expanded to the other end with Aunt Mary’s. It’s becoming a foodie district where you go to eat.”
The recession hasn't scared culinary entrepreneurs away from the area. New openings this year included BarLata, which serves tapas, and is chef Daniel Olivella's second restaurant, the first one being B44, the popular Spanish eatery on Belden Lane. Clement Street's Burma Superstar also crossed the bridge to open its doors in Temescal.
And that’s what Ms. Drapkin says she hopes to showcase with the tastings –the fact that Temescal does have a bit of many places and many cuisines from across the globe. And if you’ve been hearing that Temescal is becoming the next gourmet ghetto, this is your chance to find out why.
Tickets cost $25 each, and benefit the neighborhood’s schools, a non-profits that works with school kids to engage them in their communities, and a non-profit that provides support services to cancer patients- Emerson Elementary School, Claremont Middle School, Oakland Tech High School, Good Cents for Oakland, Women’s Cancer Resource Center.
October 20, 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Telegraph Avenue, between 40th Street and 51st Streets
For more information, visit temescaldistrict.org/events.html
To buy your tickets, go to brownpapertickets.com/event/81976
Or stop by one of the following stores/organizations:
17 Jewels - 4801 Telegraph Ave.; Women's Cancer Resource Center - 5741 Telegraph Ave.; Good Cents for Oakland - 510 49th Street, Suite 214; Bank of the West - 4900 Telegraph Ave.; Sadiedey Café - 4210 Telegraph Ave.; It's Your Move - 4920 Telegraph Ave.