Oakland’s Chef Wins TV Cooking Competition, Plans New Restaurant

Oakland chef wins chopped

Though chef Rashad Armstead’s plans to open his barbecue pop-up, Crave BBQ, as a permanent restaurant in West Oakland this spring didn’t work out, a victory on the Food Network show Chopped has turned the chef’s luck around. He’s now planning to open a second location of his other restaurant, Grammie’s Down Home Cooking, in Richmond, and has launched an Indie-Gogo campaign. Read more about his win here.

Modern Times nears opening in Oakland

The Oakland outpost of popular San Diego brewery Modern Times is nearing an opening, now projected for fall. “Coming soon” signs are up now at 2410 Valdez Street in the Northgate-Waverly neighborhood, just around the corner from Drake’s Dealership, Calavera, and Brown Sugar Kitchen.

Feast on lobsters in Napa

Though not native to the Valley, lobsters are still a hot wine country commodity. Napa resort Vista Collina is hosting a big ol’ lobster feed on Saturday, August 3. Tickets are $165 per person and include: one lobster per person, family-style sides of prawns, artichokes, onions, and corn, wine and beer, and live music. More details and tickets can be found here.

Free ice cream on August 1

Humphrey Slocombe is giving away cute and tiny berry parfaits at its Berkeley shop on August 1 from 5 p.m.- 6 p.m. It’s to celebrate a collaboration with Imperfect Produce and Renewal Mill, and is composed of berry pie ice cream and coconut okara cookies and bourbon caramel. 2948 College Avenue, Berkeley