Palmabella's Passions

Our visits with friends always seem to revolve around meals! Saturday was no exception. We met for lunch at Wood Tavern in Oakland. Reservations are a must. We walked in at 11:30, and the place was empty. By 11:45, there were no tables! I was anxious to see why.

Our foodie friends, Charlotte and Cindy, never let us down when choosing a restaurant. They come here often, and knew to start with the crispy pork belly with salt pork braised green lentils, spinach and a poached egg.

Brad was the only one of us who had eaten something besides coffee, so he chose a light lunch of the house cured salami with marinated olives, and a cheese tasting of "Explorateur", a French triple creme cow's milk cheese.

The rest of us all went with Charlotte's recommendation of the rigatoni in a veal-pork Bolognese with Lucques olives. It was spicy and delicious!

Save room for the desserts! Cindy had a spiced persimmon cake with persimmon coulis.

Charlotte had an affogato with Jameson Irish Whiskey!

Brad and Roxanne, the chocoholics, had to have the warm chocolate cake with hazelnut ice cream.

I was in panna cotta heaven with a buttermilk panna cotta with pomegranate sauce.

Here are the hungry, happy campers. Soon we were ready to walk off our food coma by a little shopping on 4th street.