1) Oakland mac ’n’ cheese specialist Homeroom’s long-awaited ancillary location at 4007 Webster Street is open, Eater reports. Homeroom To-Go is now the place to go for your takeout mac ’n’ cheese needs. Beyond the restaurant’s basic menu, the new location also boasts office-party-friendly sampler platters and a selection of 32 different beers and wines.
[jump] 2) Inside Scoop has more details about La Marcha (2026 San Pablo Ave.), the brick-and-mortar restaurant that the owners of Ñora Cocina Española are planning in West Berkeley. Look for a tapas bar-hopping inspired menu with several different kinds of paella.
3) As previously noted, Mission: Heirloom (2085 Vine St.), North Berkeley’s new Paleo-friendly, gluten-free cafe is now open. A new story in The Chronicle places the restaurant in the context of the Paleo movement and Berkeley’s affinity for restaurants catering to fringe-y alternative diets.
4) For those who like to have a cold beer with their lumpias and chicken adobo, East Oakland’s Lucky Three Seven now has its beer and wine license. Weekend mimosas are rumored to have made an appearance. (H/T East Bay Dish.)
6) Here’s one more gift idea for the food-obsessed person in your life: a holiday-themed “gourmet foodie box” curated by Alameda-based Little Shop Artisan Box. Featured items include locally made chocolate covered caramels, caramel corn, Italian wedding cookies, and more. Prices range from $25.99 to $99.99.
7) Inside Scoop has the details about Picky Pint, a new app that helps you pick a beer by using character recognition technology to scan a bar or restaurant’s beer list, then providing a description and score rating for each of the beers.
8) ICYMI, Grand Lake Kitchen is expanding, and a new food delivery service will employ and train low-income Oakland youth.
Got tips or suggestions? Email me at Luke (dot) Tsai (at) EastBayExpress (dot) com. Otherwise, keep in touch by following me on Twitter @theluketsai, or simply by posting a comment. I’ll read ‘em all.
