Check, Please! Bay Area
Birch & Rye Easy Rider Bake Sum Vietnam Town
S18 • E14 Feb 8, 2024 28m
In the heart of San Francisco’s Noe Valley neighborhood, Birch & Rye charms guests by reimagining traditional Russian and other Eastern European dishes with Californian flair — and a touch of experimental finesse. Then, in downtown Petaluma, Easy Rider brings Southern classics crafted with quality ingredients to Sonoma: think shrimp and grits, fried chicken, and pork belly biscuits paired with Southern-inspired cocktails and a local selection of Californian wines. Finally, from Oakland’s Great Lake neighborhood comes an intimate bakery with a focus on Asian flavors. At Bake Sum, expect tasty surprises from their ever-changing menu, from mochi bites, to musubi croissant mashups, to okonomiyaki danishes. Reporter Cecilia Phillips closes out this week’s episode in San Jose — home to the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam — discovering perennial Vietnamese eats, treats and entertainment at Vietnam Town.
