We went to Berkeley to meet our friends for Poke and Açaí lunch. It was a delightful afternoon.I met D at Google a long time ago. We have very few things in common. And yet we enjoy each other’s company. She is literally the most qualified and yet the most humble person I know. From D, I learn to be content. I admire her resilience and her composure. She is definitely one of her kind.

We both lost a parent pretty early in life and even though we never talk about it, it’s one of those things that we silently acknowledge. We share our love for cooking and putting together simple yet nourishing meals for our family. She is now a doting mother, and I enjoy watching her attend to her adorable son. It was not long ago when I used to tell her about Tara, and she’d have this strange expression of – “I wonder what it feels like to be a Mom”.

Ever since she moved to the East Bay, from San Francisco, she has been telling me about Berkeley Bowl, a local produce and grocery store that’s a highlight of her new suburban life. Today after visiting them for lunch, we decided to go visit the much hyped attraction.

Oh well! It was just as she had described. A Disneyland for someone like me. I went nuts walking the aisles of this massive store. So much variety. And such fresh and tempting produce. I wish there was one close to our place. 😦 I also wish that D lived close by. Sigh.

Anyways, it was hard for me to exit the store. I bought all sort of Asian spices and ingredients, and delicious papaya and fresh lotus root. Agam was patient. He knows how much I love romancing the aisles of a good grocery store. Berkeley Bowl was everything that I could ask for. It reminded me of Naturals in Forest Hills, in NY.

I’ve made some really good friends in the last decade. Bay Area in that respect has lived up to my expectations. I moved here to find more like minded people. NY was too cold – literally, and figuratively.

In the 14 years I’ve spent in this country, the last 10 have been my personal best 🙂 Cheers to all the good things in life – friendships, poke, açaí and of course the warm and cozy California 🙂

Meanwhile Tara’s breakfast this morning was quite gourmet – almond flour pancakes by chef Moi 😉