Eating In Translation

Dates by DaVall

The halawy, introduced to California from Iraq, is amber, soft, and sweet — quite sweet — in literal accord with its Arabic name. The name of the black abada, the story goes, is a portmanteau of "Abby" and "Dana"; in 1936 Dana Sniff reportedly discovered this cultivar growing wild in a California riverbed. It's possible that the color weighs on the flavor, but these chewy ripe dates reminded me of licorice ($2.50 each per pound).

Dates by DaVall
www.Facebook.com/pages/Dates-By-DaVall/134352733270762
At the Old Oakland Farmers' Market, vicinity of 9th St. and Broadway, Oakland
Friday, 8:00-2:00
(From an August 2011 visit)

Stone fruit stand

Plum + apricot = pluot. Of the half-dozen cultivars I gave the toothpick treatment, dapple dandies (a plump twosome, $1 per pound) landed in my backpack.

Stone fruit stand
At the Old Oakland Farmers' Market, vicinity of 9th St. and Broadway, Oakland
Friday, 8:00-2:00
(From an August 2011 visit)

Wilson Farms

Mission figs ($4 per basket).

Wilson Farms
At the Old Oakland Farmers' Market, vicinity of 9th St. and Broadway, Oakland
Friday, 8:00-2:00
(From an August 2011 visit)

Water Writes

One of ten murals, in ten cities worldwide, whose running theme "connects the participating communities and documents the current local and international water crisis."

Water Writes
Detail of mural near Broadway and 21st St., Oakland
www.Estria.org/water-writes
(From an August 2011 visit)

Café Eritrea d'Afrique

The spongy flatbread called enjera, or injera, is a staple of East African cuisine, as both a platform for stews and an edible utensil. When served on the side, enjera is often flat or gently folded, though occasionally it is rolled. That presentation may have helped inspire the restaurant's African-Mexican culinary mashup, which I noted with amusement but was too stuffed to try myself: the enjerrito.

Café Eritrea d'Afrique
4069 Telegraph Ave. (41st-42nd Sts.), Oakland
510-547-4520
(From an August 2011 visit)

Ba-Le French Coffee Shop

In Singapore it's known and loved by another name.

Fenton's Creamery

Best performance by blackberries in a dairy product (petite scoop, $4.45). First runner-up: Ronnybrook's shake.

Fenton's Creamery
4226 Piedmont Ave. (Entrada-Glenwood Aves.), Oakland
510-658-7000
www.Facebook.com/fentonscreamery
(From an August 2011 visit)

Cornet Hotel and Restaurant

"Cornet" is no more than my best guess. The lodging and dining options are clear, but the hotel name is very faded, and the kitchen is long closed.

Cornet Hotel and Restaurant
Faded painted sign in the vicinity of Stevenson and 6th Sts., San Francisco
(From an August 2011 visit)

Par-T-Pak

Par-T-Pak Beverages lost their fizz several decades ago; even though it's on a north-facing wall, the painted ad in the first photo is very faded.

Wrigley's Spearmint Gum

Wrigley's Spearmint Gum
Vicinity of Polk and Bush Sts., San Francisco
(From an August 2011 visit)