Montclair Food

New Sushi Spot In Two Weeks

We are really excited about Kakui, a new sushi spot that’s scheduled to open in two weeks.  Today we stopped by this former Jamba Juice location to check the progress, and you don’t see much that makes you think “banana smoothie” anymore.

Years ago, there was a 50’s era restaurant here and maybe some features will re-emerge now.  Much of the exterior stucco has been removed, and you see a nice wood-topped entry instead.

We took a quick look inside.  The first thing that stands out is an elegant north wall with vertical cut-outs for sake.  A sushi bar takes its position on the opposite side, but doesn’t overwhelm the place.  Although Kakui’s tables and chairs were wrapped up, some espresso wood pieces peeked out.

Fortunately we ran into the proprietor, Yingji Huang, who was overseeing all the preparations today.  He’s eager to fill the gap for a top-notch sushi restaurant, and we can’t argue with that goal.  While Toshi Sushi is not far away, some serious competition is a very good thing!

Back in 2008, we asked about your Asian food consumption and half reported eating sushi once or twice monthly.  The most ardent sushi eaters didn’t stick around much at all, traveling to Berkeley and even San Francisco for fresh fish morsels.

My sense (and hope) is that Kakui will shine – and look forward to giving it a test run soon.

More info:  Kakui is at 2060B Mountain Blvd, in Montclair Village.  You may reach them at (510) 338-1188.

It Was Late In The Evening, At 8pm

Last night, several of us had gathered in downtown Montclair after work.  We were “doing good” for a local non-profit, and making some decisions about our online tactics.

Then the clock struck 8pm, and our carriage turned into a pumpkin.  All the third-place places on Antioch and Mountain row were closing up – and we were bereft.

Horrors of horrors! We realized there would be no regular drip of WiFi ’til the morning light.  And we headed to the lonely street.

So where do you spread out, grab a coffee, and get down to work?  Without a hotspot from Metro or Peet’s, the only open place nearby was El Agavero.  Luckily they were gracious, even though we rang up a minor tab.

In most cosmopolitan reaches, that 8pm bewitching hour is earlier than suppertime –  but not here.  Welcome to Oakland, the city that gets its sleep.

Fresh Fruits And Veggies In Wintertime

Montclair’s one local shop for fresh fruits and veggies appears to be kaput.  After only nine months on Thornhill, the green grocer closed for good last week.  We all liked the owner, but he wasn’t turning inventory – the neighborhood just didn’t give him sufficient business.

So it’s back to the Montclair Farmers Market, not that we’re complaining or anything.  If you’re like me, then you pick up a few things during that Sunday stroll.  You probably venture to the supermarkets in between, buying whatever produce is on hand there.

Well another option walked up to me, last week.  That’s when a Farm Fresh To You sales rep stopped me in the Village.  With pamphlets in hand, Richard asked if I ate my fruits and veggies!  He was ready to discuss organic farm deliveries, right to my doorstep.

Farm Fresh sounds interesting, because they adjust delivery quantities and frequencies to meet your requirements.  You may also pick and choose what’s in the seasonal deliveries, at least a little bit.  The service does seem pretty convenient.

Of course, we had milk and eggs delivery when I was a kid…showing my age!  More recently I tested out the Safeway delivery, but would advise packaged goods there; my fresh stuff arrived with near (and past) expiration dates.

So has anyone tried out organic farm deliveries yet?

Fantasy Pick Comes True: Hummus

A while ago, we were looking at Montclair Village’s prime storefronts that were “for rent” and made fantasy picks about new food and non-food occupants.  Among the fantasies, we wanted someone to “offer Middle Eastern takeout, including authentic falafel, hummus, tabouli, salads, etc.  Why wait for the falafel stand on Sundays?”

Over on Moraga Avenue, that fantasy pick is coming true.  We took snapshots of Amba, which plans to serve up all the good stuff – namely falafel, hummus, salads and fries. The store posted their “opening soon” sign along with construction permits received last May.

Amba - Soon

We noticed activity near Amba, and peeked inside to see construction underway.  The counter features cool green-aqua-white tiles.  Also the place seems large enough to have tables and chairs inside, which the Village needs.

Amba - Construction

The workers, who were pulling wires today, didn’t know very much about the place.  Based on the building materials scattered around, there should be some walls going up soon.  While it’s hard to read tea-leaves about Amba’s opening day, I’ll guess less than a month or two.

We originally made our fantasy pick to replace the old Jamba Juice location.  However you won’t hear any complaints, at least from this corner, about the proper location for Middle Eastern morsels – it’s terrific to have this fast-food option in the Village.

Get Yer Ticket For Restaurant Walk

We suggest you get your ticket book now for the Montclair Restaurant Walk, scheduled on October 6th.  The first-ever walk last spring was a sold-out affair, and it’s possible to miss this great grazing opportunity if you delay.

With book in hand, you’ll be able to sample offerings from restaurants and stores scattered throughout the village – in 2.5 hours or less!  The Lions Club has added this fundraiser to their long-standing Easter and Halloween events, and it’s nice that adults can have some gluttonous fun for a good cause.  All proceeds go to charity, of course.

Montclair Restaurant Walk - Oct 2009

To get your mouth watering, the confirmed participants include:

A. G. Ferrari Foods – Crogan’s Montclair – El Agavero Mexican Cuisine & Bar – Farmstead Cheeses and Wines – Flavors India Bistro – Flipper’s Gourmet Burgers – Il Porcellino – Italian Colors Ristorante – La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill – Le Bon Bon – Metro Cafe & Bar – Montclair Baking – Montclair Bistro – Pararung Thai Cuisine – Silver Palace Restaurant – Taqueria Las Comadres – The Full Plate – Toshi Sushi

So what’s next? Until the ticket books run out, you may stop in the Village and buy them at Montclair Book Tree, Pacific National Bank, Raimondi’s Paint & Wallpaper or Viewpoint Optometric. These books cost $25/person, and are filled with coupons for tastings. Remember to pencil in the Restaurant Walk date, which is October 6th, from 6:00 – 8:30 pm.