Berkeley’s Comal Next Door reopens for takeout, delivery
Berkshire pork carnitas, tofu chile verde and that tasty buttermilk fried chicken torta.
Downtown Berkeley’s Comal Next Door has reopened during the pandemic for weekday takeout of its signature Mexican fare — order on its website for contactless pickup — and delivery via Doordash and Caviar.
The full menu is available with taqueria staples such as burritos, bowls, tacos and tortas and housemade agua frescas. In addition to the menu highlights above, we’re also keen on the achiote grilled chicken, beef barbacoa and those yummy green beans with pepita salsa. Comal Next Door is also doing four batched classic cocktails — margarita, Jack Satan, Abuelo Sucio and Joaquin Murrieta — in 16-ounce and 32-ounce bottles, as well as six draft beers at discounted prices.
And good news for Comal fans: Chef Matt Gandin will soon launch contactless pickup and delivery as well, with menu classics, new meal kits and soups you can prepare or heat at home.
Comal Next Door is open for takeout and delivery from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-friday at 2024 Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley. Find the menu at www.toasttab.com/ comal.
Longtime Milk Pail Market is resurrected as a drive-thru
Less than a year after closing their 45-year Mountain View institution, the Rasmussen family has decided to revive their Milk Pail Market as a drive-thru to help local vendors and longtime customers during the COVID-19 crisis.
The collaboration with local stores, food vendors and producers comes in the form of a $50 or $75 customer favorites box filled with many of the goodies for which this open-air Europeanstyle market became known over the years — artisan cheese, bakeat-home croissants, gourmet specialty items and produce. The
mix will change weekly. There’s also a $39 all-produce box available.
The croissants “are wildly popular and our customers are happy to have access to them once again,” Kai Rasmussen said. “I’ve been re-establishing contact with our vendors and ramping up our inventory for upcoming orders.”
Although the family sold their land at San Antonio Road and California Street after years of pressure from developers, they retained their nearby warehouse on Wyandotte Street. That’s where the drive-thru pop-up is operating.
To order, go to www.milkpail.com and click on Shop, then pay and choose an afternoon pickup time.
Humble Sandwich a spinoff
Oakland’s Homestead Restaurant is known for its almond-wood, open-fire brick hearth, where chef-owner Fred Sassen’s butchery and New American dishes come to life in the restaurant’s exhibition kitchen at dinnertime. Unfortunately, none of that is happening right now amid the coronavirus pandemic. But Sassen and his wife and co-owner, Elizabeth, have launched a casual spinoff inside the Piedmont Avenue restaurant that whets our appetites just as much in these troubled times.
The Humble Sandwich is a new concept showcasing gourmet deli classics, made with high-quality meats and breads, in the $12-$16 range. The menu, which is available via takeout and delivery, features seven sandwiches, two salads, chips, a chocolate chip cookie and a selection of beverages, including four craft beers.
Sandwich options include a grilled Cuban with smoked ham, chile-roasted pork shoulder, Gruyere, mustard, aioli and pickles ($14); a grilled herb-rubbed steak with horseradish creme fraiche and arugula ($16); and roast turkey with avocado, sprouts, chile aioli and aged cheddar ($13). There’s also a kid’s grilled cheese that comes with chips for $10.
In a news release, Sassen explained that The Humble Sandwich will not replace Homestead and will continue after the shelter-in-place is lifted.
“We are not changing Homestead at all; it will reopen when appropriate and continue serving dinner as always,” he said.
The Humble Sandwich is open for curbside pickup from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdaysaturday at 4029 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. Delivery is available via Caviar and Doordash. Orders can be placed by telephone or in person at Homestead, which is set up for proper social distancing. Details: www.homesteadoakland.com.
Peet’s Coffee on your doorstep
Your favorite Honey Cold Brew Fog and roasted tomato and kale quiche is now available at home.
As the demand for delivery continues to grow amid quarantine, Peet’s Coffee has announced that it’s now offering delivery from its 142 retail coffee bars to customers through Doordash.
Handcrafted espresso beverages, breakfast sandwiches, baked goods, coffee beans and more are rolling out. Will that crispy ham and Swiss arrive soggy? Most likely. We’re guessing the most popular items will be the coffee beans and baked goods — you can warm them up at home, after all.
Delivery hours vary by location. Find participating California Peet’s coffee locations at www.doordash.com/business/ peets-coffee.
But wait, there’s more …
Find details on scores more Bay Area restaurants that are offering takeout, curbside and home delivery options at bayareane.ws/takeout.