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Breakfast All Day
Breakfast foods hold a special place in our hearts. And, we don't necessarily adhere to a strict time schedule for enjoying them. Breakfast for dinner is one of our favorite comfort meals. And a lazy brunch is sublime!
Come with us on a little journey through all things breakfast. We will start with some of our favorite product recommendations.
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Beverages to wake you up.
Around here, the first act of the morning is putting on the kettle, or turning on the coffee maker. Here are some of our favorite morning beverages. RoastCo Coffee is Oakland-based, and they make some of the best coffee we’ve tasted. Their Dark Horse Blend is popular with lovers of dark roast.
Tcho Hawt Choco-Late makes for an absolutely perfect drinking chocolate. With its rich, fudgy, bittersweet flavor, it makes a mean mocha or hot chocolate. And, they are South Berkeley local.
Taylors of Harrogate produces wonderful breakfast teas—black tea blends intended to accompany a hearty morning meal. English Breakfast is a special, full-bodied blend of teas from India and Africa. Irish Breakfast is more robust than English breakfast with a strong Assam component, giving it a malty flavor, and brewing up a stronger cup. And, Scottish Breakfast is a blend of tea from Kenya's Eastern Highlands and the Assam region of India. Both Irish and Scottish breakfast teas are best served with milk.
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Visit our Bakery Department for some great things to toast! Butler's Pantry makes wonderful Crumpets with lots of holes for the melted butter. Greenlee's handmade artisan bread comes in Original Cinnamon, Raisin Cinnamon, and Blueberry Cinnamon. Then there is always Semifreddi's Cinnamon Twist Bread which also makes perfect French Toast. (Check out their Morning Buns and Cinnamon Morning Buns, too.) We also recommend Bakerly Chocolate Croissants or St. Pierre All-Butter Mini Croissants.
Rise and Bake
Boulangerie Solignac makes some amazing pastries that we carry in the freezer section. All you need to do is let them rise and stick them in the oven. Varieties include Sticky Cinnamon Pecan Spirals, Chocolate Croissants with Belgian Chocolate, Puff Pastry Apple turnover, Handmade Butter Croissants, and Puff Pastry Blueberry Turnovers.
And, while you are exploring the Frozen Foods Department, grab a box of Julian's Belgian Pastry Wafels, We have both Sweet Vanilla and Cauliflower-Wafels.
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On the savory side of things
We have a yummy selection of potatoes in the freezer for those mornings when things need to happen a little more quickly. A favorite is Simplot Hash Brown Patties with a traditional and rich flavor profile. They can be fried, baked, or grilled to crispy perfection.
If you need to grab breakfast on the run, we have two recommendations. Red's Turkey Sausage Burritos are a delicious breakfast burrito. And, Sweet Earth's Baja Breakfast Wraps with plant-based bacon and cage-free eggs are perfect for mornings on the fly.
And for a little protein, pick up some breakfast sausages. We recommend Niman Ranch Pork Breakfast Sausages, Aidell's Maple and Smoked Bacon Chicken Sausages, or their Chicken & Apple Sausages.
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Some added sweetness
For starters, check out the amazing Pink Glow Pink Pineapples from Del Monte which you can find in boxes in the produce section. They are less acidic than yellow pineapple, and the pink color is mind-blowing.
We love Butternut Mountain Farms Pure Vermont Maple Syrup because of the quality. The Grade A amber syrup is lighter in color with a rich maple flavor. Stonewall Kitchen Raspberry Syrup and Wild Maine Blueberry Syrup are also great for pancakes, waffles, and even over ice cream.
Frog Hollow Farm makes legendary fruit spreads. These organic conserves are made with flavorful fruit and use minimal sugar. Try their Nectarine & Plum Conserve and Peach Conserve.
Redwoods Monastery Creamed Honey is actually made by monastics on the Lost Coast. It is aromatic and flavorful spread on toast or pancakes.
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Order Your Easter and Passover Holiday Meats
News & Events
Don’t forget to order your Easter and Passover holiday meats.
This year Passover begins before sundown on Wednesday, April 5, and ends after nightfall on April 13. Easter is on April 9th.
Our butcher department is fully stocked, and ready to receive your call.
For Easter, we have whole or half hams, leg of lamb, and racks of lamb. For Passover, you might want brisket or lamb. And remember to ask our butchers for the shank bone for the Seder plate!
To make certain we have what you need, call our butcher department no later than a day in advance at (510) 653-8181 and order your Easter and Passover holiday meats.
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Japanese Soufflé Pancakes
From our blog, The Kitchen Table
Sunday Soufflé
If you have been anywhere near Instagram or TikTok lately, you have no doubt come across the latest fad in breakfast, Japanese Soufflé Pancakes. I never thought pancakes were trend worthy, frankly. I mean, it’s pancakes. I figured IHOP had exhausted all the Rooty Tutti pancake possibilities years ago. Apparently, I was wrong.
This latest craze comes direct to us from our friends in Japan. And, I have to say this is a trend I can roll with. Soufflé Pancakes are the lighter fluffier cousin of your favorite flap jacks—and even use the same ingredients. The difference is in the eggs, man. When making soufflé pancakes, you separate the eggs and make a meringue that is then gently folded into the batter before spooning it on a hot griddle. (It sounds more complicated than it is but novice cooks might need to try the recipe a few times to get it right.)
The addition of steam to the cooking process is what makes these pancake rise. The result is mile-high pillowy goodness that you can top with any of your favorites. I like them with a little powdered sugar and sliced fruit or berries. But, you can never go wrong with tried and true syrup.
Give these a try this weekend if only to put a smile on your face that the torrential rain can’t wash away.
Get the recipe…
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Lake Champlain Easter Bunnies
A Staff Favorite
Beyond delicious!
Not too small, not too large. These Five-inch tall bunnies chocolate bunnies are just right! These classic Lake Champlain Easter Bunnies are a treat for kids and adults alike.
Stuff them in Easter baskets, hide them for a scavenger hunt, or simply send them to friends and family. They are also a beautiful addition to your holiday place setting.
These bunnies are packaged in clear gift bags tied with a ribbon. They are made with fair trade chocolate. All ingredients are certified USDA organic. And, the dark chocolate bunny is vegan-friendly.
We carry them in dark, milk, and white chocolate while our supplies last.
Read more…
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Masala Chai Mocktail
From our blog, The Cocktail Post
This Masala Chai Mocktail is delicious for brunch, during cocktail hour, or any time you want to spice up your beverage choices. Masala refers to the spice blend, and chai means tea. (So, saying chai tea is redundant.)
Chai developed in India after the British colonialists started growing its favorite bitter beverage on the subcontinent in the mid-1800s. And this sweetened, spicy version took off like wildfire. Chai wallahs, or tea stands, are in every city in India.
The particular blend of spices used to make the masala varies regionally and from family to family. In this recipe, we call for tea bags that already include the spices. So, choose the blend that you favor.
Get the recipe…
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Breakfast Casserole
From our blog, The Kitchen Table
Casserole Comfort
I consider all breakfast foods comfort foods. It’s all of the carbs and fatty meats. Whipping up a plate of scrambled eggs after a difficult day can sometimes make all the difference. (Bonus points if you wrap said eggs in a tortilla because…carbs.) And while perfectly scrambled eggs can be a warm blanket for your soul, they can be made transcendent by the addition of so many wonderful things. (Also, a great way to use up what’s in your produce drawer.)
If I had to pick my favorite bite of egg it would include eggs, potatoes, green onions, and cheese (glorious cheese!) I am also open to the addition of sausage or bacon as well as chilies or bell peppers. But, the foundation will always be eggs, potato, green onions, and cheese hereto after known as EPGC bite.
The potatoes can be home fries, hash browns, or tots. Though, I think tots work best. (I have a serious weakness for tots.) The ideal cheese is generally cheddar, but I won’t turn away some gruyere or a lovely pepper jack. Nine times out of ten, if I were eating scrambled eggs straight up, I would go with a sausage chaser. But, when everything is all mixed together, I like the flavor of bacon. There’s something about the smokiness of the bacon with the cheese and potato that hits just right.
Below is a recipe for a breakfast casserole. This is what I think of when I am craving that EPGC combo.
Get the recipe…
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Support the Alameda County Community Food Bank
News & Events
The Alameda County Community Food Bank needs your support now as much as ever due to increased need with rising inflation and SNAP benefit cuts. Our local food bank does an immense service. Today, 1 in 4 of our neighbors in Alameda County experience hunger.
Food is a fundamental human right. Let's work towards a stronger, more nourished Alameda County, where no one worries about where their next meal will come from.
How can I help the Alameda County Community Food Bank?
- Volunteer at a food distribution center in Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, and Tri-Valley.
- Become an advocate.
- Give. 100% of your gift stays local to help our most vulnerable communities through this emergency. Every dollar you spend purchases $7 worth of food. Make a one-time contribution, a monthly donation, or set up employee matching at your place of work.
- Become a Monthly Donor. Knowing that they can count on your regular contributions keeps the organization efficient and impactful.
Get the links…
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Sunny-Side Up: More Than 100 Breakfast & Brunch Recipes from the Essential Egg to the Perfect Pastry
A Cookbook Recommendation
by Waylynn Lucas
From the perfect scrambled egg for one to special-occasion brunch crowd-pleasers, wake up to 100+ breakfast and brunch recipes from a Cake Wars judge and celebrated pastry chef.
Have you ever wished you could enjoy a delicious restaurant-quality breakfast or brunch at home with your loved ones? Sunny-Side Up will have you doing just that in no time. In her warm and encouraging voice, Waylynn Lucas demonstrates how a touch of finesse can elevate your dishes and make you more confident in the kitchen. Whether you’re looking for a decadent weekend brunch spread to impress guests or a healthy make-ahead breakfast to start your day off right, you can find just what you’re craving in chapters such as:
- Egg obsessions and other savories: from Melt-in-Your-Mouth Scrambled Eggs and Chilaquiles to Chipotle-Maple Breakfast Sausage Sandwiches
- Syrup required: Buttermilk Pancakes, Waffles, and Waylynn’s sweet and savory French Toast Sandwich combinations
- Biscuits, muffins, breads, and more baked goods: Bacon-Cheddar Biscuits, Banana Mocha Chocolate Chip Muffins, Grapefruit-Pistachio Cakes, and Peach-Thyme Jam
- Fancy pastries: Brioche Beignets, Sticky Buns, Apple-Almond Tart with Orange Essence
- Yogurt, bars, breakfast pops, smoothies, and other healthy yums: Homemade Yogurt, Carrot-Coconut Pops, Beets Don’t Kill My Vibe Smoothie, Green Machine Juice
- Boozy daytime adventures: Watermelon-Jalapeño Smash, Margarita Bar, Lemon Slushy for Adults Only, and Grapefruit-Mint Mimosas
With more than 100 photographs, Sunny-Side Up is perfect for home cooks who want to wake up to delectable and uplifting dishes fresh out of their own kitchens.
About the Author
Waylynn Lucas is the encouraging but honest judge on Food Network's Cake Wars, and former executive pastry chef of such notable restaurants as SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, four-starred Bazaar by José Andrés, Joachim Splichal's Michelin-starred Patina, and the Penthouse Restaurant at the Huntley Hotel. She is also a former cast member of the Bravo show Eat, Drink, Love and CNBC's Restaurant Startup. Waylynn currently lives in Park City Utah, where she has founded a catering business called Butter and Barley.
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The Lemon Drop Martini
From our blog, The Cocktail Post
The Lemon Drop Martini (or just Lemon Drop) is a delicious modern spin on the vodka martini that was created here in SF in the 70s. Often served as a dessert drink, it is a great choice whenever you are craving some lemony sweetness. It is also easily customized to your taste.
Made of vodka, limoncello (a sweet, Italian liqueur), lemon juice, and simple syrup, you coat the rim of the glass with lemon and dust it with granulated sugar. It is served with a twist.
Making the lemon twist
An easy way to make a lemon twist is with a carrot peeler. With the right touch, you can peel a strip and avoid the pith. Then just roll the peel into a tight spiral and gently squeeze it. The twist will loosen up once you release it. To store, keep it in a glass of ice water to maintain the spiral.
Get the recipe…
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Easter Holiday Hours
News & Events
Piedmont Grocery will be closed on Easter Sunday.
Please note that we will be closed for Easter Holiday Hours on April, 9th. We want our staff to be able to celebrate the holiday with friends and family. So, get your shopping done before 8 PM on Saturday so you can take Sunday off.
We will be open again on Monday, April 10th at 9 AM for our regularly scheduled hours.
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Urban Remedy Pomegranate Ginger Juice
A Staff Favorite
Refreshing, healing, and tasty.
This favorite Urban Remedy Pomegranate Ginger Juice has a robust pomegranate flavor combined with the zing of ginger and lemon.
Enjoyed for thousands of years for its superfood benefits and naturally sweet nectar, pomegranate is combined with warming ginger, lemon, and probiotics to support immune and digestive health. Urban Remedy's pomegranates are sourced locally from organic family farms in the San Joaquin Valley, picked and juiced at the peak of freshness.
Pomegranate Ginger is made with organic, gluten-free, dairy-free, and non-GMO ingredients: Pomegranate Juice, Filtered Water, Ginger Juice, Lemon Juice, and Probiotics (Inulin, Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086).
About Urban Remedy
Urban Remedy is a Bay Area-based, B Corporation with the goal of being a force for good on the planet. They maintain the highest standards of social and environmental performance and accountability.
Read more…
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Baked Western Omelet
From our blog, The Kitchen Table
Viva Los Huevos
I spent the President’s Day weekend in Las Vegas. Was I there for the shows, food, and a rollicking good time? Yes and no. I was there for a volleyball tournament which fulfills the good time in part because I love watching my daughter play. The food experience wasn’t all bad. I mean we did eat at a Wolfgang Puck establishment…at 9:30 PM…because tournament play had just ended and that was the quickest and easiest option. (The food was excellent by the way, even though we were exhausted). I admit to thinking we would have free time to go and do some fun stuff in between matches. And, I was looking forward to maybe seeing a show or a concert and eating some fabulous food.
Alas, it wasn’t meant to be.
My dreams of finding a great breakfast somewhere to fuel up (Mon Ami Gabi, anyone?) were replaced by the complimentary breakfast provided by our hotel. Don’t get me wrong, I am always down for a free waffle. The smell of cooking waffles at any Hampton Inn will forever remind me of baseball tournaments gone by. And, occasionally, you find a hotel whose breakfast offering is actually quite good. This was one of those times.
I admit I was pretty grumpy that first morning. I had all the plans for the three of us in my head. They were now dashed. And, I was pouting and just going through the motions. This is probably why, instead of my aforementioned free waffle, I chose the omelet. I tend to avoid eggs at hotel buffets because nine times out of ten, they are rubbery and flavorless. Imagine my surprise when I took a bite of omelet and it was really good. Even more surprising because the omelets had been made ahead which can be problematic. My made-ahead-of-time Denver omelet had great flavor and wasn’t dried out or rubbery.
The thought of that omelet stuck with me. Not because it was worthy of a Michelin star, but because it was a fairly simple dish that could have been awful. It really wasn’t. At any rate, it knocked me out of my pity party and got me ready for a long day of cheering. It also led me to look for a similar Baked Western Omelet to make at home when we want an easy breakfast for a volleyball-free weekend…(Does that even exist???)
Get the recipe…
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Easter Celebrations for the Kids
A Staff Favorite
East Bay Easter Egg Hunts and Outings
If you are looking for local Easter celebrations for the kids, there is so much going on in the upcoming weekends. Here is a list of some of our top picks.
They include events in Piedmont, Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, Emeryville, San Pablo, and Freemont over the span of two weekends.
Get the list and the links…
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Angel Biscuits
From our blog, The Kitchen Table
Sop It Up With A Biscuit
I am a lover of biscuits with any meal. A fried chicken feast is never complete without the biscuit. Not to mention they make great slider sandwiches. Especially the cheezy kind. Breakfast is my favorite time for biscuits, though.
I will admit I am not a huge fan of biscuits and gravy. It’s just too much. Although, on rare occasions, that ridiculous amount of fat and carbs will hit the spot. I would much rather consume my biscuit-flavored carbs slathered in butter with a generous drizzle of honey or a dollop of jam and a good cup of coffee. Heaven.
Crazy thing is how many options there are for biscuits. I ran across this one recently which looked interesting mainly because it has the look of monkey bread (Yum!). I will be giving it a go this weekend…outside on the patio to enjoy the sun before it goes away…again.
These light fluffy Angel Biscuits are as if buttermilk biscuits and Parker House rolls had a child. They are great with any meal—especially breakfast! If you don't have a cast iron skillet, you can use a baking dish or sheet.
Get the recipe…
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Spring Holiday Catering Menu
News & Events
Piedmont Grocery would like to save you time in the kitchen. Whether you're throwing a party, planning a holiday feast, or picking up something for a potluck, you can count on our chefs in our Catering Department to help simplify your entertaining. For the Spring Holiday Catering Menu, we will be offering pre-packaged individual items that you can mix and match. They will be in our Grab n Go section.
Our Passover Menu will include Braised Brisket, Potato Pancakes, Matzo Ball Soup, and Potato Knish.
Our Easter Menu will include Spiral Sliced Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, and Gravy.
We are also happy to work with you on what you want. So, call (510) 653-8181 to discuss your catering needs. We will be happy to walk you through our current selection and prices.
All Spring Holiday Catering Menu orders must be received 48 hours prior to the holiday. We are closed on Easter Sunday.
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Breakfast Potatoes
The Kitchen Table
No Power Potatoes
Like many in the Bay Area, I have been without power since Tuesday at noon. It could be worse. At least no trees came crashing down on my house. We lost a section of fencing but that’s no biggie. We’ll fix it. It’s all about perspective. All my people are safe, so all is well. If there is one silver lining for me to all of the mayhem and destruction it is this, no electricity means I got to test drive my camping kitchen.
A few weeks ago, my husband and I bought a used teardrop trailer with the intent of filling our empty nester weekends with new activities and adventures once the kids are all out of the house. I love camping. But, both of us agree that the days of our 50-year-old selves sleeping on the ground in a tent are over. So, we essentially bought a tent on wheels that sleeps 2—with a mattress.
What we got was pretty bare-bones and in need of customization. Naturally, I have taken the ball and run with the cooking equipment. But, I haven’t had the opportunity to test everything out—until dinner last night.
In an attempt to not lose the refrigerator full of food that I purchased over the weekend (the timing is impeccable), I scrambled up some $20 eggs and cooked some sausage along with some home fries. Divine intervention definitely occurred because normally I don’t have extra already-cooked potatoes in the fridge. But, due to an over-calculation of how many potatoes I needed for the previous night’s curry, I had potatoes.
You can never go wrong with fried potatoes at breakfast. I will take Breakfast Potatoes over hash browns any day. And, last night they fried up beautifully on my new camp stove.
There is no right or wrong way to do breakfast potatoes. The options are endless. Sometimes I use spices and sometimes just salt and pepper. Sometimes I sauté them along with some peppers and onions, and sometimes not. This is very much a case of you do you…just, preferably, not in the dark!
Get the recipe…
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Breakfast Recipes from Our Archives
From our blog, The Kitchen Table
If you are looking to increase your options for breakfast recipes, we've got you covered. It is one of our three favorite meals of the day. Here is a variety of recipes from our archives that are also great for brunch gatherings.
Pancakes, Waffles, and French Toast
Raised Waffles
Classic Waffles
Buttermilk Waffles
Cheesy Cornmeal Waffles
Stuffed French Toast
Baked French Toast with Apples
Swedish Pancakes
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Boichick Bagels
Vendor of the Month
In 2021 The New York Times wrote an article entitled, The Best Bagels Are in California (Sorry, New York). They declared Boichick Bagels "some of the finest New York Style bagels" they have ever tasted. And the rest is history.
Believe the hype. Berkeley's Boichick Bagels makes bagels to die for. East Coast transplants flock to College and Alcatraz for a taste of home. Berkeley locals are finally getting amazing bagels that are baked right here. And, we are fortunate enough to sell them in our store.
Boichik’s bagels are malty, dense, and chewy— quite the contrast to the dry, crumbly bagels which are so common here on the West Coast. They’re hefty and salty, and tremendously satisfying.
We carry them in the freezer section—they're frozen at the bakery for maximum freshness. So, next time you are in the store, find out what the buzz is about.
We are currently carrying their Plain, Everything, Pick Six Mix, and Cinnamon Raisin in six-count bags of pre-sliced bagels. We also have their Whipped Cream Cheese in the dairy section for an absolutely perfect combo.
Read this post on our website…
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Store Hours
Monday through Saturday from
9 AM to 8 PM & Sunday from
9 AM to 7 PM.
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Free Parking
4038 Piedmont Avenue
Oakland, CA 94611
(510) 653-8181
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OUR BLOGS
Visit our recipe blog to learn what Amy, our VP and resident foodie, is cooking up in her home kitchen.
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