The Cheese Board, Berkeley

Simply the best baked goods in the Bay Area and that's really saying something! The cheese rolls, baquettes, challah (Fridays only), shortbreads (baked on Tuesdays, sold out by Friday, maybe Saturday morning) and a dozen different varieties of bread/rolls/muffins with olives, cheeses, raisins, chocolate, lo que hay! Then there are the cheeses, a fabulous choice with unlimited tastes, an extremely helpful and courteous staff (it's a coop and they are all the owners...it shows). For those 60 and over there are price discounts...eat yourself into a premature grave! It's my favorite food store. [For coffee, if they're not selling it when you're in the Cheese Board, go down the block to the French Hotel. Sit in or outside and chow down.] If you're there later in the day, you might try buying some freshly baked pizza two doors down (same direction as the French Hotel) where the Cheese Board has a separate storefront, and serves slices; as you stand in line for your turn, you'll be entertained by the pianist who normally plays for the waiting throng. It's worth the wait, if any. Trust me. Buen Provecho, amigos!