Chez Panisse - Berkeley, CA

I was really excited to go to Chez Panisse and see a little bit of Berkeley, I've heard about it for so long.  I had already decided to dine in the cafe, and when I went to make a reservation, the downstairs restaurant was already filled up, so it worked out well.  The upstairs cafe area, which is a la carte was bustling and also quite warm, on an August night.

Caprese salad is the essence of summer on a plate and I thought it was really the perfect way to start a meal at Chez Panisse.  And it was pretty and fresh.

I'm a sucker for ravioli and the ricotta ravioli with mushrooms was just calling my name. 

Salmon in broth with fennel and potatoes was also a great choice.

On the way to our table, we passed the open kitchen and the Pluot Galette was sitting there on the counter, and I knew that was what I wanted for dessert.  It was so pretty and I was right, it was the perfect ending, the crust was crisp and the fruit was sweet.