Check, Please! Bay Area

Baia Restaurant, Mare Island Brewing Co. Ferry Taproom, À Côté (18x6)

: 14, 2023

Saucy, savory Italian comfort food… without the meat? The menu at Baia Restaurant, located in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley neighborhood, boasts all the familiar favorites – pastas, pizzas, and parms all have prominent placement – with a twist: They’re entirely plant-based. Then, tucked along the scenic Vallejo shoreline, Mare Island Brewing Co. Ferry Taproom is home to simple, savory and oh-so-satisfying pub fare, nearly two dozen taps, and unbeatable views of Mare Island. Finally, in Oakland’s Rockridge district, À Côté offers eclectic, family-style Mediterranean small plates and a carefully curated list of European wines in an intimate, charming setting. Reporter Cecilia Phillips closes out this week’s episode with a visit to the country’s oldest cheese company, Petaluma’s Marin French Cheese Co., for a lesson in cheesemongering, beekeeping and honey harvesting. This historic creamery crafts artisan cheeses by hand, employing the same traditional French cheesemaking techniques first