Main Street Kitchen gets a re-boot

One of my favorite restaurants in Walnut Creek received a bit of a makeover recently, and since it’s been about three years since my last review, I wanted to re-visit it! Main Street Kitchen aka MSK has become a new staple for foodies in Walnut Creek, and now they’ve expanded and remodeled to match their popularity.

I went recently on a chilly, smoky day so nobody sat outside. But that just meant more of an opportunity to take in the beautiful new interior! I really love that this place has opened up a bit and can now accommodate more guests in addition to a full bar with seating. It allows even more locals and travelers alike to experience the excellent atmosphere and cuisine. My favorite feature is sitting by the living wall and eating Sunday Brunch!

We tried a couple different dishes. The first was Burrata with greens, but you can also get it with avocado, prosciutto, heirloom tomato, or tapena (mix and match) and Sunchokes, which were amazing.  Our order consisted of fish tacos with tortilla soup, their the BLT, however the star of the show may have been their signature dish called Chicken al Mattone where boneless thighs are cooked between two cast iron skillets. It was absolutely delicious!

As you can see, Main Street Kitchen is still serving up farm to table gourmet bites in generous servings. And now they’re doing it in a brand-spankin’-new space that really takes the experience to a whole new level. If you have yet to jump on the Main Street Kitchen bandwagon, I’d highly suggest doing so soon!  p.s.  their fried chicken isn’t always on the menu, but it is always available and is fantastic on their delicious salads.

Chicken Coops Gone Wild in the East Bay!

coop 3Have you noticed a significant uptick in clucking sounds around the East Bay? That’s because everybody is raising chickens in their yards these days! What was once a hip trend has now exploded into status quo.

I have been hearing some squawking in my backyard for some time and I finally realized my new neighbors have chickens. I thought it was a county-approved thing, but no, those in the city can have chickens too.

Note: the way to tell if you are in county or city is by the color of the street chickenssign. If it’s green, you are in the city of Walnut Creek; if it’s white, you are in the county of Walnut Creek.

Each has iseparateate rules and laws: permit processes are different, who responds to a police call is different, and the determination of crossing guards at your elementary school changes.

eggsBack to chickens – no roosters please. If you’re thinking about getting into the chicken game, you’re in (c)luck this weekend!

On Saturday, the Ace Hardware in Walnut Creek will be displaying custom chicken coops made by local resident Shaun Rang. He will have multiple styles and colors available and will be at Ace from 10 acea.m. until 2 p.m.

Of course, you can also pick up other chicken-raising supplies (feed, etc.) at Ace too. Be careful about checking your local regulations before you get started, though.

Some cities are still in the process of updating their laws and regulations regarding chicken coops (don’t worry, Walnut Creekians – you’re good to go in our town!).