" Take a vacation to the Caribbean courtesy of Chef Ann (Annabelle Goodridge), who opened Cocobreeze mid-pandemic, bringing a menu full of traditional dishes to the Bay. Goodridge’s culinary career began in Trinidad and Tobago, where, beginning at 12-years-old, she helped out with her mother’s catering business. Now, she’s working with her daughter, Merissa Lyons, to bring authentic Caribbean dishes to Bay Area residents who haven’t had many options when it comes to that arena. (Her daughter also runs a vegan bakery in the same space.) The herbaceous jerk chicken is the go-to order, as is anything that comes wrapped in roti."
" Though there are a few strong Caribbean spots around the Bay Area (looking at you, Back A Yard), Trinidadian restaurants are a rarity. Thankfully, Oakland’s CocoBreeze is excellent — and a pandemic newcomer, opening in July 2020. From the sunny, palm leaf sidewalk tables to a vibrant mural on the sidewall, the order-at-the-counter spot is a colorful, cheery meal (even if you can wait a good while for the food to come out). The food is “real deal” Caribbean fare from chef Annabelle Goodridge, who hails from Trinidad and Tobago. I can hardly resist the doughy comfort of her accra saltfish fritters or accompanying tropical dip. Popular jerk chicken with Creole rice is as irresistible as jerk chicken fans would hope. But it’s curry goat...
" If you want to have an authentic Trinidadian experience, Marisa Lyons says you’ve got to order doubles. In case you’re not hip, many people in Trinidad start their day with this street food that’s a double layer of small dough discs filled with spiced channa, also known as chickpeas. You can have them spicy or sweet, or somewhere in between. “It’s a rite of passage when you touch down and visit Trinidad and Tobago,” Lyons says. “You have to make sure from the airport you get your doubles or your roti.” With cooler weather here, they’ll be adding traditional soups to the menu including cow heel soup that’s loaded with collagen, heart healthy fish tea, and creamy corn soup."...
"Given the city’s history of welcoming Americans from other parts of the country as well as immigrants from many continents, Oakland is the perfect place to get your spice on."
