RESTAURANT REVIEW JUNE 2017 MARKETPLACECONTRACOSTA.COM 31 continued to work at Ginger Island for approximately 8 years until the restaurant eventually closed. While considering the next move for his family, he learned that the owners of Arlington Meats would be retiring after forty years. After considering purchasing this business and a couple of other options, he ultimately opted to purchase the business now known as Kensington Fine Foods. Since acquiring the business, he has introduced a variety of prepared foods for the convenience of customers who seek healthier, higher quality options to fast food. He also offers catering services, in addition to offering quality meats, poultry and seafood to patrons of Young’s Market and the local community. I handled this review solo because Larry had explained to me ahead of time that Kensington Fine Foods is a business where customers pick up prepared foods to take home to enjoy, and that there is no seating available. After a pleasant fifteen-minute drive up Arlington Avenue during which I enjoyed beautiful views of the bay area, I arrived in Kensington on a recent Curb-Banh mi Thursday afternoon. Kensington Fine Foods is visible directly upon entry into Young’s Market, immediately identifiable by the long, glass-enclosed meat counter. Behind the meat counter is a tall rotisserie used for cooking whole chickens throughout the day, as well as spare ribs, and occasionally specialty offerings, such as Porchetta. (Porchetta is a traditional Italian porkloin roast seasoned with garlic, fennel, rosemary, sage and oranges, wrapped in a pork belly which seals in all the juices and flavors of the herbs.) Next to the rotisserie is a large commercial stove and a long prep counter for making sandwiches and readying foods “to go.” Conlan and Javier were busily helping customers when I arrived, and Larry was busy in the back room where the all of their home-made foods are prepared. As I waited, I reviewed the chalkboard menus on the back wall, and salivated at the tantalizing mountain of fresh golden-brown rotisserie chickens and meaty racks of spare ribs stacked in the warming bin near the cash register. Larry emerged from the backroom, and after introductions, we strolled to a nearby coffee shop so we could sit and chat about the business. Quality is of the utmost importance to Larry, and all of the meats offered at Kensington Fine Foods are all natural and hormonefree. They are sourced from various high quality vendors, many of which can be referenced on the KFF website. Examples of these include Mary’s Free Range Chickens, Beeler’s Pork Products, and Caggiano Company (for fresh and smoked sausages.) Fish and seafood products, fresh baked breads, and fresh quality produce are sourced daily from Monterey Fish Market, ACME Bread Company, and Monterey Market respectively--all of which are local businesses based in Berkeley. Larry informed me that he leaves his Oakland home at 6:30 AM daily and personally picks up the seafood, bread, and produce on his way in to work, usually arriving at KFF by 9:00 AM. Larry explained that KFF does a very robust lunch business. Lunch options include two freshly-made soups daily, eight Specialty Sandwiches, five Panini Sandwiches, as well as a Make-Your-Own Sandwich option. For the latter option, customers can Also found on Facebook, Twitter (@KFFdailyupdate), and Yelp Conlan, Larry and Javier Fresh Sausages
Contra Costa Marketplace - June 2017
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